Love Me Tomorrow (29 page)

Levi had helped negotiate room rates and worked with Gloria on menus for the weekend, but hadn’t been asked to help much beyond that. He was hoping that didn’t mean Mom and Pop Freeman were unhappy with his services. Normally that fear would have propelled him into action, but in that precise moment, he didn’t seem to give a damn.

So here he now sat, slightly confused considering he wasn’t exactly known for his fashion prowess. He’d been a little surprised when Julia asked if he’d help her decide on a dress for the party. Truth be told, he was even more shocked it was the day of and Julia still hadn’t already settled on something to wear. Apparently having it narrowed down to two or three options was typical for Julia, who admitted that her mother had usually helped with this sort of thing in the past.

Levi didn’t push for further detail, but was under the impression things between Julia and her parents had been strained ever since that horrible dinner at Glennellen. As bad as he’d felt for Jake that night, the thing which currently had Levi on edge was the thought he might physically run into the man now—post declaration. Julia had mentioned Jake and Victor were staying in the adjoining room which connected to the large living room where he now sat. The door to Jake’s room had already been unlocked by the hotel staff. It was currently sitting slightly ajar, taunting him with the fear Jake might come strolling through at any given moment.

Levi glanced at the closed door between the bedroom and living area, listening to Julia and Natalie Foster chattering away on the other side. She was currently changing into the third and final option for the party this evening.

Natalie had been the stylist-extraordinaire to Wilde City’s elite for many decades now, she’d practically become an institution all her own. She had a showroom somewhere downtown in the theater district where clients typically came to her, by appointment only, naturally. However, for clients like the Freemans, Natalie made herself available for house calls.

The woman had an ‘in’ with most of the major fashion designers and jewelers and she reigned supreme within Wilde City—much like Libby in that sense, though unlike Libby Washington, who had been evil-incarnate, Natalie was beloved. That wasn’t to say she didn’t have a temper, but people didn’t recoil when they saw her coming.

“As I mentioned to you last week, I’ve set things up a little differently this evening, Julia,” Levi yelled out after hearing a lull in the conversation between the two women.

“I’m listening!” Julia yelled back from the bedroom.

“We’re going to dive directly into the deep end right off the bat, navigating you and Gregory, your parents and most of your guests through a press gauntlet.”

“Gauntlet sounds less than pleasant, Levi, are you trying to kill me?”

Levi laughed, tapping the screen of his iPad and perusing the extensive checklist for the evening’s event. “I won’t lie to you, it’ll very likely take us around thirty or forty minutes to get through it, but once you have, that’s it, no more press for the rest of the night.”

“That part doesn’t sound so bad, assuming you can get Daddy to agree to it!”

“Daddy won’t be given a choice,” Levi said, nodding to himself. “I’ll have all the press set up on the second floor ballroom level of the Harper Grand Regency so once we get you across the street to the Rainbow Palace, there will be a few final red carpet photo ops and that’s it, publicity game over. The rest of the night will be a completely private affair with family and friends.”

“Have I mentioned how much I adore you, Levi Goode?”

“Once or twice, perhaps.” He laughed, taking a swig from the bottle of water sitting on the coffee table. “There will be a few photographers allowed inside the event, but they are not affiliated with any news outlets. They have been hand selected and hired by me and are contractually obligated to provide you with final approval over any photographs taken during the party.”

“Prepare yourself,” Natalie said dramatically as she exited the bedroom and crossed the room to stand next to where Levi was seated on the pale blue sofa.

Levi placed his tablet on the coffee table so he could give his full attention to Julia’s final wardrobe choice.

Natalie clapped while winking at Levi, practically vibrating with excitement. She was rather short and a bit stout-ish with dark red hair that had been teased up into a 60’s style bouffant. Dressed smartly in a vintage ribbed wool Chanel skirt-suit with black and ivory zig-zag stitching, Natalie wasn’t the most striking woman he’d ever seen, yet in spite of that fact, she practically oozed charisma.

Levi admired that about her, immensely.

“This gown is from the vault, my dear,” Natalie announced to Levi as Julia came striding into the living area, “a vintage Rossi, from the forties—it’s a beaded, silk-lined turquoise dress with a square neckline featuring a horizontal bodice and straps. The intricate beadwork is subtle with the tone on tone blues that add a level of sophistication to a color that can otherwise read a little garish if not careful.”

Natalie reportedly had a super-secret fashion vault located somewhere deep within the bowels of her showroom that held racks of the most famous gowns, clothing and accessories from the world over. No one had ever actually seen the vault, as Natalie never allowed anyone else into her inner sanctum, but hanging around her neck was a golden key dangling from a long gold-link chain. It was reportedly the one and only key that would unlock the vault and Natalie had never been seen without it on her person.

Julia spun around in front of the mirror, carefully examining the fit of the floor-length gown.

“You look stunning, dear,” Natalie declared, not hiding the fact she felt this dress was
the
dress. “Turquoise is the gemstone associated with an eleventh year anniversary, and while I’d never
dream
of sending you out in front of a camera wearing turquoise jewelry for your anniversary gala, this dress hits that traditional note, don’t you think?”

“It is gorgeous, Natalie.” Julia turned a few more times before glancing over to Levi. “What do you think?”

Levi sat there, momentarily unable to verbalize his own thoughts.

Natalie frowned, obviously displeased over his lack of enthusiasm. “The color looks divine with your alabaster skin and rich, raven-black hair.”

Julia nodded that she understood the color worked well, but was still waiting for Levi to pipe in. “Levi?”

He stood slowly, still slightly dazed. “You are an absolute vision, Julia. I was quite literally, speechless when you first walked into the room.”

Julia smiled, seeming to relax and Natalie nodded. “We love that.”

“That is definitely the dress,” Levi added, now that he’d once again found his tongue.

“I love it as well,” Julia said, grinning.

“I’ve never seen you look lovelier,” Levi said. “And that is saying something.”

Natalie patted him on the shoulder, apparently having already forgiven him now that he was raving about the dress. “I’ve had this dress for years, just waiting for me to find the right woman and the perfect occasion.”

“It’s nearly a perfect fit, Natalie,” Julia added, pinching at the little bit of excess around the waist.

“Practically providential, my dear, and never you worry, I’ve got a seamstress on standby,” Natalie said, rushing to Julia’s side. “I’ll have her here in a flash for alterations.”

Julia grinned at Levi, nodding her head. “Mother will hate it.”

Natalie chuckled. “Yes, dear, but
only
because she won’t be the one wearing it.”

The two of them giggled at one another and Natalie added. “A one of a kind dress for a one in a million woman.”

Levi pointed toward the hotel room door. “I should pop across the street and check on things at the Rainbow Palace.”

Julia pouted, as if Levi leaving at this stage would be completely ludicrous. “But we still need to pick out shoes and jewelry.”

Levi glanced back at the door which connected the living room to Jake and Victor’s bedroom, hearing a door slam on the other side. The level of panic that ripped through his body shocked even Levi.

“Is he all right?” Natalie asked Julia. “He went pale all of a sudden.”

Levi didn’t want to see Jake, he wasn’t ready for the pain that would no doubt ravage him from the inside out being trapped in such close proximity with the man. He knew it was going to happen at the party later tonight, but at least there, he’d be busy—focused on the party and all the work that went along with it. Here, there weren’t nearly enough distractions to hide behind.

“Levi?” Julia asked, snapping her fingers in his face.

“Holy Moses,” Victor said, pushing the door open and entering the living area, whistling at Julia. “That is one humdinger of a dress, young lady.”

Julia grinned, offering a curtsey in gratitude for the compliment.

“Where’s Jake?” Victor asked, waving awkwardly at Levi like he couldn’t understand what he might possibly be doing there.

Hearing that Victor thought Jake should already be there lit a desire to vacate in Levi that refused to be ignored. “I’m going to pop across the street and I’ll check back on you later, Julia. We can talk shoes and jewelry then if you haven’t already settled on something.” He winked at Natalie. “Though I believe I’m leaving you in far more capable hands than mine.”

“Thank you, Mr. Goode,” Natalie said, bowing.

Victor said nothing, now standing at the small bar and kitchenette with his back to Levi, while making himself a cocktail. There was a sick feeling in the pit of Levi’s stomach, telling him that Victor knew Levi was in love with his boyfriend.

Flee!

Vamoose!

Run for your ever-loving, mother-freakin’ life!

Grabbing his bag off the floor, Levi tossed his tablet inside and made a beeline for the door. “Check ya later.”

Had he yanked any harder, he’d have sworn the door might have snapped right off its hinges. Sighing with relief, he entered the hallway of the hotel.

* * * *

Jake looked up after swiping his key card, hearing a door slam shut to his right. The lump in his throat was instantaneous, seeing Levi standing awkwardly before him. Neither of them said a word, just stared, equally dumbfounded. It had been three weeks since he’d opened his stupid mouth and ruined everything between the two of them, yet all he’d been able to think about since was how Levi was doing. The look of horror on Levi’s face was the unfortunate answer he’d been praying wouldn’t be the case.

Even knowing all of that, Jake couldn’t manage to make himself feel bad for saying the things he had to Levi. They felt real and honest to him, both in that moment and in the days since, even with Levi refusing to speak to him. It had been the one thing his grandfather had always told him growing up. That telling the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it may seem at the time, was always the right decision.

Jake just wished he could make Levi understand that.

In spite of the fact they had met one another completely by chance, Jake wasn’t ignorant of the fact that it had been Julia’s party which had continually forced them back into one another’s life over the past few months. Tonight would see the end of that—at least in the foreseeable future.

As Levi made a move to go around him, Jake caught him by the arm.

“Don’t Jake,” Levi said, avoiding his gaze as he stared down at the carpet.

“Please, Levi, we need to talk.”

“There’s nothing for us to talk about.” Levi sighed, sounding frustrated. “We both know it, even if you continually try to ignore that fact.”

“You are so wrong,” Jake said, softly. “You have to be wrong, damn it. I can’t imagine my life without you in it—even if only in some small way.”

Levi looked him dead in the eye. “That’s very selfish of you, Jake. You have to know that seeing you, spending time with you, hell, even thinking about you… it’s
killing
me. Even being in the same room with you, I can’t breathe or think clearly. If you really care, you’ll leave me alone.”

As he released his grip, Levi slipped free and took off down the hall toward the elevator bay. Jake was tortured by the thought he could ever be a source of pain for Levi. It was the last thing he’d ever wanted. Hearing those words coming from Levi, it broke him up on the inside a little more. He’d felt trapped over the past few weeks, unsure what he could or should do, racked with fears that what he was feeling for Levi might be some sort of fabrication that his subconscious had created in an attempt to push him into a confrontation with Victor.

Jake exhaled, frustrated as he re-slid the key card into the door, which bleeped as the light turned green. He went inside, the strap of his overnight bag getting tangled on the door handle. Jake fought with it until he was free. The air in the hotel room was much cooler, which was nice considering his skin was warm, as if slightly overheated.

Standing in the middle of the room for a few moments, Jake was re-running through everything Levi had said to him only moments before. It made him sick to his stomach and he fought to figure out exactly how things had gotten to this place. He wasn’t stupid, aware for weeks that things had been coming to a head. His life had turned into a powder keg that was ready to explode at any moment and Jake understood that something had to give.