Page 12 of Holiday on the Rocks
Well, maybe not totally hated it.
“I’m going to lean in a little so I can see your eyes, okay?” I felt his breath on my face and panic flooded me.
I nodded as my heart beat so violently I swore he must’ve heard it. I swallowed hard as he moved closer while the memory of our first kiss streaked through my mind.
My nerves were on full display while we sat with our feet dangling off of the Sugar Creek Bridge just outside of town surrounded by wheat fields. The sun had sunk over the horizon on a warm summer night in June with only the sound of crickets in the distance.
Now he was the man I’d hate forever.
When he leaned in the mattress dipped and everything in me went on a tilt when his emerald eyes stared into mine. I held my breath as heat swirled up my spine. I sat frozen for a long moment until he sat back. “They look great.” He jumped up. “I mean they look normal. Yeah, your eyes there’re, uh, totally normal.”
He flipped off the lamp. “I guess I’ll see you later.”
He exited the room quickly and pulled the door closed behind him as I gasped for air, and attempted to regulate my pulse which I was certain was at least five hundred beats a freaking minute.
But after a half an hour of reliving the most exciting eye exam of my life, my tummy was growling. I dug in my purse and found three Jolly Ranchers, piece of gum, and a yellow Tic Tac which would not take the place of dinner very well. Twelve minutes later I knew I had to get to the kitchen and hope a previous guest had left some snacks or something. I was sure Levi was in a bedroom by now, so the coast was clear.
As much as I fought myself, before I headed downstairs I changed my clothes into black leggings and the blue Lululemon zippy jacket which I knew made my eyes look nice.
I’d like to say I brushed my hair, but my hair isn’t the brushy kind. My curls ran wild most of the time and while I used to straighten and attempt to tame, I’d just accepted the fact that they’ll never listen to me.
Did it stop there? Nope. Loser me put on mascara and a little blush topped off by lip gloss.
But it’s just because I believe in looking my best for myself. Yes, self-love is important.
Shut up.
I tip-toed down the stairs realizing this humungo house was eerily quiet. I imagined there were a zillion places a murder could hide and then kill me while I slept. Danger was around every corner.
I made it to the kitchen and scoured the cabinets to find nothing but condiments. Did I squirt some caramel sauce into my mouth and top it off with a shot of whipped cream from a can in the refrigerator? Of course not, that would be ridiculous.
The most annoying ring tone in the entire world pierced my ears, again, as Levi’s phone sat on the kitchen table across the room. I looked around and he appeared to be MIA.
My eyes were shooting in all directions when I took a few steps toward the table. I stretched my neck as far as I could and on his screen was the photo of a blond woman and my heart sputtered as the phone stopped ringing. I scolded myself; it had been too long to still feel the sting of Levi.
I shoved it out of my mind and walked through the kitchen and came upon a glass door leading to the indoor pool. This wasn’t just an “indoor pool”. This masterpiece belonged in an issue of Architectural Digest or on one of those million dollar pool shows on HGTV.
An oval pool was in the center surrounded by a complete wall of windows, floor to ceiling, with a breathtaking view of the snowy trees and mountains outside. Yes, one would be able to lie on a pool float while watching deer or whatever kind of animals were in the vicinity.
I walked inside with chlorine hitting my nostrils while humidity and heat wrapped around me. I could almost feel the curls on my head tightening up.
“Hey.”
I jumped and spun around to see stupid Levi in the hot tub. I attempted to control my internal body temperature as my eyes skimmed over his well-developed chest and muscular arms. Holy fudgeballs he was built.
He had a tattoo scrolling around his bicep that was sexy as hell, and my heart fell flat on its face at the sight of his other tattoo. Our tattoo. Holding hands while he insisted my initials be in the design was a dull pain in my stomach now.
As a smirk snaked across his lips I quickly looked away. “I didn’t know you were in here.”
“Yes, I see your never coming out has ended.”
“I’m going to get myself something to eat.”
“I’ll come.”
“No, you won’t.”
“First of all, if I recall correctly, your car is a mangled mess down a cliff. So unless you’re hoofing it, I’m coming.”
