Page 27 of Hooked On Him
“Trouble in paradise already?” Charlie asks. “If it’s issues in the bedroom, don’t come to me for advice. I don’t wanna think about my little brother like that.”
“It’s not that.” I glare at him.
“But it is Levi?” Cole asks.
“He hasn’t really talked to me since the wedding.” I shrug, taking a swig of water.
“Uhh. That's it?” Charlie asks. “Dude, it’s Levi. The man lives for work. Do you know how long it takes for him to textmeback?”
“Well, you're not his boyfriend,” I snap.
“Ohh, someone's feeling a little needy.” Cole chuckles, giving me a knowing look. I flip him off, not in the mood for his bullshit.
“I’m not being needy. I just want to know if he’s mad at me or something.”
“You knew what you were getting into when you started dating Levi. This can’t be the only time he hasn’t texted you back,” Charlie says.
Actually, I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I started dating Levi. Because the fact is, the Levi I knew growing up might still be in there somewhere, but it’s not exactly who he is now. Levi has a whole new life that I know very little about.
“Whatever,” I grumble to Charlie.
“Hang in there. If he doesn’t text back, just show up at his place, or call,” Charlie suggests, patting me on the shoulder before jogging back out to the field.
“You sure seem worked up over someone who’s only meant to be a casual hook-up.” Cole gives me a smug, knowing grin. “Didn’t think this whole fake boyfriend thing through, did you?”
My eyes widen, darting around to make sure no one is listening. “Would you shut the fuck up!” I hiss, grabbing his arm to tug him closer. “He told you?”
“Ah, yeah. He’s my best friend. Also, seeing how I set you up on the blind date, I would have known that you two dating was bullshit.”
I narrow my eyes. “Do you have to be so crass?”
He shrugs. “It's what I do sometimes,” he chuckles. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say you have feelings for the guy.”
“I like Levi. He’s my type. And insanely sexy. But it’s not like that.”Lie.“We were friends growing up. Hanging out with him at the wedding was fun. It made me miss him and the friendship we used to have. He said we could be friends again, outside the deal we made. I’ve just been worried he might not want that anymore, that's all.”
“Ahhh.” Cole nods. “Look. Levi is my best friend. And my roommate. I’d like to say I know him better than anyone.”Why does that piss me off?“Levi’s life is all about school and work. He has no social life. Trust me, I’ve tried. Being friends with him isn’t going to be like being friends with other people. Seeing him is going to be rare, unless you plan on showing up at the house around midnight most nights to hang out for an hour while he does school work before going to bed. He only has Saturdays off, and he spends that catching up on homework for the most part, or sleeping in to catch up on sleep.”
He says the showing up at midnight thing like it's a joke, but he has no idea I’d actually do it. I’m starting to feel desperate to see his face at this point.
We don’t share any classes, and we don’t run in the same friend circles. It’s why we’ve been going to the same school foryears and haven’t crossed paths. He hasn’t even been to his parents’ place for Christmas or Thanksgiving the past two years. I have. Because it’s the only safe place I can go.
His mom says he always picks up shifts at the local shelter, helping them out on those days because that’s when it seems to be the busiest. They can’t even be mad at him because he’s doing good things for the community. So, his parents usually take food to him on his day off following those holidays.
Seeing Levi at the wedding might have been a one-time thing at this point. Maybe my plan isn’t going to be possible after all.
He really meant it when he said he didn’t have time to date. We’re not even actually dating, and I can’t even get a text from him.
Am I moody about it? Yes, because I just want to be around him. I’ve had a taste and now I want more.
Coach blows the whistle, telling us to get our asses back on the field.
I manage to get out of my head long enough to finish practice before we’re all dragging our broken and beaten bodies into the locker room. We’re covered head to toe in dirt and grass, a happy smile on my face for the first time today.
I need to get Levi out of my head. At least when it comes to rugby. I can overthink everything else later.
“We’re heading down to O'Connell's tonight. You coming?” Charlie asks.
“O'Connell's? We never go there.” It’s not a bad bar, it’s just a little further away from campus.
