I also could have easily sent one of our junior electricians rather than do the job myself, but my reasons for wanting to help Levi were probably best not examined in detail.
“Okay,” Levi said slowly. “I really am desperate for a good night’s sleep. I have a hard enough time sleeping these days as it is.”
I refrained from asking why that was because he was already plenty uncomfortable and didn’t need my curiosity adding to it. Instead, I worked out the logistics while Blake made my drink, getting Levi’s address and arranging to come by after Levi’s shift ended and I was done for the day.
“See? That worked out perfectly.” Blake grinned as he ran my card to pay for the order.
Behind him, Levi blushed and glanced away. Perfect was probably pushing it, and I’d settle for not scaring the guy and getting him some decent rest. However, having a job to do and a person to help did beat hanging out on my own. And with a little luck, maybe I’d get to see those dimples again.
Chapter Four
Levi
“I’m fine,” I lied to my tablet screen. I was a good liar too. I almost believed me, so chances were high that my mom would as well. We were video chatting so she could see my face, but I was confident I could pull off a ten-minute talk without tripping her Mom-sensor before Joe arrived to look at my smoke detector.
“Excellent.” Looking up from her crocheting, she smiled at me. The crocheting, like so many things in her new life, was a recent hobby. The light-green yarn appeared a little lumpy, but she seemed content, which was the important thing. “I’m so happy things are working out for you.”
“Yep.” I flopped back on the navy pinstripe sofa. As with most items in the condo, it wasn’t exactly my personal taste, but it didn’t suck. Things working out was a matter of perspective. I wasn’t out on the street, and I had a job, but I also wasn’t anywhere close to the life I’d come to Laurelsburg for.
“You’ll find a better job soon, I bet.” Her tone was super encouraging, as always. “Have you put in many applications?”
“Yeah.” Another lie. I was on a roll. But the last thing she needed to hear about was my crisis of confidence or how tight the job market seemed. “How’s Ed?”
“Great.” She made a happy noise that would have been over the top coming from anyone else, but she’d earned it. Ed was the guy she’d finally married last May after years of dating. He was slightly younger than her, and he adored her, which was all I cared about. “We had such a nice trip to the city. I still can’t believe he surprised me for my birthday.”
“Of course he did. He’s a good guy.” Grateful to have moved on to safer topics, I smiled back at her before pointing in the general direction of her crocheting. “How are you feeling?”
“Wonderful.” Beaming, she did seem to have a certain glow I’d never seen from her before. “You’d never know I’m high-risk for my ancient age.”
“You’re not ancient. You’re only forty. And if you need me to come help—”
“I don’t.” She turned me down, exactly like I’d expected. Her pregnancy had been a shock to everyone, but she seemed to have settled into the news in the last few weeks. “I’ve got Ed, and his family has been nothing short of amazing. You’ll come visit after the baby arrives, but you need to live your life, sweetie.”
“Yeah.” I truly wouldn’t mind spending the next couple of months doting on her, but she and Ed had a small house. No way was I going to steal the baby’s future room or impose on my mom’s hard-won happiness by admitting my own life was crumbling. After all these years as a young, single mom, she’d earned every moment of bliss. It wasn’t her fault that I’d screwed up so royally.
The sound of clanging pots sounded on her end, followed by Ed’s voice saying something about dinner. She glanced over her shoulder before turning back to the camera. “I better let you go. Big Friday plans?”
“Uh…” I needed to end this on a positive note. I glanced around the still-unfamiliar room, trying to land on something upbeat. My gaze flitted to Joe’s card on the coffee table. “I’ve got a friend coming over soon.”
It was a stretch, calling a customer who didn’t even trust me to make his favorite drink a friend, but it was all I had. And it worked, Mom stretching and smiling.
“That’s wonderful. Look at you, bouncing back. I’m so proud of you.”
I wasn’t sure how much more maternal pride I could take, but I managed to end the call without any examination of all the ways I was failing at life, so, win. And as I put my tablet away, the door buzzed, saving me from further reflection. I verified that it was Joe, then hit the button to let him come up.