Reservations

Levi immediately replied. “Yeah, I know. But everyone can be an asshole at times. I’ll admit I’m guilty of it too. I’ve got to go to bed. I’ve got a few hours to sleep before I work the next fourteen. Thanks for talking to me. I really feel comfortable talking to you.”

Thane smiled at Levi’s admission and typed back. “I’ve got a flight to catch. I’ve got to go too. Sleep well. We’ll talk more later. I’ll message once I’ve gotten more from the school.”

Thane waited several minutes to see if Levi would respond. He didn’t.

He was a little late to start the day; that knowledge sped him up. He felt good, and whipped the covers off. He needed to harness this positivity and be functioning today. Maybe the melancholy was fading. Who knew.

Chapter 17

48 hours later

With a broad grin, Thane stared down at the cell phone that seemed stuck to his hand as he walked the length of the first-floor remodel of his corporate office. He’d been the one to insist upon this walk-through with the Layne Construction superintendents. A catch up of sorts on where they were on the project and how much longer until completion, but Thane honestly wasn’t paying any attention. The Hopkins housing department had sent a written confirmation of a reserved space for the fall semester, and he had forwarded that message to Levi, initiating this latest round of conversation between the two of them and his reason for being distracted.

Thane had learned over the last few days that he’d never had a friend like Levi. Someone he just got along with for the sake of getting along. Their personalities seemed to have similarities. Sometimes bold, sometimes timid, yet always striving to do better in life. Levi was also funny. Thane had sensed that in the time they’d shared together, but he completely got it now. Levi fiercely loved his family. His brothers were his world, and Levi would do anything to protect what he deemed worthy.

Interestingly enough, Julian seemed to fall into Levi’s loyalty category. Levi even mentioned him by name when he spoke of what a quality man his boss and friend had turned out to be. Without any question, Thane wanted to be on that list of important things in Levi’s life. He had a feeling if he ever managed to make the list, his name would be added with permanent ink and that didn’t even make him a little bit nervous.

Thane absently trailed behind the two Layne men, but paused at the bottom step leading up to the second floor in order to type a message on his phone. “I’ve got to go. I’m on a construction site, doing a walk through that I requested, and I’m not paying any attention, which is technically more your fault than mine.”

Thane looked up at the stairs, both the foreman and the general manager were staring down at him, exasperation clear on their weather-roughened faces.

“I’m sorry,” Thane said and started trotting up the steps. “I’ll pay attention now.”

Almost to the top, his phone again vibrated in his hand, and he couldn’t help himself, he stopped and looked down at Levi’s message. “Enjoy your day. I have a patient coming in anyway. I just want to thank you again for securing that housing. You’re a miracle worker. I’m certain now that we can make it in Maryland. I owe you.”

Thane sucked his lip between his teeth and thought about that. He didn’t want Levi’s debt; he wanted his friendship. And if he were being honest, he really just wanted Levi. He wanted those green eyes focused only on him as they teased one another face-to-face.

Thane quickly typed back. “You owe me nothing. I’m certain you would have had the same results had you contacted housing yourself. I’m just glad to help relieve some of your burden.”

He waited the second, but he’d spoken with Levi enough over the last few days to know he wouldn’t respond. He’d said his goodbyes in the previous message and the patient would take precedence over everything. Thane enjoyed finding the subtlety in Levi’s messages, getting to know how he’d respond, and boy, did his guy have integrity down to an art form. Levi was so damn impressive.

Thane’s grin grew as he tucked the phone in his back pocket. Shit. He’d done it again, forgotten where he was. He couldn’t seem to replace the smile plastered on his face, but he did lift both hands in an “I give” motion and started up the final steps. “I’m done. I promise.”

“The youth of today,” the foreman muttered. Thane supposed the guy tried for teasing, but the implication was sincere.

“Can’t keep the phones out of their hands,” the general manager finished the foreman’s thought. Since Thane had already heard every single derogatory millennial reference that knocked the way he did everything, he felt more than comfortable giving a careful whack to the older man’s shoulder.