Under One Condition

Too Much Information

Levi

   “Are you getting in or what?” I asked Sicily when she stood outside of the car with her arms folded across her chest. She looked away and I took a deep breath, trying not to laugh in irritation.

   “Listen, I’m sorry for being inappropriate, so now can you just get in?” I asked, trying to get her to stop being stubborn.

   It was not working so I looked at my sister through the rearview mirror as a sign that I needed her to convince this stubborn woman to get in the car. 

   “Come on, Sicily. We’re hungry, so please get in,” she pleaded and that made the trick. Sicily let out an exasperated sigh before she decided to get in. All I could do was smile, but she caught me. 

   “Do you think this is funny?” she asked and I raised my hands, shaking my head while my lips were pressed in a thin line. Eva looked at me as she shrugged her shoulders while I started the car and drove off. There was no point in trying to start a decent conversation with her. 

   “Dude, by the way, next time you decide to bring Alexis to your room let me know so I can find somewhere to spend the time. I know I cockblocked you last night and I felt horrible. But to be honest, you shouldn’t be banging your ex,” Johnny said, making me flinch as I looked at Sicily with the corner of my eyes. 

   “Seriously, Levi? There is a reason why you and that devil’s pawn broke up. You were too good for her,” Eva scolded. I looked at her through the rearview mirror, gesturing at her to keep quiet, but it was all in vain, because she kept going.

   “You should have seen my brother back in high school and even last year when he started here. He was the most adorable nerd you could ever meet, Sicily. And he used to wear these big rimmed glasses and this...” 

   “Enough, Eva,” I said while Johnny laughed, making me stare at him, annoyed. 

    “Eva is right. He was, well he is still one of the smartest people in class. Alexis was one of his girlfriends in high school and her, along with other girls made him the way he is now. It’s truly a shame.”

   I could hear Sicily laugh right next to me, and I gritted my teeth, trying to contain my irritation and not snap at anyone. 

   “So, the jerk was an adorable nerd back in high school. Let me guess, you couldn’t attract pretty girls like Alexis and decided to feed your own ego by changing into someone you’re not,” Sicily mocked. 

   I smiled and looked at the road before I suddenly grabbed her hand and squeezed it against my lips while I gave her a flirtatious stare. For a moment, I could see her eyes softening as she saw mine.

   “I could get any girl I wanted to, no matter how I dress. I’m charming enough,” I said, turning her hand to kiss her wrist, feeling her rapid pulse under my lips. She was busted. 

   Sicily yanked her hand away and scoffed, looking out the window to hide that blush I knew she had on her cheeks. 

   “Typical man. You think you can get anyone to fall at your feet, but that won’t work with me,” she cleared, but she wasn’t looking my way. I looked at Eva and Johnny through the mirror again and they just shook their head, ignoring the tension between us. 

   “We’ll see about that, beautiful,” I replied, parking my Camaro in front of the diner. I got out of the car and pressed the seat button to let Johnny and Eva out. We walked towards the entrance when I noticed Sicily not coming.

   “Is your friend always this aggravating?” I asked my sister.

   “Not with me at least. But we’ve only met yesterday, so we still have to get to know each other more. Just stop bothering her, she’s not doing anything to you.”

   I rolled my eyes and told them to find a table while I convinced Miss Hard-Headed to join us. Leaning against my car door, I looked at the distance while trying to find polite words to say.

    “Listen, I don’t like you and I know you don’t like me, but I am not one to let anyone starve, so why don’t we just have a nice breakfast today and then we don’t have to talk to each other after that, what do you say?” 

   I got her attention, because she opened the door and got out of the car, standing in front of me while she raised her eyebrows. 

   “I can live with that, but don’t ruin my breakfast or else I will punch you on the throat.”

   “Oh, aggressive,” I said with a smirk on my face, but she groaned and kept walking until we made it inside the diner. 

   Eva and Johnny were already sitting in a booth with the menus on the table. They waited for us. Sicily and I joined them and we decided to ask for a quick meal. The waitress approached our table and she smiled at me.

   “Hello, Levi. How was your summer vacation? You never called me after that night,” she said, making everyone look at me with their eyebrows raised. 

   “What? It was only dinner,” I said, looking at the menu but she wouldn’t stop looking at me.

   “Won’t you be a darling and bring my boyfriend a chocolate milkshake?” I heard Sicily suddenly speak while she put her hand on mine, rubbing my knuckles until the waitress stopped looking at me. Eva was trying to hold back a smile as the awkward silence took over. 

   They all ordered the same and we waited for the drinks while we thought of what to order. 

   “Thank you,” I said. Sicily took her hand off mine and cleared her throat. 

   “Don’t think that changes anything. I could see how uncomfortable she was making you so I had to get her off your back.”

   I had to admit she really saved my butt just now, but she had chosen the wrong way to do it.