Running into Love
Page 17

God.
I’m going to kill them. I’m going to be on the eleven o’clock news tonight, because I’m going to murder both of my sisters.
“I’ll sleep on the couch,” I grit out, trying to make it look like I’m smiling at the idea.
“Well, good, that’s all settled.” Dad grins, picking up both suitcases and taking them to my room.
“Are you ready to go?” Mom asks, and I pull my eyes off my dad’s retreating back to look at her petting Muffin.
“Yep, all ready,” I grumble, walking across the room to grab the black wool coat I laid on the edge of the couch earlier. Putting it on, I do up the four toggle buttons, then slip on my deep-red hat, scarf, and mittens set. Once I’m done, I pat Muffin’s head, mumbling, “Be good, girl,” as I head past my mom for the door.
The last time Levi sent me a text message, he said he would be working most of the weekend, but I still want to check to make sure the coast is clear. All I need is for my parents to run into him, and god help me if that happens.
“Honey, if we’re going to leave, you’re going to have to open the door,” Mom says from behind me, laughing, and I groan inwardly.
“I know.” I open the door and step out into the hall with them following me. As soon as we are all out of my apartment, I watch my dad turn to check the knob to make sure it’s locked before we all head toward the stairs.
“So did you get a new neighbor?” Mom asks, sounding far too innocent, as we pass Levi’s door.
“Yep.” Maybe if I keep my answers short and sweet they will give up.
“Oh, that’s nice. What are they like?”
“You know, just a person.” Just a person—seriously, like, what could he be, an alien? I’m never going to make it through this weekend at this rate.
“What kind of person?” Dad asks, and my shoulders sag.
Damn with that. I know they are not going to give up until I give them something. “Fine,” I sigh. “Let’s get this over with.” I spin around to face them on the stairs, and they both stop two steps above me. “His name is Levi, he’s a detective. Yes, he kissed me, and yes, I may like him, but it’s too early to tell if I do or not. So right now he’s just a nice guy that I kissed . . . that’s all.” I pause, then add, “Well, that and he’s my neighbor. So, please, can we not talk about him while you guys are here?” I ask, and their eyes are wide, but neither of them is looking at me. No, they are both looking past my shoulder. “There’s someone behind me, isn’t there?” I whisper, and they both nod. Lowering my head, I shake it from side to side, then turn around hoping it’s not who I think it is—but of course it is.
“Please tell me you didn’t hear any of that,” I plead to Levi, who’s standing at the bottom of the stairs near the front door with a smile on his face.
“Baby.” He chuckles, and I hear my mom whisper baby behind me.
“Great.” My eyes slide closed as my cheeks heat. One more thing to add to the ever-growing list of embarrassing things I have done in front of him.
“I’m Levi, Fawn’s new neighbor.” His heavy boots sound on the wood of the stairs, then his warm hand comes to rest against my lower back. Opening my eyes back up, I find him standing next to me with his free hand held out toward my parents.
“Aiden Reed.” Dad shakes Levi’s hand, then wraps his arm around my mom’s shoulder. “My wife, Fawn’s mom, Katie Reed.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Reed,” Levi says as I try to shrink into myself. Where is a sinkhole when you need one?
“You, too,” Mom whispers, and I look up, noticing her eyes—glued to Levi—have glazed over. Great.
“Are you heading to the show now?” Levi asks, dipping his head toward me and leaving me no choice but to look at him.
“Yes.”
“Do you want me to take Muffin out for you while you’re gone?” he asks quietly, and I swear I hear my mom swoon and melt into a giant puddle at his feet.
“She should be okay. I took her out not long ago,” I murmur as my eyes unconsciously drop to his mouth. Watching a smirk form on his lips, my brows pull together and my eyes narrow.
“Give me your key—I’m home for the evening. I’ll take her over to my place, and you can come get her when you get back.”
“No—”
“That sounds like a great idea,” Dad cuts me off, and my eyes close briefly. Why, oh, why couldn’t my dad be like any normal father who would grumble at the idea of a man being inside his daughter’s apartment whether she is home or not?
“Yes, I agree that’s a great idea,” Mom chimes in, sounding far too happy about the idea.
“Fine.” Shoving my hand into my pocket angrily for my key, I freeze, then feel in my other pocket, coming up with nothing but a five-year-old ChapStick. Dammit. “Um . . . I forgot my key,” I say softly.
“Do you want me to call a locksmith?” Levi asks, and I look up at my dad, knowing that he’s going to be pissed when I say what I’m about to say. But I don’t want to have to pay for a locksmith to come out when I don’t really need one.
“There’s a key under my doormat,” I whisper.
“You’ve got to be shitting me.” It’s growled, but not by my dad, whom I’m looking directly at. No, by Levi, who’s standing next to me with his hand on the back of my coat, clenched into a fist around the material. “Do you know how unsafe that is?”
“The building is secured,” I whisper, and my dad’s jaw clenches tight, shifting the beard on his face.
“You know that doesn’t matter, kiddo,” Dad growls.
Levi mutters, “Damn straight it doesn’t.” Oh great, now I have both of them growling at me.
“It’s been there forever and nothing has happened.”
“You know shit can happen, Fawn Grace Reed. My career is based off bad shit happening to people who don’t expect it to happen to them.” Dad shakes his head, and I know he’s really mad, since he didn’t just use my name—no, he used my full name.
“I won’t put it back after tonight.”
“No, you won’t,” Levi mutters, and I turn to glare at him—not that he notices. His eyes are on my dad’s and they are sharing a look that doesn’t bode well for me.
“We should go or we are going to be late,” Mom says, and all eyes go to her. “We still need to pick up our tickets at the box office.”
“Right,” Dad mutters, looking from her to Levi. “If you’re not working in the morning, come on over for breakfast. Katie’s making pancakes, and Fawn’s sisters will be over, so there will be plenty.” Um . . . what? No!
“I’d like that,” Levi agrees, loosening his grip on the back of my coat. “Have a good night, Mr. and Mrs. Reed.”
“Aiden will do.” Dad takes his arm from around my mom to take her hand on the stairs. With his other hand, he pats Levi’s shoulder.
“And you can call me Katie,” Mom says with a bright smile, and I roll my eyes at both of my parents.
“Okay, Aiden and Katie, I’ll see you both in the morning—and Fawn.” He dips his face close to mine. “I’ll see you tonight when you come to pick up Muffin. Have a good time.”
“Thanks,” I grumble, watching him smile like he thinks I’m cute. Whatever. I pull my eyes from him and head down the last few stairs, hearing my mom and dad behind me as I open the door to the building. As soon as I’m outside, I inhale a deep breath of cool air. I’m no longer embarrassed about what Levi heard me say. No, I’m annoyed with him for being high-handed as well as pissed that he’s going to be coming to my apartment to have breakfast with my parents and sisters tomorrow. I don’t want them to get to know him yet, not when I don’t even really know him, and I don’t want them to try to influence my feelings for him.
“Well, Levi seems very nice,” Mom says, taking my arm, and I sigh.
“Yes, he’s nice,” I agree, because he really is nice.