Page 96 of Sunset Catchers

“Sounds good. I’ll take the pasta Alla Norma.”

We order from the bartender when she circles back to us, then settle into an easy conversation about our day and the overall project while sipping drinks and eating the shared platter of cheeses.

The bartender asks us if we’d mind scooting over to try and fit an additional stool for an incoming couple.

Levi grabs my stool and pulls me closer to him.

A swoop, low in my stomach.

Thigh against thigh.

We eat our pasta dishes, which are delicious. Levi’s arm hangs from the back of my stool the whole time. “To give us more space to eat,” he explains.

We ordered another round of drinks, and with that second cocktail, I slipped into my favorite alcohol induced state: buzzed. Eyes crinkling from smiling more because life is prettier and funnier, limbs loose and slightly tingling, mind freer and lips lax with the words it allows out, blood humming under my slightly flushed skin.

I’m still completely in control of my actions, just with fewer fucks to give. I’m the same Winnie, but a perky version. I shine brighter.

Levi and I share tiramisu for dessert.

His thumb comes up to my mouth to swipe some left behind mascarpone. The effect on us is the same as yesterday, but unlike last night, we let ourselves bathe in the quiet exhilaration of it.

Eyes to eyes.

As his thumb follows the full curve of my bottom lip. As his fingers push a lock of my hair behind my ear. As chills lick my spine.

We reach for our drinks at the same time, downing our glasses, pupils holding on, never wavering. Levi pays the check, and when we get up from our stools, my breasts brush against his chest, making his throat labor over his next swallow. He takes my jacket and holds it up so I can slide my arms into the sleeves. One of his hands lands on my waist, his fingers finding the sliver of bare skin on my stomach as we slither our way through the tiny restaurant. His front is a wall of heat against my back until cold air swirls around my heated body, doing a poor job of cooling me off.

We start the walk toward our hotel in silence under a pinkish sky, barely a few inches of space between us until even that seems to be too much for Levi.

He boldly grabs my hand.

Fingers entwined.

I have never held hands with a boy before.

I’m glad Levi is whom I’m sharing this first with.

He opens the main door to our hotel, still holding on to me, then leads us toward the elevator doors, where I press the button to go up. I stepped into the elevator, tugging him along. My back presses against the wall. The doors close on us.

Toes against toes.

His right foot bumps against mine.

Bump Bump. Are we really doing this?

Bump Bump. Yes, we are.

My heart is sputtering inside my chest cavity, pumping my heated blood.

1st floor.

I tilt my head up against the wall until I find thinly blue-rimmed pupils.

2nd floor.

Levi leans down until we are sharing matching shaky breaths.

3rd floor.