Total pages in book: 39
Estimated words: 36209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 121(@300wpm)
“Why are you trying to reach her?” I bring one of my hands to her cheek. Lev leans into my touch, seemingly vulnerable at this moment.
“I got in a fight with my mom. She kicked me out.” Lev’s bottom lip puffs out. The sadness in her eyes cuts bone-deep. Lev's mother is only marginally better than her father. She deserves so much more than the shitty parents she’s been given.
“Come on.” I drop my hand from her face to grab her bags.
“What are you doing?” Lev watches me as I place them in the back of the car.
“You know.” I open the door.
“We can’t.” Lev stays rooted to her spot, not moving. So stubborn.
“You called Gabriella because she’s your friend. Knew she’d help. Well, you told me I’m a friend,” I toss back at her. I might be a dick to use her own words against her, but I’ll do what I have to.
I also bet I was part of the reason her mother tossed her out. Her father gets thrown in jail, and then Lev gets kicked out. Her mom can’t know that Tom being in jail is connected to Lev, but I’m sure it started a chain reaction. They both, however, can get fucked because Tom knocked that first domino over when he touched my girl. I’m sure it wasn’t his first time being a dick to her, but I know without a doubt it will be his last.
“You’re not playing fair.” A soft smile plays on her lips.
“In.” I wave my hand. Now she fights the smile. “If you want to play, darling, I’ll play.”
“What are you going to do? Put me in the car?” Lev rolls her eyes. I don’t look away. “You wouldn’t.” Her tongue comes out, wetting her bottom lip. Well, fuck me. Maybe I should be more forceful with her. I take a step toward her.
“All right, cowboy. Hold your horses.” Lev scurries to get in the car. I reach out and give her ass a pat. She lets out a gasp that has me chuckling before shutting the door behind her. I slip into the driver's seat. “Can’t believe you did that.”
“Always give the horse a nice pat to the ass when they run by.”
Lev snorts a laugh. “Okay, I might have walked into that one.”
I take off back towards home. For the first time in days, I truly relax. I’ve got her back and all to myself. She’s safe, and that’s the way she’ll remain.
“I wish you would have called me,” I tell her.
“I thought about it,” she admits, to my surprise.
“Lev, I know you’re a strong woman. I’d never doubt that.”
“Why are you saying this?”
I glance over at her when I hit the light. “Because I hope when you start to believe me, you can pull down some of those walls and armor you cover yourself in.” I will do whatever it takes to make her feel comfortable enough to do that with me.
“It’s just, ah—” Lev trails off.
“And to be honest”—I take off as the light turns green—"you are far too intelligent to allow your stubbornness to get in the way of your safety. Leaving your house in the middle of the night, carrying your belongings with nowhere to go instead of reaching out to me wasn’t your best decision.”
“Hey—”
“I get you want to be independent, but you have to learn when to set aside your ego or whatever it was that made you not call me for your own good.”
11
LEV
Ouch.
But he’s not wrong. If I flipped this and it was Gabriella with nowhere to go without a penny to her name when she had someone like Caleb or Eros to call, I’d throttle her. I suppose I sometimes let my own pride get in the way. I hate being vulnerable.
“I’m not trying to be an asshole.” Eros's hand comes down on my knee. “I—”
“You’re right.” Eros glances over at me. “I can put my ego away for two seconds to say those two words.” A sexy smile spreads across his handsome face. “Don’t get used to it.” I point at him in a playful warning gesture.
“Wouldn't dream of it.” He gives my knee a squeeze. Eros goes to lift his hand, and I grab it, placing it in my lap between both of mine. I find that his touch brings me comfort and makes me feel safe. Something I haven’t felt in a very long time. Maybe ever, if I’m being honest.
“I was so relieved when I saw you. I had no idea what I was going to do.”
“Good.”
“Good? Don’t get cocky on me.”
“I’m not, darling. I’m saying good because I'm over the fucking moon you were relieved to see me. Best compliment I’ve ever gotten.” He really is one of the good guys. I might be a dumbass trying to put him in the friendzone. Not that he is moving over there.