Page 42 of Between Never and Forever
He’s quiet again, searching my face with a furrowed brow, trying to find the lie. I roll my eyes and shove his chest again.
“I’m serious. I’m bein’ honest. You are right, and I will talk to them.”
The sun is up now, and my room is filled with the early morning glow. It hasn’t escaped my attention that Levi’s arms are still around me despite the rising temperature. He’s still holding me, and I’m still letting him. It’s unnerving. I can’t get this close if I’m just going to have to say goodbye again.
“I’m never up this early,” I say with a forced grin. “Want to go get pancakes?”
11
“How areyou going to eat all of that?”
Levi eyes my gigantic stack of chocolate chip pancakes curiously. His head is cocked to the side, his mouth quirked up in a cute little bemused smile. I shove another forkful into my mouth and talk to him while I chew just to watch his nose scrunch in disgust.
“I jus’ am,” I mumble, then have to stifle a giggle because he looks absolutely appalled. I swallow, then take a drink from my water glass. “I’m hungry and these are delicious. It’s better than that.”
I flick my eyes to his plate—an egg white veggie omelet and dry wheat toast—then match his look of disgust. He laughs, and I roll my eyes, shoving another huge forkful of pancake into my mouth.
“So, how’s school? You like it?”
He finishes chewing, swallows, then takes a sip of his orange juice and wipes his mouth with his napkin before responding. I narrow my eyes at him, and he smirks. What a proper little weenie.
“Yeah, I guess.” Levi shrugs with a genuine smile. “I mean, it’s school, but it’s been great living on campus and meeting people and stuff.”
I want to ask whatkindof people.Girlpeople?
I want to ask if he has a girlfriend, but I don’t actually want to know the answer, so I don’t let the question leave my mouth. I think we kissed last night. Or, at least, I think I kissed him. Call me a selfish bitch, but I don’t want anything to ruin that, even if it was just another figment of my drunken imagination. So instead of saying what I want, I do what I do best: I tease.
“You sure you’re okay being away from Father Cooper? Has your momma moved into your dorm yet?”
“My dad’s not a priest, Sav.”
His tone is exasperated, but it’s fake. He’s amused. It makes me sit a little taller.
“Whatever.” I take another bite of pancake and chew through a cheeky grin. “Same difference.”
Levi chuckles and shakes his head.
“My mom has adjusted, but it doesn’t matter anyway. I like where I’m at, and it’s not up to them.”
My eyes widen with surprise, and my lips part slightly. Not to be dramatic, but I have to swallow back a gasp. Levi was never one to disobey his parents. At least not so openly.
Actually, now that I think of it, I’m pretty sureIwas the only rule he ever broke. And broke it repeatedly, despite the consequences.
I take another sip of my water before prodding.
“I’m surprised you’re at UNC, and not some fancy private Jesus college learnin’ how to follow in Father Cooper’s footsteps.”
“They tried. I said no. UNC has the better engineering program, and I got a scholarship, so I didn’t need their money.”
I stare openly, blinking. When he looks up from his plate and sees my face, he barks out a laugh.
“What? Stop looking at me like I’ve been body snatched.”
“I’m just surprised, is all. Openly defying the parents? Turning down a life for Jesus so you can go party it up with co-eds? Who even are you, Levi Cooper?”
He rolls his eyes, an amused smile on his lips and a pink blush dusting his ears.
“A lot has changed since you left, Sav.”
