If Only

Chapter 6: Taken Man

Levi

You have got to be kidding me! Why was he in there? I was supposed to get a clean get away after writing in the back of his car. That was embarrassing. I almost fell on my face when I rushed out of the car. And why was I looking at his—

"What were you fantasizing about, busboy?"

"Lips!" I instantly covered my mouth when I realized what I had just said in response to Tricia's question. I never wanted to run into her. They have a huge estate; she could easily be somewhere else.

"I mean, I cut my lips and I was wondering how on earth I did that," I continued, hiding the lie in the fake smile I gave her. "Excuse me," I said as I walked past her.

I had the urge to glance back and I wished I hadn't because I saw the owner of the expensive car approach her. I didn't know, but I didn't like seeing them together. Something in the pit of my stomach didn't feel right.

Shaking my head at the odd feeling, I continued on to see my grandmother. There was only one day left and I was sure that even if everything was in place, there was always something Tricia's mother would tell every helper to do.

***

"You met him?" Emery asked me later that evening about Tricia's future husband. He came to my house just to hear the 'juicy' details he called it about the wedding of the year in our town.

I nodded and, shrugging my shoulders as if it didn't matter to me. Come to think about it, why would it matter to me? I barely know that guy. I don't even know his name.

"What's he like?" My best friend asked curiously. "Old? Loaded rich?"

That made me chuckle. If he had seen the guy, he would have been drooling. Emery wasn't afraid to tell neither me nor his dance squad that he was also attracted to boys. Manly boys. You know, the guy with the Adonis body and all that.

"Nope," I told him. "He's probably only in his late twenties. That's not much older than her."

Emery rolled his eyes, the corner of his right lip raised. "Tell me at least he's ugly."

My mouth opened and paused midway as my best friend warned me with those eyes, as if saying, "He better be!"

When I shook my head, he literally threw his hands and screamed "NOOOOO!!!"

I heard very fast footsteps coming up to the room and the door was soon opened harshly. "What is he over acting now?" Emery's mother asked after the door slammed open.

"Tricia the effing Santillan is marrying a handsome rich dude!" Emery wailed.

My poor innocent Emery who only had one person he totally disliked in the world, was having a meltdown.

"Jesus!" Emery's morning silently exclaimed. "I thought something bad happened. Anyway, Levi. Do you want to bring some dinner for you and your grandma? I know you guys just came from the Santillan's. She must be too tired to make dinner now."

"Mom! Something bad did happen. I just told you," Emery said, stopping me from answering his mother's question.

"Yeah. Yeah. The only person you hate is going to be living in a fairytale," his mother said. "Find yours, but only after college. You can bag a rich girl once you become a doctor."

"What about a rich man, auntie?" I asked.

"Oh, you can totally get one, honey. You're cute."

My face caught on fire. I was asking the question for Emery but why would she think it was for me?

"See?" Auntie said while pointing at me. "You're the cutest when you're blushing."

I chuckled awkwardly. I never thought of being gay. Never even considered it. Nope. Nada. Na-uh. Nein. Non.

That night, what Emery's mother said stuck in my head. Was I cute enough for another man? I shook my head vigorously as I thought of another boy looking at me with lustful eyes. Lerkh!

Then I remember the man in the Cadillac. My heart started beating fast and my face suddenly felt hot. The image of him and his brown eyes fixed on me made me feel a tickle run down my spine. I gulped at the sensation I felt.

Oh no.

I couldn't be gay for him! I love boobs and you know... Gahhh!!!

Sleep! Sleep! Sleep!

***

I counted over a thousand sheep and I couldn't sleep at all. I tossed and turned and even Clay got worried about me. The next morning, I knew I would have a horrible day.Well, it was Monday and I had school. Perfect. Just perfect.

"Levi!" Emery squealed as soon as I entered the classroom that morning.

If not for my promise to grandma that I would get perfect attendance and straight As, I would have gone with her. She was heading back to the mansion to help around again.

"Hey," I greeted him back. "Why couldn't you wait for me again," I asked, resenting a little that he didn't wait for his humble chariot to pick him up.

"Dance squad. Competition will be here before you know it, so I left early with them. They picked me up. Prep and all that," he said as he sat down next to me. I could tell he'd already done a little practice with his crew before coming to class.

The school day was boring or maybe my mind was just preoccupied. I couldn't really focus in class. Either I was just thinking of my sexuality or the fact that Tricia's fiancé was lingering in my head the whole time.

Really odd and I found it quite annoying. I mean, he's a stranger with beautiful intense eyes and a nice body... and this strong aura and... the way he looked at me...

"Snap out of it! What is that," Emery said, conking my head. I found us sitting in the cafeteria. Wait, what time was it? I stood up abruptly.

Glancing at the wall where the giant round clock was hanging, I cursed to myself when I read what time it was. Four in the afternoon. Slumping back down on my seat, I sighed.

The wedding ceremony was over.