When I'm with You (Hope Town #3)(23)

“Here,” Seth says to Nikki, handing her his wallet and standing, following behind Levi as they make their way out the door.

“Stupid son of a nutcracker,” she mumbles under her breath, opening Seth’s wallet and pulling out enough cash to cover both of our tabs. “Serves him right for being friends with that tool.”

“Need I remind you, that tool is the same guy that you told me was my soul mate just a few months ago?”

She leans back in her seat, and I feel bad when I see her face get soft. “I know, I know. That was crazy intense, Em.” She places Seth’s wallet in her purse before looking back at me. “I knew he could be a jerk sometimes, what guy isn’t, but I’ve never seen something like what just happened. That was creepy as hell. More creepy than the weirdness he’s been oozing lately.”

“I know.” I sigh, rubbing my pounding temples. “He’s been doing stuff like that more and more. Getting excessively controlling and possessive the last few weeks, but ever since we slept together, he’s become … well, that,” I say and point toward the door.

“Has he ever—”

I stop her with a shake of my head, knowing where she’s going with this. “No, Nikki. I wouldn’t still be here if he had put his hands on me. I’m smarter than that,” I tell her. Even though I’m reasonably sure that’s the case, I know now the loneliness I had felt for so long was the only reason I had allowed things to get this far between us. Instead of me breaking things off when I first noticed how over-the-top he would get when it came to me.

“He got really mad when I brought up Nate. I figured he’d met him already. I didn’t know you hadn’t brought him around anyone. I mean he wasn’t just mad … he was mad. He bent his fork,” she says and points at where his discarded fork is lying on the table. Sure enough, the metal is bent slightly in the middle. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. I don’t know why you assumed he had been around Nate when I’ve been avoiding him for the better part of the last year. After Maddi had taken an instant dislike to him, I figured I would hold off on my parents. Look, I’m going to talk to him after this weekend. Since he’s covering for someone else, he’s working a double and we won’t see each other until Monday.”

She doesn’t look happy, but she gives me a weak nod before we move from the table and walk together outside. Not surprising, Levi and Seth are already in the SUV. I can see them talking as we walk around and get in the back of his Tahoe, Levi’s eyes never leaving mine until he was forced to in order to keep facing forward.

We continue our silence as we drive through town, and I’m thankful my house is on the way to Nikki’s apartment, so I can avoid being alone with Levi. How I have allowed myself to get this deep in our relationship is beyond me.

No. That’s a lie. It isn’t just on me. He did a damn good job of hiding his true colors from me for weeks. It’s just my fault that I let it go on as long as I have. The signs have been there for a while now, and I would rather be single with an occasional case of the lonelies than have to deal with this.

“You missed my street,” I whisper from my seat, the blinding pain slamming around my skull and making me feel weak.

“I didn’t,” he responds.

I lean my head against the window and try to argue, but Nikki takes my hand with a gentle squeeze.

“I think Ember needs to get home, Levi. She isn’t feeling well.”

“And she’ll get there when she gets there, Nikki.”

“Which should be sooner than later. Seriously, Levi, turn around.”

I squeak when the brakes compress harshly. I had been resting my head against the window, but the second the seat belt cuts into my stomach, I lose the battle with my nausea and hurry to open the door before losing my dinner on the street.

“Like I said, she isn’t feeling well,” Nikki snaps, unbuckling her seat belt and shifting to the middle seat to help me hold my hair back.

I had just finished heaving, feeling another wave of vomit fighting its way up my throat, when he slams on the gas. The door, not able to stay open with the power of his acceleration, bangs into my already pounding head. I have to choke down the vomit as the pain becomes something of the likes I’ve never experienced.

“It’s okay,” Nikki tries to reassure me, scooting back over on the seat and pulling me until my head is in her lap. I focus on the feeling of her fingers running through my hair, and it isn’t long until the hypnotizing movements have me asleep in her lap. Just as the pain dulls enough for slumber to take hold, I hear her mumble under her breath. “You’re a fucking motherfucker, Levi Kyle.”