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A few weeks later, I smile as I get off the phone with Pia. She’s catching a red-eye flight tonight, and after months apart, we’ll finally be reunited.

It seems like we were just talking about her upcoming visit yesterday, and now the day has finally arrived. So much has changed since then, and I wish she could be here to experience it all with me.

I love my life at Huska, but I also miss my best friend, something fierce. A phone call isn’t the same as a girls’ night in with cheap wine, face masks, and endless hours of talking about anything and everything.

Which is why I’m so excited about this weekend.

I’ve already arranged time off work so we can fully enjoy these next few days before she flies back home on Sunday night.

Until then, I have a date with Levi to get ready for since we’re celebrating my birthday a day early. He has a home meet tomorrow, so I won’t see him until later that evening.

Although I hate the thought of not being there to cheer him on, he told me not to worry about it and to enjoy the time with Pia. He knows how much I’ve been looking forward to seeing her again, and I love that he doesn’t mind taking a backseat and letting us have this time together.

I chew my bottom lip, contemplating what to wear as I stare at the pile of clothes on my bed. I have no idea what he has planned for tonight, and all he told me earlier was to dress comfortably because we’re staying in.

With that information in mind, I settle on my go-to outfit for when I don’t need to dress up: a pair of leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. Even as I go through the motions of getting ready, a buzz of nervous energy lingers under my skin.

In the days following our weekend at his mom’s house, I realized I wasn’t falling in love with Lev. I was in love with him.

I am in love with him.

And I haven’t told him yet. I want to so badly, but I get nervous and chicken out whenever I think about it.

Some nights, while we’re watching Netflix, I want to blurt it out, but then I talk myself out of it, worried he doesn’t feel the same way or that I’m saying it too soon. But I can’t deny how I feel. Not with him.

I thought what Hunter and I had was special, but compared to this? It was nothing but teenage love. A love for a season. And for a reason. A reason that brought me right to Levi.

And I am so wholly in love with him that no amount of pain or anguish from my past matters any longer. Not when it led me to him. Practically to his front door.

Tonight, I want to tell him.

***

Entering Levi’s apartment, I’m about to announce my presence when the words die on my tongue.

Holy shit.

His living room has been transformed into what I can only describe as a giant blanket fort constructed from white sheets and held together by various pieces of furniture. Fairy lights strung across the fort’s makeshift roof cast a soft glow across the room.

My emotions are all over the place. Joy, happiness, love, and gratitude ping-pong through me, never settling on one for long.

Levi’s head pops out from the fort’s entrance, and my heart melts, knowing he did this for me.

“Welcome to Casa Blanket Fort,” he grins, and I hurry to join him.

“Levi, this is…” Sweet? Incredible? Wonderful? I can’t find the right words to express what I’m feeling, so I settle on “Amazing.”

“Wait until you see the inside,” he says excitedly, and I can’t help but smile at how proud he looks.

Moving the sheet to the side with one hand, he gestures for me to enter with the other. I slip off my shoes and crawl into the cozy space. There are so many pillows and blankets that I can’t even feel the floor beneath me.

When Levi lets go of the sheet, it feels like he’s enclosed us in our own little world. It’s cozy and intimate. And so perfect. I still can’t wrap my head around how much effort he put into this for me .

“I can’t believe you did this,” I say, feeling my throat tighten with emotion of the good kind.

I’m so happy I could cry.

“I can’t take all the credit,” he admits sheepishly. “Mack introduced me to Pinterest, and well…” he trails off, gesturing to what’s around us.

“Seriously?” I laugh, not sure if it’s funnier that Mack introduced him to it or that Levi actually scrolled through all the endless ideas on the app.

“Seriously,” he confirms. “For someone who doesn’t do the whole exclusive thing, he sure has a knack for knowing what girls like.”

“I think he’s secretly a romantic at heart.”

“Maybe, but don’t tell him you think so. His ego is big enough already.” He rolls his eyes, but the corners of his lips stay tilted. “You ready for some food and a movie?”

“Yes, show me what else you have up your sleeve, Whiskey Eyes.”

“Give me a sec,” He kisses me quickly before slipping out.

A few moments later, Levi returns, holding a covered tray.

“This,” he says, handing it to me, “is for you.”

I carefully place the tray on my lap before removing the dish towel. The black takeout box's koi fish logo immediately catches my eye.

My wide eyes find his. “Sushi?”

Not only did he get my favorite food, but he also ordered it from one of my favorite restaurants.

The girls and I discovered it on a girls’ night out a few weeks ago, and I couldn’t stop talking about how good everything was.

“From that place you mentioned,” he says. “Had it delivered just before you came over, so it should still be fresh.”

Warmth blooms in my chest at the way he remembers every little detail.

“But you hate sushi?” It’s true, and my heart might have taken a bit of a hit when he told me he doesn’t eat raw fish, so sushi dates weren’t in our future.

“Yes, but you love it.” His smile is soft. “Making you happy makes me happy.

My heart doubles in size, and I don’t know how it’s possible, but I fall even harder for him. If he didn’t own my heart before, I’d gladly give it to him now. Right here, under the fairy lights of our little domain.

“Levi…” The three little words bubble up my throat, but I swallow them, fear gnawing at my insides. Instead, I say, “I’m wondering what you’ll eat?”

“Got that delivered, too.” He laughs not picking up on my hesitation.

Half his body disappears from the fort, and when he reemerges, he’s holding a pizza box. He also hands me a pair of chopsticks and a little bowl with a soy sauce packet.

“Wow, you thought of everything,” I say, pouring the dark liquid into the bowl.

Levi winks. “Gotta take care of my girl.”

“Didn’t peg you for such a softy,” I tease, dipping my first piece of sushi into the soy sauce. “I wonder what the trio would say if they knew.”

"Trust me, my friends already know I worship the ground you walk on," he says, keeping his voice low as our eyes connect in the dim light. "And you know what?"

"What?" I whisper, my pulse picking up speed.

"I don’t care if everyone else knows it, too."

“Oh my gosh, Ms. May’s right! You are a smooth talker!” My laughter shatters the moment, but secretly, I’m swooning at his words, tucking them away in the corner of my heart where only he belongs.

Levi chuckles, taking a bite of his pizza. “Pick a movie, birthday girl.”

It doesn’t take me long to find something for us to watch on the laptop he has set up.

Levi’s eyes hold a glint of amusement when he sees what’s on the screen. “White Chicks?”

I’ve seen this movie so many times I could probably recite every line, but it never gets old.

“A classic.” I press play, and we sit shoulder to shoulder, enjoying our food.

When the closing credits roll onto the screen, Levi tells me he has another surprise for me. We’ve long since finished our dinner, and the takeout boxes lay discarded around us.

I’m content to stay wrapped up in his arms, but curiosity has me untangling from his embrace. Leaving the comfort of the fort behind, I follow Levi to the kitchen.

He tosses the trash away and nods toward a stool. “Have a seat.”

I slide onto one of the bar stools, but when he instructs me to close my eyes, I narrow them instead.

“What have you got planned?”

“It’s a surprise,” he says, the whites of his teeth flashing.

I bite back a smile and close my eyes, too excited to question him further.

The fridge door opens, and a faint light flickers behind my closed lids.

After a few seconds of rummaging, the distinct clink of ceramic against the counter reaches my ears.

“Okay, open them.”

My eyes peel open, and the sharp intake of my breath is the only sound in the quiet apartment. In front of me is a plate of cupcakes arranged in the shape of the number twenty.

Levi pushes it toward me. “Make a wish, Teddy Bear.”

I stare at him, the tiny flame of the candle flickering in his eyes. Is it possible to die from a happy heart? Because I’m pretty sure mine is about to fall right out of my chest with how much love just got pumped into it.

I lower my head and pucker my lips, but I don’t wish for anything because I already have everything that matters most to me in this world: my parents, friends, and a boyfriend who’s shown me that big love is made up of small moments—like cupcakes on your birthday and blanket forts.

So, instead of wishing, I silently thank the universe for bringing Levi into my life before blowing out the candle and letting the smoke take away my whispered words.

When I lift my head, tears prick my eyes. “You’re amazing.”

Levi must notice because he comes around to stand in front of me, brows knitting in concern as he catches a stray tear with his thumb.

“Please tell me these are happy tears?”

“Ecstatic tears.” I sniffle behind a smile.

“Good.” He places a gentle kiss on my forehead. “There’s one more thing.”

That’s when I notice his arm bent behind his back. Before I can ask what he’s hiding, he reveals an adorable plush teddy bear adorned with a pale pink bow—my favorite color.

That’s it. It’s all I can take. Tears spill down my cheeks, and there’s nothing I can do to stop them, not after everything he’s done tonight.

“I’m sorry,” I say between sniffles and hiccups. “I’m not sad, I promise. This is the best night anyone has ever given me.”

I wipe my eyes with the sleeve of my sweatshirt, worried my mascara is turning me into a blubbering raccoon.

Levi watches me with soft eyes. I choke out an embarrassed laugh as I pull myself together. Once I’m sure the tears are under control, I wipe under my eyes to make sure there are no mascara streaks.

“You ready to take her now?” Levi asks cautiously, worried I might start crying again .

I laugh, reaching for the bear. “Give it here.”

It’s so soft and has the sweetest brown eyes. I notice a date embroidered on one of the paw prints when I look closer.

“The day we met,” I murmur, running my finger over the delicate stitching.

“Yes, but also the first time I saw you.”

“Yeah, because you stole my stuff, and I was coming to collect.” I grin, thinking back to the day that set us on this crazy path.

“Well…” Levi shifts his weight awkwardly. “I might have seen you even before that. Or rather, I saw a picture of you.”

My eyes widen at his admission. “What do you mean?”

“The graduation photo with you and Pia. At the time, I didn’t know you were you, or Pia was Pia.

” He explains, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I just remember seeing your face, those blue eyes, and being hit with this wave of emotion. And then fear because I was scared shitless that it wouldn’t be you knocking on my door. ”

His eyes brim with raw emotion, and I squeeze the hand holding mine.

My own emotions have a vice grip on my throat, making it hard to speak. “I never realized you saw the picture.”

When I unpacked my stuff that day, it was exactly how I remembered packing it. It never even crossed my mind to ask if he’d seen it.

“The moment I saw you, my entire world shifted. And I didn’t even realize it, at least at that moment.”

His honesty is refreshing, and I know in my gut that this is the moment I’ve been waiting for. After everything he confessed, the words don’t seem as scary.

“Levi, I love you,” I whisper, watching his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows. “You don’t have to say it back.” I hurry to add when he keeps staring at me. “But I need you to know how completely and utterly in love I am with you.”

My heart is beating like crazy, but I keep going. “You walked into my life when I least expected it, but I wouldn’t change any of it. Thank you for making me feel like I'm someone worth loving.”

Levi tugs me to my feet, crushing me against him, and I cling to him just as tightly. When he pulls back, I’m shocked to see his eyes shining with moisture under the soft light.

“You don’t know how happy hearing those words makes me. I love you too, Bear. So fucking much.” He cups my face in his hands as my smile breaks free. “You make me feel like the best part of my life started when I met you.”

His mouth finds mine, and he kisses me, deep and slow. Like I’m the source of his next breath, and he’s mine.

We fumble back to the fort, dropping clothes along the way.

Once we’re back in our little world, Levi peppers my skin with soft kisses, each accompanied by a whispered "I love you," which sends shivers down my spine.

There’s only him and me as our bodies move together, sweet and slow .

The world outside a distant memory.