I snort a laugh and shake my head, “Nope, which is why I don’t plan to marry or have a kid, little brother.” I say, sitting upright and stretching my neck with a groan. “Unlike you, I have zero interest in either of those things, thank the lord.”
Mira shifts in her seat to face me, her dark brows fusing while she watches me walk toward the kitchen. “Wait, what? Levi, you’re never going to get married or have kids?”
“No, marriage is nothing but a formality, and I think weddings are a fad. As long as I love someone and am committed to them, why would I need a piece of paper and a ring to make it official?”
“You can’t be serious?” Mira sputters incredulously. “Marriage is more than a piece paper. Theweddingis you declaring that that is your person and that you are in for the ride to the end.Marriageis living out that promise daily, with the good or the bad. That piece of paper is just how the government acknowledges the relationship you're already living in.”
I feel like I’m going to annoy my newsister-in-lawwith this argument because I know how passionate Mira is about marriage and kids. “And I need an extravagant party to do that? My declaration will be to the woman I love, to the only person that matters. I couldn’t give a toss about everyone else. Does getting married come with a lifelong warranty? Is that piece of paper a one-way ticket to a lifetime of bliss? Is that expensive ring around your ringer an iron-clad guarantee against all the trials and tribulations a relationship goes through? No, it's not. What matters is the love and commitment you promise to each other.” I explain with a shrug and Devin and Mira both stare at me like I’ve spouted a second head.
“Boy, I had no idea you felt that way, and I suddenly feel really bad for the poor girl who will fall for you,” Mira says with a frustrated sigh, and I smirk.
Ah, baby girl, that’s not the tune you were humming when I had you straddling my face and eating your pussy just a few months ago. I bite my tongue when those words almost fly out of my mouth. Instead, I say, “Oh, you shouldn’t feel bad. You should be envious because I’m going to love her unconditionally. And unlike most men, I’m not going to be the guy who only buys her flowers and gifts and treats her like a goddess on Valentine's Day, or special occasions, because the love I would have for her wouldn’t be confined to just one day. I’m going to celebrate her presence in my life every day and remind her that she’s my whole damn world.”
“Well, it’s a darn shame you’re not getting married because you could have used that little speech as your vows, bro,” Devin states, picking up the bottle of beer and taking a sip as he takes the seat beside Mira.
“Nah, I’d much rather whisper it in her ear every night while her legs are shaking on my shoulder,” I utter, giving Mira a pointed look as I grab my helmet off the kitchen island. “I’m off, I have places to be and people to see. You can fill me in later with what my best man duties are for thisshindig.” I drawl and grin when Mira glowers in my direction as I walk off toward the elevator.
I push the button and glance up at the number 3 and arrow pointing down indicating the elevator is on the third floor and on its way down. “Bloody hell. You and your fancy penthouse, Devin.” I carp. By the time I wait for the elevator to go down and come up to the penthouse, I can take the stairs and be on my merry way.
I wait another minute, and when the numbers don’t move from the 3rd floor, I opt for taking the stairs. It’s twenty floors down, which can be my cardio for the day I suppose. By the time I reach floor 10, I’m deeply regretting my decision, because I’m sweating and getting dizzy from going around and around this never-ending winding staircase. Not to mention, my calves and thighs are screaming at me for my stupidity.
Note to self: never underestimate twenty flights of stairs again.
By some stroke of luck, I manage to make it down to the ground floor without falling and breaking any bones. I take a moment to steady my breath and reorient myself before feeling a sudden wave of dizziness wash over me. All those times spinning around on the stairs must have triggered a bout of vertigo.
“Fuck me.” I inhale deeply, trying to fill my lungs with fresh air as I push open the door leading to the building's lobby.
“Sure, Ness, I'll grab it on my way back. It might take a couple of hours, though.” I’m snapped out of my thoughts by a familiar voice and stop in my tracks when I see Summer hurrying through the lobby towards the elevators with her phone wedged between her shoulder and ear. My eyes do a quick sweep over her. She's wearing a vibrant yellow sundress adorned with sunflowers and carrying a stack of books and folders in her arms.
“Summer?” I call out to her before I can even process what I'm doing. Her eyes meet mine, and she seems just as surprised to see me as I am to see her. The books tumble from her grasp, landing on the floor with a thud that echoes through the empty foyer.
“Uh, Ness, I have to go,” she stammers before abruptly ending the call. “Levi.” My name flows from her rosy lips as a breathy whisper.
I’m getting a sense of déjà vu here. Why is this girl always dropping things when she sees me? We both stand still for a moment, locked in each other’s gaze. My throat suddenly feels dry as my mind conjures up memories of our night together. Summer is the first to break eye contact; she looks down at her books and folders strewn across the floor. “Oh, sugar.”
I hurry over to her when she kneels and starts gathering up the books into a pile. I join her on the floor, picking up some photos of cakes that fell out of her pink folder—which I’m going to assume is her portfolio.
“You must find me really hideous,” I blurt out, stealing glances as I pick up photos off the ground. Summer looks up and blinks in confusion.
“Pardon?”
I smile and gesture towards the mess around us.
“You keep dropping things every time you see me. Am I really that hideous to look at?” She looks flustered for a moment before speaking again.
“Oh,” she utters, her eyes raking over my face. “No, you’re…” she trails off and drops her gaze as she goes to stack the books into a pile. Her soft brown hair falls around her face like a curtain, hindering my view. So, I tilt my head to get a better look at her pretty face.
“I’m… what?” I probe, my fingers itching to reach out and tuck her hair behind her ear.
“Not hideous.” She answers quietly, but her eyes remain cast down like she’s scared to look at me. I observe her closely as she stands again and smooths out the skirt to her dress.
“Thanks, I guess.” I chuckle, holding out the folder to her, and she takes it from me, muttering a thank you. “So, it’s been what, a couple of months since—”
“—Eleven weeks.” Summer corrects, clearing her throat.
Wow, has she been counting the days? “Right. So, what are you doing here? What brings you to this side of town?”
Summer chews her lip anxiously, her eyes looking over at the elevator. Wow, she won’t even look at me for more than two seconds.