Page 12

Levi

I lay in bed with my hands behind my head. The sun was just coming up. Mia slept soundly against me. I rolled onto my side, careful not to move the bed too much for fear I might wake her.

I’d gotten home late last night, and once Mrs. Fletcher left, Mia woke from a bad dream. Since I didn’t feel like spending the night on the couch after being away from home, I’d grabbed her stuffed bear and favorite blanket and brought her into bed with me.

I closed my eyes, hoping I’d be able to get another half hour of sleep before Mia woke, but my mind wouldn’t shut off.

I rolled over, this time sitting up on the edge of the bed and running my hands through my hair. I’d been like this since the other night, unable to concentrate and sleep, right after the call with Scarlett.

I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my photo albums, finally coming to the one I’d made for our photos. I’d kept every single photograph we’d taken together over the years, and I looked through them as I sat there.

God, as much as I never wanted to admit it to myself, I still held feelings for her.

The moment I’d heard her say that I hadn’t been a mistake, I felt a trickle of relief.

As much as I’d told her brother I didn’t want to know things about her, it hadn’t been the truth at all; it had been something I’d had to do to protect myself.

I ran my hands through my hair again as I flipped through the photos of us. Tonight, I’d be taking Scarlett out for this date and the more I thought about it, the more I felt ill. I was so nervous.

Things between us ended so abruptly, before they even got started, and I’m being honest when I say that I felt jilted.

Then, while I was still trying to figure out how to win her back, Duncan swung in and took her right out from under me.

Some would say that he didn’t steal her from me, but I begged to differ.

I was so busy trying to get things under control with Mia and my job, the next thing I knew, I’d gotten a call from Scottie, telling me I’d better not fuck around or I’d risk losing her to Duncan.

I didn’t listen, mainly because I never thought that would happen, and then next thing I knew, a year had flown by, and I was staring at an engagement announcement.

I’d never forget that moment, opening up the paper and seeing it.

In a moment it felt as if all the air had left the apartment.

My throat was tight, and my chest hurt, and suddenly the feeling I’d never gotten a fair shot with her crept up and has sat with me ever since.

Perhaps that was what the problem was right now.

Even though I had told her this was just two single people heading out on a date, I was afraid I’d actually blow the one and only second chance I’d probably ever have with her, and somewhere deep inside of me, even if I didn’t want to admit it, I wanted that second chance.

I closed the folder of images down and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly, trying my best to calm down, when I felt the bed move. I looked over my shoulder to see Mia lift her head, open her eyes, then roll over and fall back to sleep.

I went back and checked my email, happy to see that the confirmation for tonight’s reservation at The Orchid Lounge had just come in.

Then I worried that perhaps the guys were right, maybe this place was a tad over-the-top.

Perhaps I should just cancel and just make her dinner here.

Mia could go down and stay with Mrs. Fletcher instead.

Placing my phone back on the charger, I got up and headed into the bathroom, turned on the shower, then quickly checked to see Mia was still sleeping right in the centre of my king-sized bed.

Certain she wouldn’t fall out, I jumped into the shower quickly, shaved and got dressed, then made my way out of the bathroom to find Mia sitting in the middle of the bed, rubbing her tired eyes, while holding Potato, her favorite stuffed pig.

“Morning,” I said, going over to her and lifting her up.

“Morning, Daddy,” she mumbled, resting her head on my shoulder.

“Are you hungry?” I asked, kissing her forehead.

She nodded, rubbing her eyes again as I carried her into the kitchen and sat her in her chair at the breakfast bar.

“What would you like?” I questioned.

“Oatmeal and cimonin,” she said, reaching for her crayons and colouring book.

“Oatmeal and cinnamon it is,” I said, moving around the kitchen. “Want some blueberries?” I asked, pulling out the container.

She nodded her head. “What are we doing today?” she asked, taking a blueberry from the container.

“Well, we are going to do a little shopping.”

“What for?” she questioned. “Ohhh could we go to the toy store?”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. “Yes we can, and I need to get some flowers,” I said, dumping a little more oatmeal into the pot and stirring it as it cooked.

“What for?”

“For a lady,” I answered, turning to look over at her, hoping to gage her reaction.

She looked up at me and smiled. “Daddy, are they for me?”

“No, sweet pea, not for you.”

“Oh. But Mrs. Fletcher says I’m a little lady. Especially when I wear my pink dress.”

“Yes, that is true, but they aren’t for you. If you’d like some, I’ll get you some as well, but these are for another lady.”

“Who?” she asked, looking up at me with large innocent eyes.

I only ever dated when she was with my parents. I’d decided a while ago that I needed to protect her from the hurt if things didn’t work out between me and whomever I was seeing, and I’d just found it easier to stay single until she was older.

“Do you remember Scarlett?” I asked.

She shook her head as she chose another crayon.

“The lady we were talking to our front of our building?”

“Oh, the lady who dropped coffee on my head?”

I couldn’t help but smile at how she remembered things.

“That would be the one.”

“You’re buying her flowers because she dropped coffee on my head?” she questioned, her face scrunched up in curiosity.

“No, silly. Now, put your crayons away and eat up,” I said, placing the bowl of hot oatmeal in front of her before sitting down beside her with my bowl. “Just make sure you blow on it, it’s hot.”

“But, Daddy, why are you buying her flowers?”

“Because she is my friend.”

Mia looked up at me and nodded, then smiled. “Can we get her pink flowers?”

I smiled to myself as I took the first mouthful of oatmeal, then added a handful of blueberries.

“We can, now eat up.”

“I will. I want to finish my picture first,” she said, humming away to herself as she continued to color.

“Okay, Levi, what time will you be home tonight?” Mrs. Fletcher asked as I shoved the last of the food into the fridge that I’d grabbed at the grocery store.

“I won’t be too late. Probably ten, but if you’re tired, please crash in the spare room.”

“No worries, Levi. Ten isn’t too late. I hope you enjoy yourself.”

“Thanks, you guys have a good night. Pizza should be here shortly,” I said, winking at Mrs. Fletcher and grabbing my keys and wallet from the counter.

“Levi, I told you I’d make dinner.”

“I know, but you already do so much for us.”

“Daddy…don’t forget the flowers,” Mia said, running over to where we were standing, carrying the bouquet.

I bent down and took them from her and kissed her on the cheek. “You be a good girl tonight and do as you’re told.”

“I will,” she said, taking off for the living room where she was watching cartoons and playing with the new toy I’d gotten for her.

I made my way down to the thirteenth floor and knocked on the door. Finally, I heard a movement on the other side and was greeted with a smile when the door opened.

“Hey.” I smiled, shoving my one hand in my pocket and holding out the flowers for her to take. “These are for you.”

She smiled and took the bouquet of light-lavender and pink-colored carnations mixed with baby’s breath.

“Mia helped me pick them out. She insisted you needed some pink.” I chuckled.

Scarlett smiled. “What does that mean? I need some pink?”

I shrugged. “I haven’t got a clue. She calls you the lady who dumped coffee on her head, so maybe it has something to do with the colorful shade your cheeks turned that day.” I winked.

“Well, let me put these in a vase, and then we’ll get going. Where are we off to?”

“You’ll see.” I winked as she placed the flowers in some water and then grabbed her jacket.

We made our way down to the parking lot and over to my car, where I opened the door for her and waited for her to get in.

“Levi, I can open a door.”

“I know you can. Just trying to be a gentleman.”

I pulled into the parking spot in front of The Orchid Lounge and glanced over to see Scarlett looking over at me, smiling.

“Wait here,” I said, climbing out of the driver’s seat while leaving the car running. I made my way into the restaurant and then returned ten minutes later with a bag of food, which I placed in the back seat.

“Uh, Levi, what are we doing?” she questioned.

“Well, it was going to be a surprise, but I decided I didn’t want to have dinner surrounded by many people, so I did the next best thing. We are having a private picnic over along the waterfront. That was why I reminded you to wear something warm.”

She softly smiled as I backed out of the parking spot and headed toward the waterfront where I parked the car, shut off the engine, and climbed out.

I opened the trunk and grabbed two large blankets and the basket of things I’d packed and handed them to her while grabbing the food from the back seat.

We made our way over to an open area where we quickly threw one blanket down on the ground, then both sat down.

She started pulling out plates and utensils from the basket, while I opened the chilled bottle of wine and poured each of us a glass.

Then I dove into the bag of food and placed the containers on the ground.