Page 39 of Hooked On Him
“I love you, man. But I really don’t want to hear you tell me how you don’t think I should be with my boyfriend. I like Levi. A lot. I’m not just going to give up on him because it’s not easy. No relationship is easy. Things are new, we’re just finding our way, and how things will work for us. We’ll be fine. I just have to be patient.”
“Damn.” Charlie whistles. “You really do like him, don’t you?” More than you know. “I approve, by the way. Your answer was pretty perfect.”
“Were you testing me?” I pause, washing my hair.
“Maybe,” he chuckles. “But you passed. Levi... he has a big heart. He is always putting other people before himself, for the most part. He’s a people pleaser, and too many people have taken advantage of that fact. Not to mention his ex is a real piece of fucking work,” Charlie growls. “I swear, if I could kick his ass without it possibly causing issues between Levi and me, I’d have done it a while ago.”
“Why haven't you?” Because I sure as fuck would have.
“Because he asked me not to,” he mutters. “And I don’t want to break his trust. He’s already been put through enough of that.”
A punch of guilt hits me right in the gut. Fuck.
Not knowing what to say to that, I don’t respond. Charlie leaves me to finish my shower.
I spend the rest of the day in my own head. And because I didn’t get my morning coffee with Levi, the lack of sleep gets to me more than normal.
I’m not present in any of my classes and have to ask a buddy of mine to send me his notes.
By the end of the day, I’m tired, cranky, hungry, and in an all-around pissy mood. I agree to go out for supper with the team to carb load before the game.
Once it’s time for the game to start, I feel like shit. And I know I’m not going to play well. Knowing I’m going to let my team down tonight fills me with even more guilt, adding to my crappy feeling.
“We got this!” Andy shouts. “C’mon, boys. Let’s go kick their arses!”
Being the scrum-half, I play an important part for this team. And seeing how my head is in fact not in the game, not at all, I don’t cheer with the rest of the team.
We make our way out onto the field, and I groan as the rain pelts down. Fucking hell. Just what I need on top of my already pissy mood.
It’s Newfoundland, and we’re right on the water. Rain is almost a daily thing here. I’m used to it. Normally, I love playing in the rain, getting all muddy. It provides a challenge, pushes me.
Not today.
The coach says something, but I don’t pay attention. The only thing I can think about is Levi. He’s all I can seem to think about these days.
The coach calls for a team chant. I join half heartedly. Breaking, we get ready to start.
“Well, I’ll be fucking damned,” Charlie laughs disbelievingly.
“What?” I blink, water getting in my eyes.
“He came. He actually showed up.”
“What? Who?”
Charlie points to the stands, and my eyes follow in the same direction. “He has never come to a game in his life. I wonder why today is different?” Charlie gives me a knowing look.
Sitting there in the stands is Levi. Holy shit! He’s really here.
He’s sitting under an umbrella, snuggled up in a jacket. When he sees me looking, his handsome face shifts into a nervous smile as he gives me a small wave.
Like a shot to the heart, pure glee seeps into my body. He’s here. He’s fucking here. Because I asked him to be. He’s here for me.
The smile that splits my face is nearly painful, and I don’t care how much of a fucking dumbsss I look like, I lift my hand and wave.
“Hey, baby!” I whistle. “This is for you!”
And just like that, just seeing Levi in the stands, showing up for me even though he said he had to work, has all the bad feelings drifting away.
