Page 45 of One Last Time

“And Harvard! Levi told us. Congratulations, sweetie, that’s such an incredible achievement. Your dad must be so proud of you. It makes me wish Levi had applied to college. He graduated with such good grades.”

I coughed. Talking to other people’s parents had never really been my strong suit (not counting June and Matthew, of course), and it was uncomfortable to talk to Levi’s mom about his decision not to apply for college during senior year. Frankly, I couldn’t get out of this conversation quickly enough.

“He’s just figuring things out,” I said lamely, and snapped my notepad shut. “One veggie burger, one hot dog, one cheeseburger, and a side of onion rings coming right up.”

• • •

I was taking a thirty-second breather at the bar when I felt someone standing beside me. They cleared their throat.

“I’m sorry, sir, I’ll be right— Oh, Levi.”

“Hey.” He gave me a stiff half-smile, with only one side of his mouth, and raised his hand in an equally awkward wave. “I just, um, I…”

“You…?”

He cleared his throat and tried again, running his hand through his hair. “I’m sorry about that earlier. If my mom made it awkward. It’s just, you know, I mean, Becca’s asked a couple of times if you’re coming over, and I’ve been telling her you’ve got a job here and you’re spending time with Noah and Lee. So…yeah. That’s all.”

“Right.”

God, when did it get so awkward hanging around Levi? When had this happened? My palms felt clammy and I had a weird squirming sensation in my gut—the kind that made me wish someone would spill their drink or drop their food and yell for me to fix it.

Was this what happened when we didn’t hang out face to face for a couple of weeks? (The Slurpee contest didn’t count, not really.)

Was this what was going to happen to me and Lee, after time apart at college?

Or was this because Noah was back home and it had shifted the whole dynamic between us?

“Right,” Levi said, nodding.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been around much,” I said. “Not…not just for Becca, but…I know we text, like, every day, and we talk on the phone, but we haven’t hung out properly, and that’s…that’s on me.”

Levi shrugged. His smile was soft even if his eyes were a little sad, and he laid a light hand on my arm. “It’s okay. I know you’re busy.”

As if on cue, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I slipped it out to check it.

A text from Dad.Don’t forget to pick Brad up from soccer practice later!

I groaned. “Shit. Shit.”

“What’s up?”

I kneaded my knuckles between my eyes, scowling at my phone. “I hounded May to give me a double shift today, but I’m supposed to pick Brad up from soccer. Shoot. How…” I sighed. “I’m gonna have to ask May to—”

“Well, we can pick him up,” Levi offered. “What time does he finish?”

“Six-thirty.”

“That’s perfect; we’ll be heading right by there. We can pick him up, take him back to your place.”

“No, Levi, I can’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t,” he told me with a grin. “Seriously, Elle, it’s no problem. I’ve got your dad’s number; I can let him know. Spare key’s under the flowerpot by the gate, right?”

“Yeah,” I sighed, giving him a quick, grateful hug. “Thanks. You’re a real lifesaver. He literally just needs a ride home. My dad had a late meeting and his office is on the other side of town, so…thanks, Levi.”

A late meeting I had a sneaking suspicion was with Linda, but hey…

“Like I said, I know you’re busy.”