Page 11 of Blind Date with a #FORMERPLAYER
“Definitely not,” I grumble, frowning. Pushing the door, I attempt to slam it in his face.
His foot juts out, blocking it before it closes. “Please wait, Layla. I just want to apologize and then if you want me gone I’ll leave.”
“Fine,” I mutter, too tired to argue. Spinning on my heel, I return to my spot on the couch, tucking my legs underneath me.Crossing my arms over my chest, I narrow my eyes and bite my tongue, sitting quietly.
He steps inside and closes the door behind him, setting the bags down on the coffee table in front of me before he hands me a bouquet of pink and white carnations. “I was hoping to find you some white lilies, but I didn’t have a lot of options in town, especially at this time of night. This is all the grocery store had.”
“Why lilies?” I ask, curious.
Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he cocks his head to the side and watches me from underneath his long eyelashes. I refuse to be swayed by his boyish charm. “They mean forgiveness and that’s something I’m begging you for.”
I purse my lips, trying not to visibly react no matter how sweet I think the gesture. “You were a jerk at dinner. Why now?”
“Because I was wrong.”
Slightly stunned, I sit up straight. “Did you just say you were wrong? After tonight, I didn’t peg you as a man who admits his faults.”
Wincing, he wipes his hand down his face and drops it to his side. “I’m sorry, Layla. It’s no excuse but the world I live in can be toxic. A lot of people I’ve encountered will do whatever it takes to get what they want, manipulating and trampling everyone in their path, no matter the consequences.”
“That’s just sad.”
“I’m not going to argue with you there.”
“What did you even think I was trying to do?”
He grimaces peeking up at me as he admits, “Use me to help get you a job.”
“That’s not something I would ever do.” I shake my head.
He smirks, his gaze alight with mischief when he taunts, “What about use me for sex?”
I snort, quickly covering my mouth, while my face turns a deep shade of red. Shaking it off, I ask, “What made you change your mind?”
“My aunt and uncle told me who your brother is.”
I nod in understanding, but that doesn’t mean I deserved to be treated like crap. I’ve had enough of that to last me a lifetime and I’m not about to put up with it ever again. My shoulders slump. “You know, even without my brother, I was being completely genuine. You shouldn’t judge people so quickly.”
“You’re right. All I can do is say I’m sorry and try to make it up to you.”
Staring at him, I see nothing but sincerity and regret shining in his eyes. Exhaling slowly, my body starts to relax, letting it go. “Okay, fine. I forgive you.”
Levi grins brightly, the look making my breath hitch. “Thank you, Layla. I brought dinner since we never got a chance to eat.” He reaches for the bags of food and begins unloading everything onto the coffee table before I say another word. “I went back to the diner. Hopefully I got it right.”
My lips twitch up in amusement. “I said I forgive you, but I didn’t say you could stay or that I wanted to finish our date.”
His face falls and he rubs the back of his neck, tilting his head and giving me a sheepish look. “Oh, ah...”
Giggling, I let him off the hook. “I’m kidding, Levi. Sit. I’m hungry.” I gesture towards the other end of the couch.
He breathes a sigh of relief and hands me my dinner before sitting down with a container of food. “I deserved that.”
“This is probably better than being at the diner anyway with the whole town watching us like we were their own personal reality TV show.”
“The table behind you never took their eyes off of us.”
I laugh. “They’re all part of the book club that set us up.”
“Does that mean they had to stare at us?”
