Page 111 of So This Is War
Ollie:One that involves choking.
Levi:I’m going to leave now. Thanks, queens.
Winnie:Remember, ease her in.
Blakely:Then platter.
Penny:No platter, no nudity. Just shirtless seduction.
Ollie:Then choke her!
WYLIE
I thoughtabout watching the game tonight but decided not to. After everything that happened this morning with my dad, I didn’t want to see his face. And then with Levi, well, I don’t know. I feel embarrassed now.
Embarrassed over what my dad thinks of me.
What he saw at the arena.
Embarrassed of almost crying in front of Levi.
Of coming in front of him.
Of my behavior.
I basically lost track of everything, and now . . . now I almost feel lost.
I move my Apple pencil over my screen, working out some minor detail changes for Patty Ford’s logo, but I’m not feeling the font or the colors I’m choosing. Everything just seems off, so before I can annoy myself too much, I turn off my screen and set my iPad and pencil to the side. I can work on it some more tomorrow.
All ready for bed, I pick up my phone to mindlessly scroll through social media just as it buzzes in my hand. It’s a FaceTime from Levi.
Uh-oh, what could he want now?
Sitting up in my bed, I adjust my bun on the top of my head and then hold the phone in front of me as I answer it.
His face comes on screen, and he looks fresh from the shower with wet hair and a slightly red face.
“Hey,” I say. “Uh, how’s it going?”
He smiles. “Good. Catch the game?”
“No,” I reply, feeling weird since we haven’t talked on the phone like this before. And with how we last ended things...“I was catching up on some work. Did you win?”
“Smashed them.”
“Oh . . . uh, congrats.”
“Thank you. So, I wanted to call you and thank you for the pretzels. I appreciate the hard work you put into those.”
“Oh, you’re welcome,” I reply.
“I actually am really grateful for everything you’ve done this past week. I know I haven’t been the easiest to work for.”
“You haven’t been too bad, well, besides your good water bagels.”
He smirks, and just the light turn up of his lips has my stomach bouncing with desire. “They were worth it. Best bagels ever. Which reminds me, feel free to help yourself to the stash. You should be able to enjoy them as well.”
“Careful what you say. I might eat them all.”
