Page 94 of Unexpected Prejudice

He looked nice today, with a retro T-shirt and a pair of gym shorts. I was thinking how good his shirt would look on Levi when my phone buzzed.

Babydoll: Sorry, got caught up with some stuff. We’ll meet in class.

My gut twisted, and I nervously licked my snake bites. I knew I shouldn’t be worried, and Levi probably just wanted to study some more, but after the night we fought, I couldn’t help but be concerned.

Last week was the first time we’d slept apart since moving in with Chief. Even before becoming a couple, we shared a room and, more often than not, a bed. I loved having Levi as close to me as possible. Whether I was awake or asleep, it didn’t matter. So, even though sharing a bed with Andrei, who ended up sleeping at home that day, wasn’t so bad, the following morning I woke up with an awful feeling. I knew something was bothering Levi, but I didn’t know what it was, and he either got angry or dismissed me completely whenever I asked.

Since then, everything seemed to be back to normal until now, when, once again, he was avoiding me.

“Did he answer you?” Jordan asked while stretching his legs and making himself comfortable on the grass.

I read Levi’s text again before closing the phone and shoving it back into my bag. “Yeah, seems like he won’t make it. Want half a grilled cheese sandwich?”

“Sure.”

After splitting my lunch, I gave Jordy his half and took a bite from mine. It was tasty, and I wished Levi was here to enjoy it.

“Is everything cool? You looked upset when you read his text,” Jordy said before taking another bite.

“I think Levi is avoiding me.” I stuffed my mouth with more food.

“For real? Why?”

I shrugged, unable to figure it out. “Dunno.” For a while now, Levi had been acting differently. “I think he’s hiding something from me,” I admitted after remembering how suspicious he was acting earlier today.

We’d been on our way to class when his phone rang. I didn’t see who called him, but his reaction was weird as fuck. Instead of picking up the call, he sent it straight to voicemail, and when I asked who it was, he said no one and went straight to the bathroom to wash his hands. It wasn’t the first time he acted weird around me by not taking calls and texting with someone more than before. I wasn’t suspicious of him. Not at all, but there was something he wasn’t telling me.

Jordy furrowed his brows. “How so?”

“He’s been super tense lately, and I think it has something to do with his phone.”

“His phone?”

I nodded. “Yeah, he’s texting a lot more than before. He thinks I don’t notice it, but I do.”

“You think he’s cheating?”

Levi? Cheating?

“Fuck no.” I snorted.

“How are you so sure?”

I put down my sandwich and leaned back on my arms. “‘Cause it’s Levi. He’d never do anything like that. He’d never hurt me… I’m just upset that something is going on in his life, and he’s keeping me out of it. I want to be there for him, ya know?”

Jordy took a moment before he nodded. “Yeah, sure.” Staying quiet for a minute, he then asked. “So, why not ask him?”

“I did, but he said nothing’s wrong. I don’t want to push him. Besides, Levi doesn’t like to share his problems. He prefers to solve them himself.” Levi refusing to share his burdens with me was the only thing that bothered me in our relationship.

“Don’t we all?”

“I don’t. I mean, I share whatever’s on my mind. Like now, for example. I just wish Levi did the same.”

“You want him to share while he doesn’t want to share. Sounds like a miscommunication to me.”

Was it though?

“Not really… At least, I don’t think it is. But maybe you’re right. I think I’ll ask Levi out on a date.”