When Life Happened by Jewel E. Ann

Chapter Thirty

They ventured through part of Oklahoma then into New Mexico. Parker couldn’t stop gawking at the diverse landscape of red rocks and other wind-worn rock formations, pathways to deep forests, rivers, plains, and miles of sand dotted with cacti, acacia trees, and mesquite bushes.

Levi couldn’t stop looking at Parker.

“I’ll be quick.” She cringed, hopping out of the SUV and jogging toward the brick building.

It was their third stop in less than two hours. To be fair, he did suggest she stay hydrated. Levi let Rags out to roam since they were the only people at that rest stop. Leaning against the door, he pulled out his phone and took a few photos of the shaggy dog. He flipped back through them, continuing to older photos. Sabrina’s picture appeared on his screen like a knife impaling his chest. Living without someone didn’t get easier, especially when that someone had been in his life since the day he took his first breath.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” Parker asked.

Levi shoved his phone into his pocket as he closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Nothing …” He shook his head. “Dammit! Not nothing, something … uh …”

Parker pressed her palms to his cheeks, and he died a little from the soft strength of her touch. “It’s okay,” she whispered. “You don’t have to tell me.”

His heart raced, ready to explode. “I came across a picture of Sabrina.” Levi opened his eyes.

Parker’s eyes searched his. He had nothing to hide, no matter how deep she looked. What she didn’t know about him yet were not secrets but truths waiting to be shared.

“Memories keep us grounded—give us an appreciation for life. Celebrate her life by living yours to the fullest. We’re all going to die eventually.”

He covered her hands with his, not wanting to lose her touch. With everything he had inside of him, he begged her to kiss him, to take away the bad and replace it with good.

Parker’s thumb brushed over his bottom lip. His eyelids felt heavy, drunk from her touch. Rags barked as another car pulled into the rest area.

“We should get back on the road.”

Levi eased his head side to side, holding her hands to his face.

Parker laughed. “No? You think we should stay here? Standing in the parking lot?”

Levi nodded.

The giggle that put all other giggles to shame, bubbled from her chest. “Levi Paige, what am I going to do with you?”

Both of his eyebrows shot up as a playful smile stole his mouth. He eased her hands off his face and held them behind her back like he had done that night in the back of Old Blue. Her breath hitched when he nuzzled his nose in her hair, lips at her ear. She arched her back like she too remembered that position and her body instinctively bent to his silent command.

“This is my favorite day,” he whispered, releasing her hands and brushing by her. “Rags!” Levi whistled then looked over his shoulder. Parker hadn’t moved as if his words left her paralyzed. That brought another grin to his face. “Rags, let’s go!”

No more drunken nights. He wanted her—completely sober and wanting him just as much.

The sliding door to the minivan, a few spaces down, opened and out jumped a chocolate Lab. It shot off toward Rags.

“Hershey!” A man and a woman raced out of the van, sprinting toward the dogs.

The two dogs ran from the humans.

“Stop! Hershey! No!”

Levi and Parker walked toward the commotion, sharing a confused look. Neither dog seemed to be aggressive. What was the big deal?

“Rags!” Levi tried to get the dog’s attention, but not with as much urgency as the couple.

The man continued to chase the Lab. The woman turned toward Levi and Parker.

“Oh my god! Oh my god! We have to stop them! Hershey’s in heat!”

“Oh, well, I’m sure Rags has been neutered,” Levi said, glancing sideways at Parker for confirmation.

She frowned and shrugged. “How would I know? You gave them the dog. Did you have him neutered first?”

“You don’t know if your dog is neutered?” The woman’s head jutted forward as her words sent spit in their direction. “How can you not know if your dog has been neutered? What kind of dog owners are you?”

“The new kind.” Levi chuckled.

The woman threw her hands in the air and chased the man who had disappeared into a wooded area along with the dogs.

Levi’s nose crinkled as he bit his lips together. “I didn’t have him neutered. I assumed they would do it.”

“NO! NO! NO! NOOO!” A shrill screech echoed from the woods.

“Rags mounted Hershey,” Levi said.

“Yup.” Parker nodded.

A few minutes later, the couple dragged the dogs out by their collars.

Levi attached the leash to Rags. “Sorry about that.”

“Sorry? Are you kidding me?” The lady’s jaw dropped.

He wasn’t privy to the proper way to apologize for his dog humping another dog. Some things they didn’t teach in architecture school.

“If I find out he’s not neutered, we’re going to sue your ass.” She lifted Rags’s hind leg and then dropped it, stumbling back with her hand splayed over her mouth. “Oh my god! He’s not neutered!”

“Are you sure?”

“YES!” She maneuvered Rags onto his side and then his back, spread eagle. “His testicles are NOT empty! See?”

Levi and Parker squinted for a second and then nodded.

“Hershey is a purebred Labrador Retriever. We’re on our way to have her bred because she’s in heat.”

“Are you sure she’s in heat?” Parker asked.

“Yes! Of course, I’m sure. Her vulva was swollen all last week, clear up to her pelvic opening, and her discharge was darker. She walked with her tail between her legs, and she refused to eat well. Now she’s eating and her discharge is lighter in color. Did you see her tail? Did you see how high she had it? Fanning her scent for your stupid mutt.”

Levi held up his hand. “Just calm down. He’s not a mutt. He, too, is a purebred—Old English Sheepdog. I have papers to prove it. Do you want to see them?”

“No, I don’t want to see them. I want your contact information so my attorney can have you served with papers.”

Levi laughed. “You can’t be serious.”

“Your dog raped my Hershey!”

“Whoa …” Parker shook her head. “You just went on and on about her being in heat. Waving her tail in the air. Fanning her scent. Your slut mutt practically begged for it. I think we need to consider Rags was the probable victim here. Maybe you need to give us your contact information so our attorney can serve papers.”

“That’s absurd!” The man shook his head. “What grounds do you have for suing us?”

“Rape. Emotional distress and trauma. Rags recently lost his owners. The last thing he needed was a swollen vulva shoved into his snout.”

They both gasped.

“Parker, take Rags and get in the vehicle while I settle this.” Levi handed her the leash.

She flashed the couple a pointed look before pulling Rags back to the SUV.

“So what’s it going to take?” Levi pulled out his phone and conducted a few internet searches. “Looks like the average number of Lab puppies in a litter is between six and ten. We can say ten. And,” his thumbs continued across the screen, “two thousand a dog looks plenty fair. I won’t even take out the cut you’d have to make to the owner of the other dog. Pad a little extra for your bitch’s vet bills, and I think twenty-three grand sounds fair.” He retrieved his wallet. “Here’s my business card and a thousand cash. Go breed your dog. If in a couple months she gives birth to pups that look like a cross between our two dogs, then call me. I’ll come get the pups and pay you the remaining twenty-two thousand in cash.”

The couple stared at the ten crisp hundred dollar bills. “What if she isn’t pregnant?” the guy asked.

“Then you have a grand to put toward your wife’s therapy. Enjoy the rest of your day.” He turned and walked to the vehicle.

“Did you tell them to shove their lawsuit threats up their asses?”

Levi chuckled as they pulled onto the main road. “Nah, we probably should’ve had him on a leash.”

“Well, they should have had her on a leash.”

“True. But if my boy knocks up some bitch, then I want to do the right thing. I gave them some cash and my card to appease them. If she has funny looking pups in a couple of months, I’ll deal with it more then. But we’re good for now.”

Parker stared at him for a few moments. “Levi, you’re going to be a wonderful dad someday. However, if you have a son, I hope he has more restraint than Rags.” She grinned and when he glanced over, she gave him a flirty wink.

“Me too, but if some bitch with a swollen vulva chases him around, it’s going to be hard to say no.”

Parker snorted then threw her head back in laughter. “Oh my gosh, I can’t believe how quickly our pit stop turned into a tutorial on dog breeding.”

Levi chuckled, shifting in his seat, steering with his left hand while resting his right arm on the console between them. Parker nudged his elbow playfully with hers, leaving her arm next to his.

“I had no idea being a person in your life would be so much fun.” Her pinky finger brushed against his, and then she eased it over his, locking them together, keeping her head forward, eyes fixed on the road before them.

It was ridiculous. They’d had sex. Levi was achingly familiar with her body. Yet it was the simplest gesture that said a million things, sent ripples of euphoria coursing through his body and left him high on hope for something extraordinary in his life. All that from the locking of pinky fingers. However, he played it cool. The kind of cool that didn’t move a muscle, not wanting to lose their physical connection.

*

“Let’s make thisour last stay before Scottsdale.” Levi handed Parker the bag of fast food as he pulled out of the drive-thru on their way to the hotel. Traveling with a dog in the summer heat made eating anything but fast food an impossible challenge.

“Agreed. Anyway, I’m excited to see where you live. Are we …” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “Or am I staying …”

“With me, for as long as you want. If you’re tired of your new job in two days, I’ll help you pack your suitcase, buy you a plane ticket, and send you wherever you want to go. Sound fair?” At that moment Levi made it his mission to make her want to stay for as long as possible.

“Sounds fair. You could tire of me before I tire of my new job. Promise you’ll kick me out before you resent my presence in your life too much. Fair?”

“Fair.” Never. No way. The woman brought him to his knees with her pinky finger. Tire of her? Hell no.

They let Rags walk around the perimeter of the hotel before going up to the room for the night—a regular room with two double beds, a desk, and a chair and ottoman.

“How old are you?” Parker asked.

They ate their burgers and fries on their beds. Levi leaned against the headboard. Parker sat in the middle of her bed facing him, legs crisscrossed.

“Thirty-three.”

“But you’ve never been married.”

Levi wiped his mouth. “No.”

“Serious relationships?”

“A few.”

“How serious?” She tapped her lips with a French fry.

“Not longer than six months.”

“You ever propose?”

Levi laughed, shaking his head. “No. I’m not sure I’m cut out for marriage.” He sipped his drink, gauging her reaction.

“Why not?”

“For the same reason I’ve had three ‘serious’ relationships that never led to marriage. Eventually, I say something stupid and they leave.”

“The truth, isn’t it? You say the truth or you’re honest about something and they leave.”

He nods. “Too many questions for which they didn’t really want the honest answer.”

“Like, ‘Do these jeans make me look fat?’” Parker grinned.

“Like, ‘Do you see us getting married someday?’ Most guys could say ‘maybe’ even if they meant ‘no, just enjoying the sex for now.’ Me? Nope. My answers are much more blunt.” Even that was something he didn’t want to be honest about.

Levi wanted Parker in a way he’d never wanted anything in his life. There was a ninety-nine percent chance he’d fuck it up, but he still wanted to fight for that one-percent chance that she was the one for him—the woman who could forgive his honesty.

She shoved her trash in the bag and got Rags his food from the sack by Levi’s suitcase. “The truth sucks most of the time. That makes you a natural bearer of bad news.”

“Yep. Sucks ass.” He wadded up his trash and shot it at the trashcan.

Swish.

Parker grinned and he gave her his best cocky wink.

“Do you wish you could lie easier? Or do you hate liars? I hated cheaters.” Parker looked down as if she was ashamed of something. Lying? Hating cheaters?

“Sure, I wish lying was easier.” Levi laced his hands behind his head. “Sometimes the truth doesn’t serve any purpose other than hurting someone. Sometimes people lie to not hurt people then some lies are to cover your ass. And my ‘honest opinions’ are not always truths, just opinions. So … of course I don’t hate liars.”

“Do you hate cheaters?” Her brow creased.

“Do you want me to hate cheaters?” He gave her a half smile, trying to lighten the mood.

“I’m serious, Levi.”

“No. I don’t hate cheaters. I’m sure there’s a lot of gray area when it comes to relationships and why we do what we do to connect, love, and navigate this crazy life. Honestly, for many years I’ve questioned if humans were really wired for monogamy.”

Parker nodded slowly. “And now?”

“I still don’t know. My parents said I just haven’t found the right person yet. The game changer.” He averted his gaze so she wouldn’t see that the game changer was standing a few feet from him. An impossible probability based on nothing more than a feeling. Levi wasn’t sure if in that lifetime he’d ever be able to explain knowing something with such certainty in the timespan of a slow blink.

“I’m going to brush my teeth and change really quick so you can take your shower.”

He lifted his arm and sniffed his pit. “Do I smell?”

“What? No, I just—”

When she caught his shit-eating grin, her eyes narrowed into revenge. “Ha ha! Stupid boy,” she mumbled, disappearing around the corner.