"That's enough," I whispered to myself as I sat up and stared at my reflection.
I heard my mom talking to someone, and Nero perked up at the sound of Levi's deep voice, whining immediately to be let out of my bedroom. His entire backside was wiggling as I leaned past him to pull the door open. He was off like a shot, which made me laugh.
My dog couldn't pretend this someone was new either.
I came down the hallway, a strange something curling up in the base of my tummy. Apparently, my traitorous body hadn't gotten the memo that fluttery, flitteries needed to go away because when I came around the corner and saw him crouched on the ground, scratching the sides of Nero's neck, they exploded dangerously, sweeping up my chest in a hot rush.
Levi's eyes landed on me, and he stood slowly.
I might have laughed at the fact that he was, to my mom's horror, wearing dark jeans with his bright blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up his forearms, but I was too busy watching my best friend look at me like he'd never seen me. His golden eyes were bright and happy, his hair styled neatly and jaw shaved clean.
"You look …” He shook his head slowly. "Jocelyn, you look beautiful."
Words. I needed words, but someone had tossed a bucket of sand in my mouth, and it took me a second to unstick my tongue. "Thanks."
His eyes twinkled, and I shook my head because that ass could see right through me. He knew I was nervous; he knew I was struggling to figure out how the hell I was supposed to act.
"Shall we?"
I nodded, grabbing my purse off the end table by the front door. As I passed Nero, I scratched him on the top of the head.
My mom poked her head out of the kitchen. "Have fun. Don't be out too late."
In my head, I rolled my eyes because I was twenty-one, not sixteen, and she'd never once worried about how late I was out, especially since she'd be leaving for the hospital soon anyway. Levi smiled at her, dimple deep and ridiculous, and even my mom wasn't immune.
"Of course not, Mrs. Abernathy."
Levi followed me out the front door, chuckling as soon it closed behind him.
Normally, I would've joined in. But I still felt like the ground under me was unsteady, shifting slightly with each inch I covered.
"Hey," he said, resting his arm on my shoulder so that I had to stop.
"What?" I asked, only meeting his eyes for a second before I looked away again.
Levi crouched down in front of me and didn't speak until I finally caved and met his gaze straight-on.
"It's just you and me," he said. "Okay?"
"Okay," I answered quietly. How was he so sure about this? How did this not feel … strange to him?
"We've eaten together hundreds of times."
"Not at a nice restaurant," I countered.
"How do you know we're going somewhere nice? Maybe I'm taking you to the Pink Pony."
My eyes narrowed when he grinned at me.
"I'm kidding."
"I know," I said evenly, but I wanted to laugh because this, this alone, helped settle me. This was us. Him and me.
"We're going to the steakhouse."
Moment over.
It was a date restaurant. Dim lighting. Fancy things on the menu. Food that had dollar amounts next to them that made me want to shrivel up when I imagined Levi opening the bill at the end of our meal.
Levi stood and opened the passenger door of his truck for me, then held out his hand.
For a second, I stared at it because this wasn't normal. This was date Levi I was seeing. The scenario I let myself think of was unrolling right in front of my eyes. To him, I looked beautiful. And there was door opening. Maybe there'd be candles.
I swallowed and slid my hand into his. There was no smile on his face as I locked my chair and used my free hand to brace myself on the armrest. There was no humor making his eyes light up as I stood and straightened.
"I did tell you that you looked beautiful, right?" he asked, his thumb running over my knuckles.
When the hell did that become a spot on the body that made me want to rub my thighs together?
"You did," I choked out.
He smiled slowly, leaning down until he was close enough that I could smell a sharp burst of mint on his breath. "Then I guess I'm telling you twice."
Thoroughly flustered, I blinked away from the minty fresh breath and sharp jawline, taking the step necessary so I could grab the handle on the door and pull myself into the passenger seat. Just as I started to lift myself, Levi curled his big hand around my waist and helped. He didn't pull it off until I was seated, and his heavy gaze was burning a freaking hole in the side of my face, but I kept my eyes forward as I fumbled with the seat belt.
I heard a small sigh as he shut the door and put my wheelchair in the bed of his truck. He hopped into the driver's seat and gave me a quick flash of a grin before he reached behind the seats and pulled out a bouquet wrapped in the telltale green florist paper.
Before he handed it to me, my mom's car backed out the garage, and she gave us a tiny wave when she drove past.
When the sound of her car
