Page 6 of Get Lost with You
“Let’s never talk about that again,” he teased.
When he looked down at her, his arm brushed against hers, and sensation traveled through him like a current. Jillian stared up at him for a minute and the muscles in Levi’s chest tightened, making it harder to breathe. Her bottom lip slipped between her teeth and Levi fought the urge to press his thumb against it, tug it out, and replace it with his lips.Shit. Redirect. Redirect.
“I can’t believe you’re home,” she said, her voice breathy.
He couldn’t read her expression, which shouldn’t have been a surprise. He wanted to; he wanted to know what she was thinking. Did she remember the crush they’d had on each other? It wasn’t one-sided, and if he was right about her intentions the night he left, she’d wanted to kiss him every bit as much as he’d wanted to kiss her.
“I’m right here, so it must be true,” he said in a whisper.
Shaking her head and the somewhat dreamy look out of her eyes, she walked to the checkout.
Maureen, the store owner and Smile’s part-time psychologist, was scrolling on her phone when they approached the counter. Her dark brown eyes widened as they closed the distance, a little smile tipping her lips upward. She wore a purple silk scarf around the base of a thick bun that didn’t hide all the gray. Another reminder that time passed. He didn’t want to miss any more of it with these people. Maureen’s happy, all-seeing eyes and wide welcoming smile hadn’t changed a bit.
“Well, look at this,” Maureen said, setting her phone down. “It’s like turning the TV to a retro channel. Last time I saw the two of you here together, I don’t know if either of you were old enough to drive.”
“Ouch. Way to age us all,” Levi said, setting the mangled cupcakes on the counter.
Maureen’s laugh was deep and smoky. “Oldest one in the room is allowed to do that. Levi, you’re not supposed to rough them up first.” She picked up a pack, stared at the smooshed baked goods.
Levi set his basket down on the counter, then helped Jilly unload her arms. “There was a bit of a collision. I’ll pay for them.”
“You don’t have to buy them, Levi. I couldn’t even see where I was going.” Jill opened her wallet, which was handily hooked around her wrist.
Maureen shushed them both. “Don’t be silly. I’m not charging for them. Miles will eat them.”
Miles was her husband. Levi hadn’t seen him yet, but usually he worked in the back of the store, which acted as a post office and shipping depot. Maureen took the cloth bag Jilly produced out of her pocket, started ringing the cupcakes up. “Levi, heard your dad’s surgery went well. Hopefully he won’t go back to eating all that greasy food. Your mom says you’re home for good?”
It felt great to reply with “I am.” It felt even better to see Jilly’s gaze drift to his with the same spark in them he felt in his chest.
“Wonderful. Welcome back. Now, did you get a craving, Jilly, or are you and your brothers meeting up?”
“Ollie forgot to mention she needed cupcakes for sports day today,” Jill said.
“I could have gotten Miles or Anderson to deliver them, honey. No need for you to be running around more than you already do.” Maureen shook her head, loaded the cupcakes into the bag. Then she glanced at Levi. “Though, I suppose things work out as they’re meant to sometimes, don’t they?”
The silence stretched too many beats, which made Levi laughawkwardly, which in turn made Maureen hoot with unrestrained laughter. Jilly got them back on track by telling them about the sports day at the school.
He liked listening to her talk, and when she spoke about her daughter, her entire body seemed to shift into high gear, like just the thought of her kid energized her. It made him want to move closer and ask more questions to keep her chatting.
Jilly paid, but waited at the end of the counter for Levi’s order to be rung through.
“What will you do now that you’re back? Your mom is always telling us about the fancy restaurant you worked in,” Maureen said, scanning the items.
His end goal was always food. Right now, though, he needed to build some bridges. Literally and metaphorically. “I’m hoping to pitch in for my dad so he doesn’t get behind on his jobs. He’s coming home from the hospital today.”
No need to tell anyone that he was thinking about a food truck that served elevated comfort foods. He gestured to the chalkboard with his thumb. “Maybe I should put that on the board so everyone doesn’t have to ask?” He paid, then scooped up his bags as he joined Jillian at the end of the counter.
“People do love our chalkboard. Even with the new Smile Facebook page, people list everything on there.” Maureen leaned on the counter.
“That’s really nice that you’re going to help your dad out. It’s not always easy to put your own dreams on hold for others,” Jillian said.
Something tweaked in Levi’s chest. The way she said it suggested she knew, personally, how that felt. He hadn’t done that at seventeen, but he could do it now while he got settled and started building his life here. “Let’s hope he thinks so.”
The phone on the wall—which Levi couldn’t believe still existed; the thing was a relic—rang.
“Better get that. You two be good. Glad you’re home, Levi. Tell your mom Miles can deliver if she needs anything.”
His chest warmed. His own tally was proving more people were glad about his return than not. In fact, so far his dad was the only one in the “not” column. He pushed that thought away for later.
