Yes, Sweetheart

Chapter 14

Ok, maybe I'm overreacting. Yeah, that must be it.

I tried to calm myself, and only resulted in thinking about how sweet Levi had been to me lately.

Fucking shit. That isn't helping.

I rolled over after stopping playing with his soft curls in an attempt to block him out. The only thing it made me do was think of him more when the bed shifted, and I felt weight near me.

I didn't feel any arms or anything near me, so out of curiosity I looked over my shoulder.

His back was to mine, but he had definitely shifted closer, I could tell.

Stop, you're acting weird and becoming paranoid.

Right. I was acting ridiculous, truly. What was I afraid of? Absolutely nothing.

He wouldn't hurt me, he's even gone so far as to protect me, there really wasn't anything to be scared of when he was around.

But he apparently had a bad track record with women. According to Josh, Levi had had a multitude of girlfriends, but never anything more than a few months, at the longest.

So even if, and that was a big 'if', Levi would ever care for me, would anything even result from it?

I was so deep in thought, I hardly noticed the bed shift again.

"Hey, Aria, you ok?"

A mumbled voice, a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"Yes, I'm fine."

Shit, my voice sounded clipped. He probably thinks I'm angry.

"You're trembling."

What?

I was trembling. Huh.

I rolled to face him, and saw that his bright eyes had opened, and while he still looked drowsy, he seemed concerned.

"Are you cold?"

One hand still rested on my other shoulder, having switched sides when I rolled.

"I, uh."

What could I say? I didn't want to lie, but I didn't particularly feel like delving into the new truth at the moment either.

He moved the bed cover, which had been moved when he was having a nightmare, and gently placed it on top of me, one hand still covering my shoulder.

"Any better?"

I did feel better, but I was suddenly nervous.

Why the fuck am I nervous? Nothing's changed, he's still just Levi.

"Yeah. Thanks."

A small smile, and his hand removed itself from my shoulder.

"It's ok. Go to sleep."

"But - "

"No, none of that. Everything's alright. Are you still cold?"

I shook my head.

He studied me, and to me it seemed as if he suspected something else might be wrong, but was offering me an out just as I had allowed his.

He shut his eyes, and sleepily mumbled a "wake me if you need anything", before dozing again.

I sighed. This wasn't going to be easy.

But even so, sharing the bed with Josh would've been so much worse. He seemed to be better lately, less of a jerk, but still no one I'd want to interact with daily.