Page 61 of Anything (Mayberry University #1)

Fourteen Months Later

A door slams down the street. My heart lurches. Levi runs a thumb down my hand as he checks my reaction. My sigh of gratitude puffs visibly into the cool January air. It’s been months since my last full-on freakout.

Thank you, God.

Of course, life didn’t magically turn fluffy and straightforward when my flashbacks subsided.

Sweet Levi is still an alien. Everett’s been spiraling.

Grey’s dating a girl I don’t trust. People keep judging Levi for his money, and lately I’ve been lumped into that too.

The whole thing with Sophie and Austin. I’m not sure if I should stick with all these math classes.

Levi’s pushing Colorado after college—he’s amazing—but his family needs him, and he misses the ocean.

I straighten to reset. Nope—not my job.

You take it. I’m just following you.

Levi squeezes my hand and leads me through a door into a sleek lobby with framed prints of the Dallas skyline.

He releases me to step to the receptionist at the desk.

That man is a vision in his tailored navy suit.

I can’t believe he’s mine. He turns to wink at me and I nearly swoon off my heels.

Someone bring me some smelling salts from Regency England.

I twist around to take in my surroundings. Is this a fancy museum of some kind? Why are we dressed like this? Finally, he arrives back at my spot.

“Tom Ford should put you on a billboard,” I say.

He formally offers the crook of his arm—I love when he does that—and guides me down the empty hall to a well-polished elevator.

A blurry reflection of my black velvet dress stares back at me.

It’s easily the most beautiful object I’ve ever owned …

and the first formal dress I’ve worn since Prom.

With Levi, beauty can be an asset rather than?—

Oh. His hand presses on my lower back, pulling me close.

He angles down to whisper in my ear, “You in this dress. Mm. Audrey Hepburn wants her elegance back.”

This guy. My blissful grin is interrupted by a demanding ding from the elevator, and it falls to a pout. Up, up, up we go until I’m thoroughly confused. How high are we going? There are only two buttons—for the lobby and one other floor—but the whir of the ascending elevator continues.

When we finally step out … Wow. City views for days.

Floor-to-ceiling windows afford a glorious view of the sun poised to set behind the Dallas skyline.

Soon the city lights will glow. This must be Reunion Tower, five hundred feet above it all.

I tug on the crook of Levi’s arm. Mystery dances in his eyes.

This dim restaurant drips with chandeliers and elegant diners.

Clinking forks, and soft, tinkering laughter melds with the distant notes of a piano.

“Levi,” I whisper. “Is this too much?”

“I’d like to spend a little bit of that money on the girl I love.”

Okay. I need Levi to know that I love him with or without his trust fund.

Protect him from relying on it and from being hurt again because of it.

He glances over with a question. Oh, I quit walking.

The hostess continues to a semi-private window-side table on the far end of the dining area.

Of course Levi would plan ahead and finagle the best spot in the restaurant.

But that means this isn’t a spur of the moment dinner after all.

Could it be … No. I overheard Austin imply that it’s next weekend.

Levi thanks the hostess and pulls out my chair. “What do you think?”

“Maybe we keep the fabulous dinners to special occasions?”

He agrees with his most kissable smirk. Let Ben Folds know—I’m the luckiest.

This afternoon he brought me an enormous box filled with this magnificent dress—for no reason at all—and said we needed a place for me to wear it.

Then he whisked me off to Dallas with barely an hour’s notice.

I don’t love surprises, but I’ll grant that this is well worth a change of plans.

To think I could be eating at Saga right now.

My eyes keep drifting past Kit’s shoulder, thumb drumming my fork as I fight to stay present. Her head tilts, catching every slip of my attention. This is the night.

“Spill,” she says. “What’s going on behind those obscenely attractive eyes of yours? ”

I sheepishly crane my neck to search the restaurant. It should be coming any minute. “I’ll share with you over dessert.”

I’ve guarded this surprise for months, but the widening of her eyes tells me that her curiosity is shifting into realization. My heart pounds and mouth dries. It’s not like we haven’t discussed this, but I want it so badly. I’m dying to know that she wants it too.

The sampler platter I arranged finally arrives—five desserts, but all I see is the tiny white wedding cake in the middle, her ring right there in plain sight. I press my leg to stop the bouncing.

Her eyes fill. It’s go time. “I spoke with Archie and?—“

“Yes,” she blurts. “Yes, I really want to marry you.” She grabs the ring off the tiny cake, removes the icing with a swipe of her napkin, and slips it onto her left ring finger herself.

My resulting laughter releases the tension in my body like a pressure valve. Her response couldn’t be better. I couldn’t be any happier. She wants me too.

Thank you. Thank you.

The ring sparkles magnificently in the light of the chandeliers. She toggles back and forth between me and her finger. She likes it.

“It was Granny’s,” I say.

Her eyes widen with compassion, and my gut tightens—I miss her. Kit got to meet her over a year ago, a couple weeks before she died. They’re so much alike. “Another time you’ve jumped the gun and missed my speech,” I tease.

“Ooh, a speech.” She sits back in her seat. “I’m all ears. Please go on.”

Kit. Every aspect of her is achingly beautiful. I sink into her deep blue eyes and long to give her everything she could ever want. For the ten-thousandth time, I wish I could?—

I jerk up and bolt to her side of the table, managing to rebutton my jacket midstride—I’m not a barbarian. “In a bit,” I spit out. “We’re engaged. I get to kiss you now, right?” Overeager as a puppy, but I don’t care.

I chose this table because the curtain separating the dining room from the kitchen bends into a corner here—we’ll have some privacy.

I offer her a hand to stand and lead a step back behind the wall of the curtain.

That breathtaking smile. I get to kiss it just as soon as she agrees.

Hands on my chest, she leans in with enthusiasm.

Finally.

My hands find the sides of her head, and I kiss her like I’ve waited over a year for the moment to come.

Fervor builds in his kisses and his arms wrap around my lower back now, holding me close.

Euphoria. Fireworks. Perfection. He’s gentle and decisive, softly leading, attuned to my every movement.

Just like him. He’s already reluctantly slowing.

No! Stop stopping! He touches his forehead and nose to mine, lifting his hands back to the sides of my head, through my hair.

I savor the closeness with him, eyes closed, and I tug on his jacket, releasing a little moan.

Someone give this man a medal for providing a secluded spot for our first kiss.

His kissing is blissful, intoxicating, ardent.

Now I know what I’ve been missing, so I’m fully grumpy with him when he releases me and steps back.

My heart races, head swims—the snowball is officially rolling down the mountain.

Breathing is difficult, like I just hiked to a high altitude.

I frown delightedly at him, craving something good, precious, sacred … a bit ahead of schedule.

Thank you for him, for this. Keep us on your timing.

With wonder, I take in the broad shoulders and blond head of the guy in front of me. God planned this all along. God knew after my scholarship interview. God knew at that first look at Saga.

You knew.

For I know the plans I have for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.

Job offers have been streaming in for when Levi graduates in four months. He’s serious about living his own life. His trust fund usually gathers dust except to give lavishly and anonymously to charities God puts on his heart. I don’t love that money looming, but I trust God to guide him with it.

I’m set to graduate a year early. Beyond that, I don’t know much. But God used my fear and reticence to earn the trust of the perfect guy for me. If he can use that, he can use anything. He is the ultimate mastermind.

“I’ll need another kiss later.” I eye Levi, prim and testy.

Longing pulls his face. “Yes, please.” His hands find mine.

“You can finally make full use of those Tic Tacs.”

His serious expression dissolves into laughter. “Mm-hm. And what do you call it when you go up on your toes? Elevé?” His excellent French is handy for the ballet terms I mention from my classes. “You can finally make full use of those elevés. Good thing you’re the resident expert.”

I rise up and plant a playful kiss on his lips.

As his resulting grin calms, he lifts my left hand to brush a thumb across my ring. His eyes shine with honor and thrill, and his fingers intertwine with mine.

I grab his left hand and touch his ring finger. “Still want a tattoo for yours?”

“Absolutely.”

I bet he’s thinking of his parents. He prays for them so faithfully, and God keeps saying yes.

“Can I … copy you?” I ask. “For my wedding band?”

His mouth falls open. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.” I can be brave. This is worth it. He’s worth it.

“I would love that.” Emotion fills his voice.

Levi releases my hands to squeeze me into a hug. “Thank you, Jesus. We need you every minute. We love you. Thank you. ”

I nod in emphatic agreement as the reality of the moment settles around us. Do I really get to keep him?

We should probably sit now, but I don’t want to let him go. He doesn’t seem like he’s in any hurry, and he knows what we can get away with in this fancy restaurant.

“I’ve been watching you bite that perfect lip for so long.” His soft, lazy voice.

I release the offending lip and prop my chin on his chest. “Oh, have you?”

He bends to steal another kiss, checking my face.

The yes is all over it.

The End