Page 33 of Anything (Mayberry University #1)

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

When I open the suite door after classes on Monday, Sophie is standing in our lounge with her hands on her hips.

“Uh-oh,” I say. “It’s the scheming face.”

“Okay, listen. We pull all four mattresses in here and make a sort of trampoline.”

My head tilts back as I laugh.

“That’s a yes!” Sophie starts pushing the furniture to the edges of the room. “And then we can pile on the blankets and pillows and watch a movie. Or more Fresh Prince .”

“Ask Mia and Ayumi before you wreck their beds. Maybe we could do a book-turned-movie?” Books-turned-movies are my favorites. Sure, they’re never quite right, but I like seeing my old book friends again.

Sophie beelines to her room and pushes her mattress on its side through the hall.

I do the same, except I compulsively fold my blankets first and set them on my desk chair. Ayumi is in here studying at her desk.

“Sophie has a harebrained idea to put our mattresses in the lounge and make a trampoline. You in?”

Ayumi says, “Whenever I’m about to do something, I think, ‘Would an idiot do that?’ And if they would, I do not do that thing.”

My head tips back in laughter for the second time in two minutes. I love these girls.

She purses her lips, pleased I love her Dwight impression. “Sure. You can take it now, or I can bring it when I’m done with this.”

An hour later Mia does a running cannon ball into the lounge, surprising squeals out of the rest of us. College life is weird and wonderful.

Things between Sophie and me are so much better.

I get to live with sweet, hilarious friends.

I’ve made improvement in my quest to take up more space.

Still, I don’t get it. Why is God answering all of these minor prayers instead of the emotional handicap I beg daily for healing from?

Was the Levi-hallway thing an answer to prayer, or was it just me being reckless?

I meet up with our crew at MSC for another movie night. Levi, knowing it’s a favorite of mine, suggests Live-Action Aladdin . Austin and Haymitch tease him for it, but he takes it in stride. Apparently Austin’s little sister has already made him watch it more than once.

I love watching my friends watch my favorite movies.

Afterward, we move outside to make room for another group and end up laughing and messing around until late.

When everyone starts heading off, Levi asks to walk me back.

But with MSC only two minutes from Griffin Hall, I veer toward the auditorium instead.

He doesn’t mention it apart from a flicker in his eyes .

As we walk, a guy I don’t know calls out, “Jeeves, my man.” A frequent occurrence. Levi seems to know every dude on campus. “How’d you do on that test?” Friend Guy stares at me, apparently amused.

“Hey buddy. Glad it’s over.” If I know Levi, he aced it and won’t dare say as much. He doesn’t brag anyway, but he’d die if people knew he ruined the curve. “How’d you fare?” he asks.

“Had a good cry in my room after,” Friend Guy says.

“Kit, this is Arjun. Or Jimmy.”

“Floor name?” I ask.

“Short for James. James Bond,” he says with flair.

Levi chuckles.

“They still won’t tell me what it means so I’m going with that.”

“Bond for sure,” I say. “I’ll be sure to spread the word.”

“You’ve got a keeper here,” he says to Levi. “Thanks, Kit.”

Arjun starts to raise his hand—oh no, not a high five—but Levi holds out a fist bump, suave as ever. What a relief to avoid the awkward hand drop.

“See ya, dude.” Levi guides me back to our path to nowhere.

I wave over my shoulder. “Nice to meet you, Arjun.”

“Nice to meet you, Kit,” he calls with a teasing voice.

“How’s your family?” Levi asks. “Excited to visit them at Thanksgiving?”

“Well, no.” I pull the sleeves of my oversized sweater over my hands. “I’m not going home. I’m … nearly out of money.”

“Oh.” His head jerks back. “Kit, I’ll?—”

“No, Levi.” I so wish I could accept that from him.

“Please? I want to.” He playfully tugs on my sleeve. My fingers tingle in false anticipation, and I almost cave.

“Thank you, but we’re not … I can’t … It’s your money, not mine.”

“I—”

“Have you talked to your family lately?” I interrupt .

His mouth tilts. I took the redirect right out of his playbook. “Somewhat.”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve been trying to call my parents once a week. Everett and I usually text about sports or the news or something.” His hands burrow into his pockets. “It’s hard to get through a conversation with my father.”

The first time Levi ever mentioned his dad, his jaw was clenched tightly. He’s still tense talking about him, but noticeably less so.

“It’s always ‘What connections have you made at that school? What is IHOP? What is your strategy behind that alliance?’”

He’s saying it in a funny way, but no laugh comes to me.

Not only is his relationship with his dad strained, but Levi’s life is foreign now.

He seemed like an alien for a reason. How much of an adjustment must this be for him?

He probably grew up with a yacht at the dock and tuxes hanging in his closet.

“My mother didn’t … Let’s say she had mixed motives for marrying him. They barely speak anymore. He knows why she sticks around and just coexists with her because it’s in his best interest.”

I want to ask what that means, but I hold my tongue.

“He and I still have a lot of … a lot to work through, but I hate that for him. At least he won’t leave, so there’s still hope.”

There’s still hope. I forget how spoiled I am, how unusual it is for my parents to be so committed for so long. I don’t know how to comfort him. I wish I could give him a hug. “I’m really sorry, Levi.”

“When you said your parents were gross—or disgusting, right?” He hesitates. “I didn’t know a couple could still be like that after twenty years.”

“Like Walker Hayes and Laney.”

He half laughs. “Stan much?”

“Maybe a little.”

“How do they pull it off? Your parents. ”

I’ve been watching them my whole life. It’s a lot of data to squish into a sentence or two. “For one, they talk about marriage differently than other people do.”

“They don’t trash talk the other?”

“Just the opposite. But I mean that they say the purpose of marriage is to honor God. That it’s to make them better, not to make them happy.”

“But they’re the happiest couple around? That sounds like Jesus, doesn’t it? He’s always saying upside down things.”

You are, huh?

“And?” he asks. “You said ‘for one.’”

“Oh. Well, they talk every night. Not just chat but talk-talk. And they play. Seems like people forget how to play when they grow up.”

“Play?”

“Like sneak attacks. And chase. And flirting. Play.”

He nods, in his own thoughts, then shifts gears. “Have your brothers been up to more antics?”

“Always. Mav told me today that they stumbled upon a life-sized velociraptor on Facebook Marketplace. He and Grey are going to borrow a buddy’s truck to strategically place it outside their friends’ bedroom windows. One house each night for as long as they can get away with it.”

He bends forward in a hearty laugh. “We need to get them to Flooders.”

“Does your floor have something planned? Is that what you’ve been doing with Austin and Haymitch all covertly?”

“Our big prank is postponed for now. How are your parents?”

“Mm-hm.” It’s only fair that he can keep a secret.

“My phone’s been blowing up with the family text chain.

My dad somehow just now discovered GIFs.

He’s quite enamored with the concept.” I shake my head.

“I miss him. I miss all of them so much. I should call more, but it’s weird talking to my brothers and dad on FaceTime.

I never had to until this year, and we’re still not used to it. ”

Levi smiles sadly. “Are you sure I?—”

“What about your brother? Everett? Is he still in Europe?”

“He’s back for now, taking a break before law school next year. We used to be buddies, but”—he shrugs a shoulder—“since I left, we don’t have much in common anymore. Oh look, we’re here.” Like the door has saved him.

I have my card out to badge in, but I pause by the door and twirl it in my hands like Allegra Cole. “Hey, Levi?”

“Hey, friend.” Mm, that soft, lazy voice.

“Thanks for sharing with me about your family,” I say. “I like it when you tell me things.”

“Anything.”

On that serious note, I call a “good night” and bolt inside. At least I don’t fail to badge in for an eternity, like that one time. When I’m safely out of view, I stop and lean against the wall, pressing my hands onto my face.

What am I doing? Are you shaking your head at me?