Page 11 of Sunset Catchers

“Listen, Levi,” I say, mustering my sweetest, most innocent persona, tilting my head back slightly to make eye contact.

He looks relieved. I bet he’s thinking: Finally, this girl is showing some common sense. Finally, this princess is coming off her high horse, handing me the reins.

He is exactly where I want him to be.

I go for the jugular.

“A million fucks we’re given today around the world, and not a single one was me caring about your opinion.”

I swear I can hear his back molars grind together. She aims and she scores, ladies. I love an irritated man.

“I’ll ‘play nice,’ because this is my job, and it is that serious. It is important for me. But don’t think for a second that you and I are going to be buddies or whatever by the end of it.”

After a long second, while I wait to see his demeanor falter, something slides into his gaze; the glint of a challenge accepted.

Come on! Can he do what I expect him to do, just once?

“Listen, Winnie,” he begins, “I really am sorry about the whole thing. I didn’t mean to ruin your big moment. So hear me when I say that you and I will be the best buddies by the end of it.”

He tracks my mouth, parted with shock. I close it on a big swallow. What the hell? Hello, control panel?? What do I do now??? It takes me a second, but I find some words to throw his way.

“I wouldn’t hold my breath if I were you. I’d hate to see you wasting your time and energy.” Not my best work, but I’m under duress here.

“Cute that you care about my time and energy.”

I scoff. My nose tingles. That was…actually a good comeback. A smile wants to come out and play on my lips. I don’t let it. You know what, damn him and this whole situation. He’s a prick. He’s supposed to be cowering away! I reach to tuck that damn strand of hair behind my ear for the millionth time today. By doing so, my bag slips down my arm, to the crook of my elbow. My hair untucks itself.

My brain issues a warning.

Red flashing lights. Blaring sirens.

I am entering overwhelmed territory.

My body is overheating; a bead of sweat rolls down my spine. My heart puts a knee down on my ribcage, getting ready to run a marathon.

My expectations get tossed, again, when Levi’s hand is there, sliding my bag back over on my shoulder, leaving a tingling trail over my skin in its wake.

His scent follows the deep inhalation I take from my nose; he smells like oranges with an underlying tinge of fresh paint.

I love the smell of fresh paint. It relaxes me instantly. Weird, I know, but who am I to argue with my olfactory receptors? My whole body exhales in relief, leaving me slightly shaky all-over.

I need to get out of here.

“I’ll see you later,” I say with an unsteady voice and without meeting his eyes.

“See you later, Winnie.”

Then, I’m out the door, hurrying to get the hell out of Kit’s house. As soon as I am back in my car, my tote discarded on the passenger seat, my head falls heavily on the stirring wheel, and my shoulders slump while I grunt.

What just happened?

I need a Junie debrief, stat.

Grabbing my phone from my bag, I open our thread, where a new message is already waiting for me.

Junie: No doubt the meeting went spectacularly.

Still, text me after!