“He’s on his way here.”
Levi shook his head. “No, he’s not. He went to the airport when he woke up, but apparently, the rest of the flights for today were all booked. I just spoke to my mom on my way here, after I got off the plane. He’s with her at the ceremony right now.”
“Oh my God!” I covered my mouth. “The ceremony! Why aren’t you there?”
Levi looked down. “Because I fucked up—in so many ways. I’m so sorry, Presley.”
“It’s okay. It was bound to come out. I’ll deal with Tanner.”
“It’s not just about him. I fucked up with us. I never should have let you go. I thought it was the right thing to do. But I miss you so freaking much.” His voice broke. “I love you so damn much.”
The elephant that had been sitting on my chest for the last twenty-four hours finally shifted. I was able to breathe easier.
“You…love me?”
Levi closed the distance between us and took my hand. “I have for a long time. It just felt selfish to admit it. But I’m done giving a shit about my brother or our families, because I realized that by not sharing how I felt with you, I was being selfish to the one person who mattered most: You.”
My breathing quickened.
Levi took my cheeks in his hands. “I love you, Presley. I am crazy in love with you.”
Tears streamed from my eyes. It was about the fourth time that had happened today, but these were the first ones borne from happiness. “I love you, too.”
He wiped wetness from my cheeks with his thumbs before leaning down and sealing his lips over mine. As we kissed, Levi lifted me off my feet and carried me over to the bed. He set me down and looked into my eyes as he reached forward and unbuttoned my pants. I wanted him so badly that our clothes couldn’t come off fast enough. So I reached down for the hem of my shirt, but he stopped me.
“Let me, please.”
I nodded. It was torture as he took his time taking off my clothes and then slowly stripped out of his own. When he was done, he positioned us both on the bed and looked into my eyes for the longest time as he hovered over me.
“I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Our gazes never wavered as he slowly pushed inside. It felt so incredibly right to have him fill me when my heart was so full, too. Once he was fully seated, his arms began to shake, and he leaned down and took my mouth again.
“Fuck. You feel so good,” he muttered. “So damn good.”
It didn’t take long before we were both on the edge. At one point, Levi pulled back and looked down at me again. His pupils were dilated, his eyes full of love. I wrapped my legs around his back, and together we made love like never before. It felt like the world beyond us no longer existed. After months and months of push and pull, we were finally in perfect harmony. We even came together, at the exact same time. Our bodies, minds, and souls became one as I moaned through my orgasm. It was like nothing I’d ever experienced. And I knew I would never be the same because I’d just given myself fully to this man.
***
Hours later, Levi had gone to pick up takeout. We’d spent the entire afternoon in bed and were both starving. He’d insisted we eat in my room, saying he wasn’t ready to share me with anyone yet. Since the inn was packed with guests, and I’d already scheduled my employee to cover me all weekend, I figured why not? Levi would have to go back to the team soon, and who knew when we’d have another chance to be alone. The stars seemed to fully align when Alex’s friend’s mom called just as I got out of the shower and Levi returned with the food.
“You’re never going to guess who that was,” I said to Levi as I put the cordless phone down on the nightstand and tucked the edge of my towel in, fastening it closed.
“Who?”
I rummaged in my dresser for a change of clothes. “The mom of the boy whose house Alex is at right now.”
“Everything okay?”
I pulled out a lace thong and twirled it around on my finger. “She asked if he could sleep there tonight.”
Levi set down the food and walked over. He grabbed the thong out of my hand and tossed it over his shoulder. “Then we won’t be needing these.”
I giggled.
“Or this.” He reached forward, and with a flick of his wrist, my towel fell to the floor.
“You want me to eat naked?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely.” He stripped out of his own clothes. “No clothes for either of us until tomorrow.”
I was deliriously happy, and would’ve agreed to pretty much anything he wanted, so I shrugged and smiled. “Okay!”
We sat on the bed without a shred of clothing and ate fried chicken with biscuits and gravy. When I was done, I fell back, holding my stomach.
“That was so delicious.”
“I also got dessert. So you better have saved room.”
I shook my head. “I think you’re going to have to eat two desserts.”
He grabbed my arm and pulled me to sit back up. “Nope. I only bought one. And it’s most definitely for you.”
Levi reached behind him and dug into the bag. He pulled out a silver container and peeled back the lid. Inside was a single serving of peach cobbler. Handing me a fork, he reclined on the bed and folded his arms behind his head. “Hop on, cowgirl,” he said with a wink. “I plan to make every one of your fantasies come true.”
CHAPTER 34
* * *
Levi
Life was a mess. And beautiful at the same time. I reflected on everything that had happened since the summer as I sat on a plane, heading to South Carolina for a short visit. I’d only have two days with Presley, but I’d make the most of them. This trip would be the first time I’d seen her since our confrontation with Tanner after he returned from Denver.
In order to be happy, you have to make hard decisions and overcome the obstacles in your way. Sometimes that means letting go of toxic people you once loved—at least for a while. I loved my brother, and I always would. But I’d made my choice. I’d chosen Presley. And while I hoped Tanner and I could reclaim our relationship, we weren’t anywhere near that point.
A month had passed since everything went down, and he still wasn’t speaking to me. That was okay, though, because he had returned to speaking terms with Presley—for Alex’s sake. That was more important than making amends with me. Still, I had faith that someday we would figure out a way to act like brothers again.
After coming home from Dad’s jersey ceremony, Tanner had moved in with our mother, and apparently he’d just found an apartment outside Beaufort, close to the college where he coached. During my last trip home, I’d stayed with Presley until Tanner and Mom returned from Denver, refusing to let her face him alone. As expected, he’d come straight to The Palm to confront us. Thank God Alex was still at his friend’s house at the time, because there was a lot of screaming, cursing—and crying on Presley’s part.
I knew she blamed herself for ruining my relationship with Tanner. I hated that she felt that way. Because in my mind, I’d chosen all of this and took full responsibility for my part in it. And more than that, Tanner’s choices had started all of us down this path, and there was nothing Presley or I could have done to change that.