Page 85 of Sunset Catchers

I’ve been on tornado watch ever since. I kiss him harder.

And Levi. Levi! Full commitment from the start.

Dammit! It feels right, how my soft and slightly sticky lips feel against his; how one of his hands cups the back of my head while the other settles over my ribs.

This is really happening. And it isn’t even awkward. As if, of course, this was going to happen. And, like, of course, this was always going to happen. I see that now. I wasn’t against it; I was fearful of the emotion I’m feeling right now. I was right to be scared; it’s a big one.

I’ve been on tornado watch ever since.

My need for him grows tenfold. He doesn’t even hesitate when I run my tongue along the seam of his mouth, tangling his with mine and falling into this new rhythm as if we’ve been doing this all along. Which, to be clear, we should’ve because kissing Levi is—shit. A small moan sounds from the back of my throat. He grips me harder.

“I knew it would be like this,” Levi says against my lips.

He knew it would be like this.

He has been imagining what it would be like to kiss me.

Okay! So, I think I need to climb on his lap.

Like right now.

I try to move toward him, to do just that, but my seatbelt completely locks up, jerking me back to reality. Levi’s amusement puffs up against my lips. I laugh too, even if I want to set fire to the whole truck for stifling this moment. I peck his lips hard, one last time, then slowly back away from him, blinking to chase the glaze away.

I seem to surprise Levi when I say, “We should’ve definitely kissed sooner.” He bobs his head, vehemently. I laugh again.

“So that was…”

He bobs his head again.

“Did your brain glitch again? All because of a simple kiss?”

“There was nothing simple about that kiss, Win.”

Heaviness settles onto my shoulders again.

“Things are rarely simple for me.”

He stares at me for a moment, then a glint making blue eyes pop. “There is one thing that’s pretty simple to me.”

21

Levi’s idea of simplicity is to bring me to a diner to feed me fries and a milkshake. He is awaiting my verdict, sitting on his side of the booth.

“Well done,” I tell him.

He visibly relaxes, lips pulling up in a pleased smile. I reach for the ketchup bottle, putting a big puddle of it on one end of the plate in the middle of the table for us to share, while Levi splashes a section of fries with white vinegar.

I hum when the first ketchup covered fry meets my tastes buds. There’s nothing like diner fries. It needs to be studied.

I notice Levi’s fluster, betrayed by the slight blushing on his cheeks. “Take your mind out of the gutter, Levi.” His blush deepens to my delight.

Next, I fill my mouth with mixed lettuce because the salad and fries combo is elite, and I will very carefully roll down that hill because I wouldn’t necessarily die on it, but I’d get rumpled over it, for sure. Then, I take a sip of strawberry milkshake, and yup, lethal trio right here.

Ten out of ten.

“Do you want to talk about it?” Levi offers, harboring a forced casualness. His brows bump together when I answer.

“I don’t know. It’s embarrassing.”