Page 78 of Blind Date with a #FORMERPLAYER
Kissing her again, our mouths move together soft and slow. My tongue juts out, licking the seam of her lips, keeping our kiss tender and light. Breathless, we break our kiss. “Should we go to the game before it’s over, or do you just want to make out in the parking lot all night? I’m up for either.”
She snorts, blushing as she falls back in her seat looking sexy as fuck. Making out anywhere sounds damn perfect. “Let’s go watch a hockey game.”
Chapter 40
Layla
Sitting across from Chloe and Beck on the soft, black leather booth, I watch the waitress walk away with our drink order. The savory scent of Italian bread, tomato, basil and garlic fills my nose. The smells seem to be embedded into the pores of this dining room. It’s the same aroma I remember from this place as a kid, hitting me with a sense of nostalgia.
“Remember when we were throwing spaghetti up on the chandelier to see if we could hook it?” I ask Chloe.
She laughs. “Oh, my gosh, yes. We said we were trying to decorate it for Halloween.” Levi and Beck both laugh. “Weren’t we with your parents?”
“And Gabe.”
“Oh, yeah, and we tried throwing it every time they looked the other way.”
Grinning, I add, “And when Gabe tried, he got caught and got in so much trouble. He was so mad.”
We laugh and Levi asks, “Did you two always get in trouble together?”
“No.” I shake my head. “We just knew how to laugh together and we read and talked a lot of books.”
“It was great when I had to go home. We had our own book club then.”
“And now we have a different kind of book club,” I say.
“I’ve definitely become a big fan of the book club,” Levi claims, pressing a kiss to my temple and making me blush.
Beck says, “I’m glad we’re finally doing this.”
“Yeah, I like the stories and I’m glad I’m getting a chance to know the two of you a little better with just the four of us.”
“Me too,” Chloe and I agree in unison.
My smile waivers, emotion crawling up my throat, attempting to consume my insides. I feel Levi’s shift, moving closer. “You okay?” he whispers.
I nod, taking a deep breath, trying to get my emotions under control when they feel like they came from out of nowhere. “I’m just going to miss this and it’s only the first time we got to do it.”
“It’s going to be fine, Layla,” Chloe says reaching across the table for my hand.
At the same time, Levi’s hand falls to my thigh underneath the table, his fingertips trailing along the bare skin at the edge of my cranberry pencil skirt, trying to soothe me with the simple movement. “She’s right,” he insists.
“I know. I just don’t know how I’m going to say goodbye to you, Chloe,” I claim, my voice cracking and tears shining in my eyes.
“Then don’t,” she demands, vehemently shaking her head.
“You’ll be back and I’ll come visit you too. It’s going to be fine. It will be like it was before, but this time we’re adults and we have more control about traveling to see each other. It won’t be anything like the summer I had to go home early because I got sick, leaving you with the mean girls and prepubescent boys. You’re leaving me with Nana and Beck while you are going to love your new job. Plus, Gabe and your mom will be there.” She glances at Levi. “You just have to share some of your Layla phone time withme or I’ll come to Vegas and steal your phone. Or maybe all your stuff so you don’t know it’s me.”
A snort escapes before I can stop it. Quickly covering my mouth, I burst out laughing and Beck chuckles. He looks at Chloe, his eyes gleaming with adoration, while Levi sits gaping, looking between the three of us as if we have a secret we’re keeping from him. “What just happened?”
“This is the full power of Chloe and me. I couldn’t ask for a better best friend.” A broad smile lights up my face.
“Okay. Anything that makes you this happy is a good thing in my book,” he murmurs, chuckling. “I’m just not going to promise I will always understand what’s going on.”
Giggling, I lean over, kissing him on the corner of his mouth. “You’re adorable, Levi.”
“That’s just me,” Chloe claims, shrugging. We all laugh, the somber mood lightening.
