Running into Love
Page 18

“I like him.”
“Mom, you like everyone,” I grumble. My mom has never met a person she hasn’t liked; I swear she could find a likable quality in a serial killer if left alone with him long enough.
“I like him, too,” Dad says, holding out his arm for a cab.
“Surprise, surprise.” I roll my eyes as a cab pulls to a stop in front of us. My dad opens the door for my mom and me to get in the back, and he gets into the front with the driver. Sitting there, I listen absently as my parents chat until my dad asks the driver to pull over so we can walk the last few blocks, since traffic is backed up.
“Are you excited, honey?” Mom questions, leaning into my side as soon as we’re out of the cab and on the sidewalk.
“Yes.” I smile at her. I don’t get to go to shows often, since the tickets are so expensive, but I love getting to pick whatever show I want for my birthday each year. It’s always something I look forward to.
“Come on.” Dad’s arm wraps around my shoulders, pulling me against this bulky chest and holding me there while leading me down the block. Finally getting to the theater, we get in line to pick up our tickets from the box office, then head inside, where we are directed to the first floor. The theater is huge and packed with men, women, and kids from all walks of life, some dressed up to see the show, others wearing jeans and sweaters and pulling luggage along with them.
“We’re gonna go find the restrooms.” Mom smiles as I head toward the concession stand. “We’ll meet you at our seats.”
“Okay, do you guys want anything?”
“Wine for me.” She grins.
“A rum and Coke and a bag of popcorn,” Dad says, wrapping his hand around my mom’s.
“Sure,” I agree, then watch them disappear in the crowd. Waiting in line for what seems like forever, I finally make it to the front and place my order, making sure to get a magnet since I have one from every show I’ve ever gone to. With a drink holder, my dad’s popcorn, and a bag of peanut M&M’s in my pocket, I make my way to the front of the packed theater. Finding my parents already seated, I take the seat next to my mom, unpack the drink carrier, and take off my coat, all the while listening to the quiet hum of excitement around me.
Staring at the red drapes blocking the stage, my mind wanders to what’s going on between Levi and me as I nibble my M&M’s and sip my wine.
“What?” I ask when I turn to find both my parents smiling at me.
“Nothing,” Dad mutters, shoving a handful of popcorn in his mouth as my mom winks and pats my hand. I don’t have long to wonder what that’s about. The lights dim, and the show starts, pushing all thoughts of Levi out of my head as I watch in wonder as the magic of The Lion King on Broadway unfolds in front of my eyes.
“So was it everything you thought it would be?” Mom asks after the show comes to an end and the people start to put on their coats and leave.
“Everything and more. I can’t believe how magical it was, how amazing the props were. It was way better than the movie.”
“It was cool,” my dad agrees, helping my mom into her coat as I put mine on. “I didn’t think anything could top Hamilton, but this show was very well done.”
“It really was,” Mom says, touching his cheek with her hand, and he turns his head to kiss her palm. God, my parents are seriously still so in love that it’s crazy, and I know without a shadow of a doubt that no matter how long it takes, I will wait for a real love—because I want a love like they have. I want to look at the man I’m with over thirty years later and still feel my face get soft the way my mom’s does when she looks at my dad.
“Can we stop and get a hot dog before we head back to the apartment?” Dad asks, and Mom shakes her head.
“You and those darn hot dogs,” she grumbles.
“They’re good.” He smiles, and I laugh. No street-cart food is really good, but my dad likes standing in the middle of Times Square eating a hot dog while looking at the lights.
“If we must,” Mom agrees, giving in like she does every year.
“Thanks, darlin’.” He kisses the top of her head, then leads us out of the theater with the crowd. As soon as we’re outside, we make our way down the block toward the bright lights. Stopping at the first food cart we see, we order two hot dogs and a pretzel covered with cinnamon and sugar, then wander slowly through the crowd of people. There are some truly beautiful places in the world, and Times Square is one of them. It’s not full of rare, beautiful history like the Louvre in France, but it’s still beautiful in its own way. Standing under the bright lights with people from all over the world around you fills you with an energy that is impossible to describe unless you have experienced it firsthand. I still remember the first time my parents brought us to Manhattan. The first time they bundled us up and took us to see Times Square. That was when I fell in love with the city.
“Thank you guys for tonight,” I say softly to my parents as we stop to catch a cab to head home.
“You’re welcome, honey,” Mom murmurs, wrapping her arm around mine and giving it a squeeze.
“Any time, kiddo.” Dad smiles. I love my mom and dad. They have always made it a point to do things with my sisters and me as a family and with each of us separately. Like on our birthdays we get to choose something to do alone with them. Mine has always consisted of a show, Mac’s is always a baseball game, and Libby—well, Libby usually asks them to take her shopping. They might not be normal parents in a lot of ways, but where it counts, they are better than most.
Finally getting a cab, we head back across town. As soon as we pull up in front of my building, I get out with my mom and head toward the door while my dad pays the cab driver. Punching in the code, I hold open the door for my parents, then scan the street when I hear my name.
“Oh, it’s Levi,” Mom says, and I look to where she’s pointing. Levi is standing with a woman who’s wearing a pair of tight-fitting workout pants and a slim-fitting jacket, and she’s petting my dog.
Um, no!
“Baby, come here,” he calls, staring at me, and I narrow my eyes.
“I’ll meet you guys upstairs in just a minute. I need to get my key from Levi,” I tell my parents as I let the door go.
“Sure, honey,” Mom murmurs. Stomping to the edge of the sidewalk, I look both ways quickly, then continue my stomping as I cross the street toward Levi and the woman who is now sizing me up.
“Hey, baby,” Levi says quietly, and I glare at him, then move my eyes to my girl and take hold of her leash near her neck. No damn way is he going to use my dog to pick up women. Hell, no.
“Levi,” I growl, trying to tug Muffin’s leash from his grasp, but of course he doesn’t let go. No, he uses it to pull me toward him. “Levi,” I cry in frustration as his arm slides around my back and I’m dragged into his front.
“Did you have fun?” he asks, brushing his lips over mine and knocking me completely off kilter. I blink, watching him smile. “Never mind. You can tell me about it when we get inside,” he mutters, touching his lips to mine once more, then turning me in his arm. “Baby. This is . . . Sorry, what’s your name again?” he asks, looking at the woman standing in front of us. Her eyes fill with ice.
“Beth,” she huffs as Muffin’s head moves under my hand.
“Right, Beth, this is Fawn,” he breathes against my ear, making me shiver, and his arm tightens. “We should go in, baby, it’s cold.” He takes my hand in his as nausea and realization fill my stomach. “Have a good night.”
“Yeah, night,” she says, looking us over once more before jogging off. Tugging my hand free from Levi’s grasp once Beth is out of sight, I move ahead of him across the street to where my parents are still standing in the open door of my building, watching us with varying looks on their faces.
“Hi, Levi.” Mom smiles, giving him a hug like she hasn’t seen him in forever, and I fight the urge to scream at the top of my lungs.
“Katie, did you enjoy the show?” Levi asks while my dad and I head up the stairs ahead of him and my mom.