Page 17 of Flawless Foundations
"What do you want, Jake?" I sigh in defeat. He's going to tell Emmy. I'm not ready for that, because I don't know what this is between Levi and me. If there even is anything.
His eyebrow lifts at my tone. "Oh, my bad. Sorry to interrupt…" he waves a hand toward us, "…whatever was happening here in a public hallway where several other apartments are located. I just completed my last call for the night down there in 1409 and was heading over to see my girl. Just happened to walk in on two people who have apartments, only about twelve feet in either direction, getting it on out in the hall."
I straighten my dress and lean over to pick up my bag that I dropped on the floor.
"Honestly, I'm surprised I'm the one who caught ya." He levels his gaze on me, then looks at Levi. "With all the noise you were making."
I humph. I like Jake, a lot. But right now, he's my least favorite person. Levi takes a step away from me as Jake walks past us toward the door that Emmy and I share. He stops before unlocking the door. "You'd both be fucking in trouble if she had opened this door and got the eyeful I did. Tell her soon, please." Then he disappears into our apartment.
I lean my head back against the wall and close my eyes. Shit.
"Becca—" Levi starts, I hold up a hand.
"Tomorrow, Levi." And I push off the wall, dig out my key and walk to the door. He walks to his own place only a bit further down the hall. I look over at him and give him a tiny smile before disappearing into my apartment.
Chapter 10
Levi
Staring up into the night sky, I take a long, refreshing breath. I'm leaning back, head resting on one of the plush outdoor chairs in the rooftop lounge of the 425 Madison building. This right here is one of my favorite parts of this building. I've always been a night sky kinda guy, so to find out that the building had this amenity was a huge plus. With a bar in the center, the lounge offers several areas to relax as well as entertain. I've hung out with Emmy and Jake up here before, near the bar, but when I'm up here on my own, I like to sit away from the lit area. I like to see the stars.
I bought a couple long necks when I came up and found my way to a secluded spot. It's a crisp fall evening, and I'm clad in jeans and an old hoodie from Harvard.
I close my eyes and listen to the world around me. Being in the big city, it's never really silent, but I do find it calming. The traffic on the busy streets below never seems to sleep. Horns honking from cars are a near constant. There are several people up here tonight, but I don't know a single one. It's bliss.
I lift a beer to my mouth and take a drink when I hear a familiar laugh. Alert, I lean up in my seat and look toward the bar. I watch as three women take seats at a high-top table near the bar. I focus on them, but I can't make out who they are. With the twinkly string lights that hang over the area, I can tell that one is blond, another has extremely dark hair. The third woman has a hood pulled up over her head, making it impossible to see if it's who I thought it was. If I could just see her face… but her back is to me.
Damn, I thought for sure it was Becca. I slump back down in my chair and try to shake my thoughts of the sexy blonde who keeps turning me on in elevators. I've been thinking about that blonde-haired beauty nearly nonstop. Just last night we got carried away in the hall. I'm a level-headed guy, but she makes my head spin. She causes me to lose all rational thought. For fuck’s sake, I couldn't even wait to get her in my apartment, behind closed doors to give her an orgasm. I don't love that Jake ruined the moment. If he hadn’t, I would have made it farther than just inside her panties. On the other hand, had he not walked up on us, a number of other people could have and that wouldn't have been a good time.
But her mouth, that oh so wicked mouth of hers is all I can think about. Her lush lips, languid tongue, and the feel of her pressed up against me. The way her hand roamed, mixed with the smell of her hair... fuck. I shift in my seat, adjusting myself in hopes no one comes over here and finds me with a semi. Just then, I hear another laugh, and I know it belongs to Becca.
I sit up again, and like before, I can't make out the women at the table near the bar. I pull out my phone and think about sending her a text. If that is indeed Becca, I should be able to tell if she gets on her phone. I hover over her name in my text screen. What if she's avoiding me? I texted her this morning, trying to make good on her promise to talk today, she told me she had plans after work. Was she avoiding me? I guess if this woman is her, I will have my answer and then I can relax.
"Fuck this," I mutter. I stand. I'll just casually walk by the trio of women to get myself another beer. I already have two in a bucket next to my seat, but who cares.
I take my time weaving through the furniture-covered deck. As I walk by the table, I recognize the blonde, she lives in the building, though I can't place a name. The other woman is clearly pregnant. I pass the table hoping to get a good look at the possible Becca on my way back when I hear my name. I peer over my shoulder, and sure enough, it's Becca.
"Hey, Levi," she says again.
Turning back toward her, I act surprised to see her. "Oh, hey Bex." I walk up to their high-top.
She's all smiles and doesn't say anything for a moment. There's something sexy about seeing her clad in a sweatshirt with the hood draped over her blonde wavy locks. I smile back at her, drink her up as it feels like I haven't laid eyes on her in days. Yet I had her mouth only last night.
One of her tablemates clears their throat. "Uh, hello. Introduce us, Becca." I pull my eyes away from the beauty in front of me and extend my hand to the blonde who called us out. "Levi King."
She takes my hand and smirks. "Sara Beaumont from 315." I nod and offer my hand to the other woman.
"Piper Donavon and future spawn." She points to her protruding belly. I chuckle. "Nice to meet you both."
"Don't worry, Becca, we took care of the introductions. You just keep staring at this dreamboat like an idiot. We got you," Sara says. I smile, and Becca rolls her eyes.
"Sorry, I wasn't expecting to see you tonight. You with someone?" She turns and looks behind her in the direction I came.
"Nope, just me. I like to unwind up here after a crazy work week." The girls nod like they understand, but my eyes land on Becca. Trying to let her know that she can join me anytime. She bites the corner of her lip like maybe she's having the same thought. I've accomplished what I set out to do, so I don't stick around. "Well ladies, I need to grab a couple more beers. It was nice meeting you Sara and Piper." I level Becca with a heated stare. "I'll see ya around."
They say their collective goodbyes as I tap the table and turn back to the bar. Moments later, when I walk by the table again, they are chatting away, but I catch Becca's eye and I wink at her.
Not even thirty minutes later, I hear a shuffle to my left. I turn slightly as I hear a soft, ‘hey.’ Becca stands there, hands in her hoodie pocket. It's strange to see her dressed down in a hoodie and black stretchy pants. She's always so put together and stylish. Seeing her like this feels like I'm seeing her for the first time, new and real.
