Page 19 of Picking Daisies on Sundays

“You know we’ll feed you, right? I won't let you starve. We are going over fordinner.”

I rolled my eyes. “I told Sarah I’d show her my Kindle after trying to convince her she needed one; Rhea said she’s never seen a scrunchie before; Claire said she had a hole in her skirt; and I get extra hungry,” I finished reading off my mental list from yesterday’s conversations at the game.

When I was relieved of having to remember everything, I looked back at him. His lips were partly separated with…surprise? Like I perplexed him.

“You do perplex me,” he responded.I said that aloud?I watched as he put the purse over his shoulder and walked to the car without another word.

9

And that kiss…I think about it

all the time

My top was starting to feel tighter as we arrived at Levi’s house—not the one I grew up going to after school though. After we graduated, Trish, Levi’s mother, had completed her real estate license, left teaching, and became a real estate agent full time in the city. Based on the front of her new home, it must have been a success.

I made sure to take a moment before opening the passenger door, knowing that he was going to open it this time. Don’t worry, there was no bruise on his forehead after yesterday’sotherincident.

The front door to the large townhouse was black, matching the lamp posts lining the quiet street tonight. His tan skin had a golden hue under the dark sky and moonlight. It was as if the moon followed him everywhere he went simply because he was more beautiful than the sun.

“Do I look okay?” Levi asked with concern, evidently because of the way I was looking at him. I needed to learn to stop staring at him and train myself like some conditioned dog in a Pavlov experiment, because apparently, I couldn’t contain myself.

“Yes? Yes, of course you do! You always do,” I rushed to

answer.

He laughed, his face lighting up at my enthusiasm. “I appreciate the reassurance.” Thankfully, he didn’t realize just how genuine I was being in that response.

Reaching the door, I clutched the hydrangeas to my chest with my teenage-level anxiety. Levi stood at my side as he knocked on the door with pastries in hand.

Before anyone reached the door, Levi leaned down towards my ear and whispered, “I know you didn’t ask, but you look okay too. Beautiful, actually.”

My heart sprung forward through my chest the same way cold rain hit asphalt on a stormy night.

Tonight was going to be more difficult than I had expected.

After sewing Claire’s skirt—“Dani, I can do it,” Levi argued apologetically—showing Sarah how Kindles worked, and giving Rhea my new, unused pack of scrunchies, we were finally sitting down for dinner. Levi’s mother’s dining room was massive, but not in the way that it felt rich. Rather, it was made for a family that invited over loud cousins, social aunts, friendly neighbors, and playdates that involved table space for crafts. From the hardwood to the mismatching plates and family members talking over one another. It was what one hoped for in a Sunday family dinner.

I sat with Levi on my right, and Rhea and Claire on my left. There were a few different conversations taking place around the table; Levi was currently talking with a cousin about grad school. But I sat distracted, looking around the room to find a head of strawberry blonde hair. I hadn’t asked Levi about whether Bella would be here tonight because I didn’t want to come off concerned. When I came up empty, I released a breath I didn’t realize I was holding because she wasn’t here. Only Sarah’s other bridesmaids sat with us: Nicole, Delanie, and Aparna.

My peace didn’t last long because someone says my name from the other side of the table.

Swallowing the food that I just stuffed into my mouth, I squeaked, “Excuse me?”

“I was just telling my sister how gorgeous the hydrangeas are that you brought me.” Trish, wore a warm smile the way a figure skater wore skates; the two were meant to go together.

“They’re very popular this time of year,” I responded with a smile, hopefully as warm.

“I hope you don’t think that you have to bring them over just because you’re dating Levi.”

My cheeks heated, especially because everyone chose to stop their conversations to hear this one since Trish was speaking to me from across the length of the table. “I really don’t mind,” I shook my head.

“I’m just happy Levi has finally come to his senses,” she exasperated, “I never approved of any of the other girls he was with.”

Oh my gosh, this could not get more embarrassing.

“Alright, Mom, I think we get that you haven’t approved of my dating life,” Levi intervened casually, trying to save me.

“I’m done, I’m done,” she said, placing her palms up in surrender. “Has Levi told you about the book he published?”