“Levi, what time does practice start?” Victor asks as he nibbles on some toast.
“About an hour. I will need to leave soon.” He sounds sad and squeezes my hand tighter.
I feel the lump in my throat. The tears are beginning to creep up. He’s leaving again, and I have to go back to JWU without him. I close my eyes and count to five. Levi said ‘no tears’. I’m going to try my best and not show him any.
The conversation between Victor and Levi continues, and I sit there, latched onto Levi. Time seems to be moving fast because Levi looks down at me with a sad smile.
“I have to go.” His eyes are full of sadness, and I let a tear escape. I can’t help it. I can’t hold them back.
I’m unable to say anything, so instead I nod. Victor stands up and pays for the food. Levi follows us out to the lobby, then out to the car. I already put my bags in there.
Victor hugs Levi first. They say they will see each other soon. Levi has a game in New York in two weeks, and we will be there for it. Victor walks around and gets into the car. Levi turns to me. He wraps his arms around me. I dig my nails into his hair. I don’t want to let go.
“Smarty, two weeks. You only have to wait two weeks,” he reminds me.
I nod.
“It’ll be easier when you finish school. I promise.” He pulls back and looks down at me. His blue eyes are bright, looking me up and down.
“Stop looking at me like that, Levi.” I grin up at him, finally able to talk.
“Whatever do you mean, Smarty?” He leans down to my ear, and his hot breath tickles my ear
. “Do you mean the look that means I want to drag you back into that hotel and not leave for the rest of the week?”
“Jerk.” My voice is deep with lust for him.
He chuckles. “I guess you didn’t get enough last night?”
“I could never get enough of you.” I hold onto him tighter.
Levi groans, and I can feel that he’s getting more turned on. “We have to stop teasing each other.” He steps back a little. “I love you, Smarty.”
“I love you, Levi.” A tear rolls down my cheek.
Levi kisses my lips hard. I push my tongue into his mouth. I want to stay that way forever, but he finally releases me. He opens the car door for me, and I get in. He says bye to his dad one more time, and we take off. I want to look back and see Levi standing there, but I begin to cry. Actually, I begin to sob. Victor doesn’t say anything. He only reaches over and grabs my hand.
After several minutes, I’m able to calm myself down. I reach for a couple tissues in my purse. I put them there because I knew that I was going to be using them.
“Sorry, Victor.” I wipe the tears away and try to clean my face up. “I bet you think I’m crazy?”
“Nope, not at all. I just think you’re a girl in love.”
“Thanks.” I smile at him. I’m glad that he understands my insane emotions.
I stare out the window as we head back home. Victor and I chat about school and how excited he is about hunting season coming up.
When Victor drops me off, I sit on my couch, thinking about the incredible weekend Levi and I had together. A small smile spreads across my face as my skin still tingles from his lips, his touch, and the way he makes me feel.
My phone beeps with an alert of an arriving text message. On the screen is Levi’s smiling face looking back at me. I laugh at his cheesy expression, and the way he can make me laugh, even from a hundred miles away.
The next text that comes through says:
Don’t ever forget that you’re the strongest person I know.
I love you, Smarty. You mean everything to me. See ya in a few weeks.
Levi is right. I need to be strong through this process. I know I can be. I’m going to see him in a few weeks, and I can’t wait.