First & Forever (The Crescent Chronicles Book 4) (14 page)

“Yes. Allie and her friend did a lovely rendition of
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
.”

“I was wondering about that. Why isn’t Jessica joining us tonight?” Tim gave Allie a sidelong glance.

Diane’s face turned serious. “Do you mean to tell me you weren’t aware that Jess left weeks ago? You had no idea of this when you left our daughter alone in a hotel suite on Bourbon Street of all places and with Casanova over there?” Diane pointed at me, and I smirked.

Allie exhaled loudly. “Mom, I’m starting college in the fall. I don’t need to be babysat.”

Diane set down her wine with a thump. “Princeton is not New Orleans.”

“No it’s not, but it’s still unsupervised. Besides, I could have gone to college in New Orleans if I wanted.”

I knew she was just using it to make a point, but would she consider it? Would changing her college plans appeal to her?

The anger on Diane’s face had slowly melted into concern. “But you’re not. Your father shouldn’t have left you.”

“What’s done is done, it’s not an issue. Now please can we enjoy the evening?” Allie sighed.

Before things could get more uncomfortable, our meals arrived. I tried to come up with a new conversation, but Tim took care of that himself.

“So where do you live, Levi? Are you on campus?”

That was an easy enough question to answer. “I only lived on campus one year. I live in an apartment with a few friends. It’s a nice place. Isn’t it, Allie?”

Allie kicked me under the table. I’d warned her I wasn’t done making it clear just how much more than friends we were.

“Oh, Allie has seen it?” Diane took a slow sip of her wine.

I smiled at Allie. “Yes, she’s spent plenty of evenings there.”

Allie’s expression was priceless. “Evenings meaning hanging out. The only time I stayed over was on the couch. Okay? Can we please change the subject?”

“Of course.” I smiled. “So Diane, how long are you in town for?”

“I leave tomorrow morning. I only wanted to check in on Allie since no one else apparently is.” She pushed some food around on her plate. Evidently I wasn’t the only one without an appetite.

“Oh, that’s too bad. I would have loved to introduce you to my parents.”

“What?” Allie’s mouth fell open. I loved taking her by surprise.

Diane set down her fork. “How thoughtful, that would have been nice.”

“My parents know all about Allie and are so excited to meet her.” I returned her stare. That wasn’t exactly true. I did plan to tell my mother about her, but it’s just that in my world it was a bit more complicated. And technically my father knew she existed.

“It’s nice to hear you are close to your parents. I think communication between a parent and child is of extreme importance.” Diane gave Allie a disapproving look. I felt a twinge of guilt. I didn’t actually want to get her in trouble.

“Well, I’d like to meet your parents, Levi. Just name the time and place,” Tim quickly replied.

I’m sure he would. Tim was seeing dollar signs. “I will. My parents will be thrilled.”

“Excuse me.” Allie threw down her napkin and pushed back her chair. She stormed off, and I hoped she was only going to the restroom.

Tim was the safer one to talk to, but Diane had more of the answers I needed.

I was about to start in with the questions when Tim turned to his wife. “I didn’t know you were coming into town. You could have given me some warning.”

“Warning? To visit my daughter? I had to make sure she was doing all right.”

“And she’s fine. I’m capable of taking care of her.”

I tried to tune them out. It felt wrong to witness the fighting.

Thankfully a few moments later Allie returned with a grin, “Honey, we’re going to be late, aren’t we?”

“For what?” I watched her closer as she sat down. What was she playing at now?

“That thing we just couldn’t miss.” The look she shot me said it all. I needed to just go along with it.

“Oh yeah.”

“Well, we don’t want to keep you kids, let’s get the check.” Tim seemed to get it too. The guy had made his share of mistakes, but he understood when to just go with the flow.

Ten minutes later we headed for the door. Upstairs we hadn’t noticed the start of a torrential rainstorm.

“I didn’t know it was going to rain.” Diane appeared reluctant to enter the downpour.

“It’s just how things are here. It can go from a clear sky to a storm in minutes,” Allie explained. I smiled. She was really getting used to New Orleans.

“We might as well get it over with.” Tim didn’t seem concerned. Either that or he just wanted to get away from the situation.

“Okay, thanks for dinner. I won’t be back too late, Mom.” Allie was also ready.

“All right, have a nice night you two.” Diane waved before dashing out.

As soon as her parents disappeared, Allie tugged on my hand and walked right out into the rain. Instead of running back toward the hotel she stopped. “What the hell was all of that? What are you playing at?”

“What am I playing at? I can’t believe you didn’t tell your parents about me!” I finally let my feelings out. I wasn’t much for blowing things out of proportion, but calling me her friend wasn’t going to fly.

“What the heck was I supposed to tell them? It’s not like we’re officially together or anything.”

I felt my blood boiling. Was she kidding me? We’d been together the whole damn summer. “Not officially together? You mean I’ve been staying away from other girls all summer just for the fun of it?”

Her body relaxed. Something in my words got through to her. “It’s not like I’ve been with anyone else either.”

I let my anger subside. It wasn’t going to help anything. “Then what are we arguing about? That we’re both too stubborn to admit we actually have something here?”

“What does it matter? I mean it’s already August—”

No. She wasn’t going there. I still had time. “Just stop. I know what the problem is.”

“Care to enlighten me?”

It was time to step things up a notch. “Let me take you out on a real date.”

“Seriously? That’s your response? And what separates a real date from anything else?”

“Dinner, wine, nice clothes. Come on, it’ll be fun.”

She paused, and for a frightening second I thought she was going to say no. “Fine.”

“So Friday night at seven?”

“Okay. Are we done here ‘cause this rain is getting old and—”

Despite the rain, I could only concentrate on her face—on her lips. I interrupted her complaints by crushing my lips into hers. It wasn’t gentle. I was done being gentle. She didn’t seem to mind. She wrapped her arms around my neck and pulled my head down to her level. I explored her mouth, reveling in the sweet taste.

A honking car brought us back to reality, and I stepped back slowly. I wanted her. I needed her. But not like that. Not yet. “I guess I should get you out of the rain.”

“You mean us?”

“No, just you. The rain doesn’t bother me much.” Besides, the cool water was helping my restraint.

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“With me babe, the surprises never end.” I draped an arm over her shoulder and led her back to the hotel.

She couldn’t leave. That much was clear. I needed her in my life, and she was destined to be my mate. I’d waited years for her. I’d spent years with just a hazy dream that felt more like a memory than something made up in my sub-conscious. I knew without anyone telling me that the vision was of the future, and if I wanted to get there—to a moment when my mate was with me truly and completely— I had to find a way to keep Allie at my side.

She wanted me. She opened up around me, she smiled more. I was as good for her as she was for me, but I needed to make sure she saw that. I needed to make sure she realized just how much I could and would offer her. But I couldn’t tell her everything, at least not yet. Too much information too fast might scare her off.

I hadn’t been over to my parents’ house in a while. My father was away on business which left me blissfully free from his disapproving eye. I wasn’t in the mood to deal with another lecture on my inadequacy. At least I’d found my mate. Everything else would fall into place.

My mom didn’t hear me come in through the front door, so I went right upstairs. I was on a mission, and I didn’t want to have to explain what I was doing to her. I was nervous enough about the monumental step I was about to take. I didn’t need anyone trying to stop me. It was for that reason I hadn’t told my friends. For once they both would have agreed on something, that I was an idiot. And maybe I’d have thought the same thing if it weren’t for the way she made me feel—the way that memory ran through my mind on repeat, the way her body called to me constantly. And those eyes. Those damn green eyes that were my complete and utter undoing. And even my selfish reasons aside, I needed to keep her safe. As much as I hated to admit it, my father was right. She’d stopped being just a human the minute I took more than a passing interest in her. Turning back now was out of the question.

I walked into my old bedroom and went right over to the dresser. I opened the top drawer and searched for the ring. It wasn’t there. A moment of panic hit me until I remembered. I’d taken the ring already, weeks before. I’d stuffed it in a pair of my slacks. Had I really forgotten? Allie was making me lose my mind.

I took the stairs back down two at a time.

“Levi?” Mom watched me from the entryway.

“Hi, Mom. Just getting something from my room.”

“What did you get?” She looked me over, probably looking for evidence of what I’d taken.

“It wasn’t here after all.”

She crossed her arms and looked at me. “Do I need to know what you’re up to?”

“No. Not at all.” I couldn’t waste time chatting. I needed to get home. I had to find that ring.

“Do you want to stay for dinner? I wasn’t planning anything big since your father is away, but I can whip up something.”

“Oh. No thanks. I have plans.” I slipped passed her to the door. “Maybe another time.”

I practically ran to my car, well aware that my mom was watching me. I didn’t let it bother me. If things worked out the way I expected them to, she’d be very happy with me. I’d more than make up for blowing her off.

I raced back to my apartment in record time. I walked right by Jared, ignoring his questioning stare. I searched my closet. I checked the pockets of every pair of pants I owned. Nothing. I slammed my fist into the wall creating a large hole. I’d have to clean up the plaster later. Had I seriously fucked up that bad?

I thought about Allie. How close I was to getting exactly what I wanted. I had to find the ring. I glanced around and found exactly what I was looking for. Balled up on the floor by my desk were the pants, and the ruby ring was exactly where I’d left it.

I fished it out and carefully placed it in my night stand. Hopefully it would be securely on Allie’s finger in just a few days. After that there was no way anyone was losing that ring.

I forced down my nerves as I knocked on her door. I’d spent so many nights doing the exact same thing, but that night was different. That night was going to end with Allie as mine.

She opened the door, and my jaw dropped. She wore a short black dress that had me breathless. The lacy material showed off her legs, and every last one of her curves. After a moment I pulled myself back together. “Hello there, gorgeous.”

“You don’t look so bad yourself.” She grinned at me.

“You ready?” I reached out to touch a few of her wavy tresses. I loved when she wore her hair down.

“Definitely.”

I took her hand and led her to the elevator. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. I was like a school boy. She shivered. “Are you cold?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Does that mean I’m the cause of the goose bumps?”

“Maybe,” she said coyly. She was so good at that. She toyed with me and left me needing more. Needing everything.

The thought of just how much she still had to offer had me grinning. “Nice.”

An older couple entered the elevator one floor down. The woman smiled at us, taking in our appearance. “Celebrating something special tonight?”

“No, just a night out,” Allie quickly answered.

“There is always something worth celebrating,” the woman continued.

“Right,” Allie replied politely. She’d switched to her I’m uncomfortable voice. “Have a nice night.”

“You too.” The woman smiled.

We walked out into the sticky heat of the night, headed for dinner.

I squeezed her hand. “You were wrong, you know.”

“About what?”

“We are celebrating tonight.”

“Oh yeah? What are we celebrating exactly?”

“We’re celebrating you.” I stopped short and placed a hand over her heart. “And me, and an amazing summer.”

She smiled up at me. “All things worth celebrating.”

We walked the rest of the way to the restaurant in near silence. I was far too nervous to come up with anything worth talking about. Instead I just enjoyed having her hand in mine and her body beside me.

We got the best table in the house at Antonie’s. I’d made sure of that. I was still trying to sell Allie on the uniqueness and culture of New Orleans so the ambiance at Antoine’s was perfect. I wasn’t sure whether she’d ever tried French-Creole food, but Allie seemed open to almost any cuisine so I didn’t worry.

The waiter approached our table shortly after we sat down. “Welcome to Antoine’s. Can I get you something to drink?”

“Yes, we’ll have the 1982 Chateau Mouton Rothschild.” I wasn’t cutting any corners. This was going to be one of the biggest nights of both of our lives.

“Nice choice, I will be back with it shortly.” The waiter tried to hide his surprise. That was good if he expected a good tip.

“So you know a lot about wine?” She unwrapped her napkin.

“You could say that.” I took the napkin and spread it out on her lap for her.

She didn’t seem to mind the gesture. “What do you mean?”

“My family is originally from France, and we still have some vineyards in Bordeaux.”

“Oh, wow. That’s really cool.” Allie’s face matched her words. I had so much to offer her. So many things she’d get to experience for the first time.