Page 22 of Resisting Your Love

"Man, I'm so happy to see y'all back together. Levi be doing too damn much for real," River commented.

I glanced over at Levi and pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.

Levi glowered at River while Zyanna shook her head.

We were at All Nite Seafood Palace. It had been a while since I last visited.

Since Zyanna wanted to catch up with Levi and me, we all came here to eat and drink.

The vibe of the place was top-notch. If you wanted a good drink with good seafood, All Nite was the place to be.

It was crowded, just as it always was on a Saturday night.

It was two days after Christmas. I enjoyed my first Christmas with Levi and looked forward to many more holidays with him.

My father stopped by, and we talked things out, and I told him thanks for being a messed-up person.

Without him, I wouldn't have met Levi, the love of my life. That day brought a smile to my face.

Levi and I were in the living room with a platter of cheese, crackers, and deli meat.

We also had a bottle of wine in a bucket, chilling on ice.

We were about to have one of our nights where he would draw out his tattoo designs, and I would color them.

He had the remote in his hand, getting ready to turn on some slow jams while I was setting up my coloring pencils.

A knock came at the door. He glanced back at me, and I stared at him.

"You get it," we spoke simultaneously before laughing loudly.

"We play too much. Go get it while I set up the music," he stated.

I huffed, getting up from the couch. Who in the world could it be messing up our time together? When I peered through the peephole, I gasped as I stared at the person, wondering why he was here.

I unlocked the door and opened it, revealing my father. "Dad?"

He tried smiling, but his lips trembled as he eyed me. The moisture I saw in his eyes broke my heart. "May I come in?" he asked hesitantly.

I moved aside to let him in.

"Baby, who is it?" Levi called out.

"It's my father. I'm going to talk to him in the kitchen," I responded, leading my father through the foyer, and taking a right to enter the kitchen.

He took a seat at the kitchen table while I leaned against the counter, staring at him. He rubbed his hands together with his head lowered, staring at the kitchen table. He looked as if the world was on his shoulders.

Levi came to greet my father before he came and wrapped his arm around my waist. He kissed my cheek and whispered in my ear, "You got this," before leaving out, causing me to stare after him. How did I get so lucky to have a man like him in my life?

I turned my attention back to my father, nibbling on my bottom lip. "Why are you here, Dad?" I asked since he hadn't yet said why he dropped by.

He lifted his head, and his eyes met mine. The movement of his hands stopped, and he folded them on the table. "I realized how wrong I was for putting you in this situation — "

I shook my head and waved one of my hands to stop him from talking. "No. No. There is no need for any of that. I am happy and in love with Levi, so I should be thanking you for being a messed-up person. Without you, I wouldn't have found the love of my life."

My father opened his mouth and closed it before his shoulders shook, and laughter spilled from his mouth.

"I love you, Amryn. Never forget that."

I smiled brightly, my heart feeling as though it was about to burst with happiness. "I love you too, Daddy."

He got up from the chair, and I met him halfway.

He enveloped me in his arms, and I could admit that I missed the hugs from my father.

I buried my face deep in his chest, knowing that we were going to be alright.

Joy spread through me and almost had me breaking out into a dance, but I contained myself.

For Christmas, I bought Levi a cologne set, a watch, and new equipment for his tattoo shop.

He bought me too much stuff. I was in awe of the many things he got me, but my favorite was the perfume.

We spent Christmas at home, cooking and watching Christmas movies together.

His parents showed up, and they brought over dessert. It was a great day.

"You always running your damn mouth. Shut up sometimes." Levi snapped at River.

Zyanna laughed. "The truth always hurts, Levi, but we love you anyway." She picked up her drink and took a sip. I wasn't getting into that. I stared around the place, smiling, feeling very happy where I was with my life.

"Don't start with me, Zyanna. You're always jumping to his defense," Levi countered.

Well, he wasn't lying about that. You'd think Zyanna and River had something going on, but let them tell it, they didn't. I didn't even follow them up anymore.

"Well, he is my best friend too, so I think I have that right. Right?" She looked over at River, who nodded.

"Right," he agreed.

I burst out laughing, unable to hold it in any longer.

All eyes seemed to be on me, but I didn't pay them any attention.

What I did was excuse myself and go to the bathroom.

After I finished doing my business, I stepped out and came face to face with Mimi.

She was someone I never thought I'd run into and so soon at that. Her eyes ballooned when she saw me.

"Wow, well, look who it is." She chuckled.

It was best I ignored her, so I did. I wasn't the one to cause confusion unless it was brought to me, so if she thought she was poking for something, she'd better think again.

"Oh, please don't think you are all that," she sneered.

I frowned and turned to her after I finished washing my hands. "What are you even talking about right now, Mimi? What is your problem with me? I have done nothing to you, and you threw our friendship away for what?"

A look of sadness came across her face before her eyes turned cold again. "No, you turned your back on me when I wanted to do things with you. You always had something to do, so I stopped trying."

My mouth dropped before I started laughing. "Okay, Mimi. You can say what you want, but we both know the truth. I have to go."

Before I could walk out, her words stopped me. "Joel is here too. I will make sure I tell him I saw you."

The door pushed open, and Levi stepped into the woman's bathroom, sending Mimi a murderous look. "And when you tell him you saw her, make sure you tell him Levi is looking for him. The fuck wrong with you?"

I stepped in front of him and had to pull him out of the bathroom. We needed to hurry and leave before things turned ugly. I wasn't running, but I knew how Levi was, and I didn't want him to go to jail. That would make me feel like it was my fault, and that was something I didn't want to feel.

"We need to leave," I announced to River and Zyanna when we made it back to the table. "I just saw Mimi in the bathroom, and she said that she was going to let Joel know she saw me. They are here now."

Zyanna and River stood up and peered around. "Where at?"

I slapped my forehead. This wasn't about to end well.

"We need to get Levi out of here," I stated to them.

"Nah. That girl thought she was doing something by saying that. I don't know who the fuck she thinks she is, but she chose the wrong day to want to get riled up," Levi snarled. He peered around, too, when all I wanted to do was keep the peace.

"That's why we need to get you out of here. Now isn't the time or place," I pleaded, but it seemed like it fell on deaf ears.

It was crazy as hell that they were standing around looking for them. Then, what made it worse was that the customers were looking at us. I already knew when Levi laid eyes on Joel he was going to hit him. That was something he had been talking about for a while now.

"Levi, please. Joel is not worth it." I tried again, hoping that would work.

He stared down at me with his eyes narrowed. "Didn't I tell you before, you were worth it? I don't want to hear anything else about it. It's over and done with. I've made up my mind on what the hell I'm going to do. Nothing will stop me."

I gnawed my bottom lip, hoping like hell Mimi wouldn't be a grimy-ass bitch and tell Joel she saw me.

What the hell had happened to her? She changed from the girl I called my best friend to now an enemy.

That hurt me the most since I hadn't seen that coming.

I thought she would've always had my back, but she was showing her true colors.

I saw Mimi leading the pack as her boyfriend and Joel came strolling toward us. My heart thumped in my chest. We all were about to get sent to jail. All of this could have been avoided if Levi had listened to me. He was too damn hot-headed for his own good.

Levi didn't let them get to the table before he walked up to them.

River and Zyanna followed quickly behind him.

I had to snap out of it and follow behind Levi, River, and Zyanna.

When Levi reached Joel, he didn't say anything to him.

He just drew his fist back and punched Joel with so much force that he knocked him out.

Joel's limped body sank to the floor. I gasped, covering my mouth with my eyes widened.

Zyanna and River's hands went to their mouth as well.

Joel's cousin stepped in front of Levi's face with his eyes wide and lips snarling. His fists were balled at his side.

"You got me fucked up if you think I'm going to let you put your hands on my cousin," he spat.

Before Levi could have said anything, Mimi jumped forward and got in my face. She gave me a murderous look with her nose flaring. Her chest heaved up and down as she pointed her finger at me. I quickly got into a fighting stance just in case she wanted to take it there.

"Look what the hell you are married to! A damn thug?—"

I stepped in her face, not about to let her call my husband out of his name. I had put up with so much of Mimi's shit for the past few months and was sick and tired of it.

"Let's get one thing straight, Mimi. When you are addressing my husband, you better say his name or keep your mouth shut," I hissed.

"Quite frankly, none of this has anything to do with you.

What you need to do is run back and sit in the corner, letting your boyfriend continue telling you what he wants you to do.

Don't you ever in your life try to come at me like that again.

I'll make you regret it without even putting my hands on you," I growled, spitting fire with my eyes narrowed into slits as I glared at her.

She had me so hot that my blood was boiling to the point where I wanted to hit her — I wanted to hit her twice as hard as Levi punched Joel.

With tears in her eyes and her lips trembling, Mimi swirled around and marched away from me.

Her boyfriend turned to me, but before he could open his mouth, Levi drew his fist back and punched him to the ground, too.

River had to push Levi out of the door. If he hadn't, Levi was about to stomp Joel's cousin. With a shake of my head, I rushed out of the restaurant. I hoped like hell we wouldn't get banned from all the drama that had taken place.

I ran us a bath, not saying a damn thing to Levi. I was still pissed the hell off about what had taken place, but Levi wasn't fazed, and neither was Zyanna nor River. Of course, they weren't, but I was. I wasn't the type of person who dealt well with confrontation, and they were ready.

I heard Levi moving around in the bedroom, but I didn't acknowledge him. I was just ready to take a bath and get into bed for the night. Then I heard music playing loudly, causing me to shake my head. This man was on ten tonight, and I was ready to burst his bubble.

I got up from the edge of the tub and went to turn down the music that was playing but paused.

Levi was getting undressed, looking sexy as hell.

His golden-brown skin was covered in tattoos.

I loved his ink so much. He turned to look at me with a wicked smile on his face.

He gestured for me to come to him. I wasted no time going to the love of my life.

When I stepped into his arms, he lowered his lips to mine and kissed me.

"Don't ever think I won't do anything for you.

I'm always going to do what I say I'm going to do.

That ex of yours got what he deserved. You should have hit that girl, but the words you said to her did the job.

You match me so well because you are the calm and peace to my raging storm. I love the hell out of you."

That brought tears to my eyes, but I pushed them away. "I love you too, Levi. I felt like tonight could have gone way better than it did, but I know you had my back like I had yours. I'm just happy we didn't go to jail."

He chuckled. "Nah, nothing serious happened."

I pulled back so I could stare him in the face. "Nothing serious happened? Levi, you punched Joel so hard that you knocked him out."

He threw his head back and laughed. "And, what's your point? That's nothing serious in my eyes."

I shook my head. "You are impossible."

He smirked. "Nah, I'm just a man who is overly protective of his wife. I'll be damned if anyone tries to come after you for any reason. I'd put them in their place. You are mine to love, cherish, and protect. Believe me when I say that girl ain't seen nothing yet."

I groaned. "No, Levi. Leave it alone."

He narrowed his eyes but sighed deeply. "Fine, but only for you."

It was now my turn to sigh just as hard. Levi was a mess, but I loved him beyond words.

"Now, let's go take a bath so I can dig in your guts for a few hours." He dropped a kiss on my lips.

I beamed. "I'll love that very much."