16. Levi

16

LEVI

L evi paced the path in front of the library, wondering if he had lost his mind.

The streetlamps were all glowing romantically, with pretty candy canes hanging from them to remind him of the season. A single light beside the Victorian bench in front of the library cast a glowing circle down, making him feel like he was on the set of a Christmas movie.

But unlike in the cozy movies, it was freezing out, with real snow flurries drifting down instead of special effects. And for some reason, he’d thought it would be a good idea to invite Lily to meet him outside. If she miraculously hadn’t already heard what was going to happen from the town’s busy little rumor mill, she probably thought he was crazy.

Don’t think about that, he coached himself. Valerie said to do something romantic, and this is romantic.

He glanced over at the soft Christmas blanket he had laid on the curved iron bench. It would be warm enough for Lily to sit, and the library had special significance for the two of them.

In fifty years, she might not remember that it had been colder than the North Pole out here. But hopefully they would both remember the significance of this place in their relationship.

“Levi?” Lily said softly.

He turned to see her, beautiful in her pale pink coat and princess scarf.

“Hey,” he said. “Have a seat.”

She smiled and did as she was told, looking up at him with blushing cheeks, like she wasn’t sure if he was going to declare his intentions or complain about something.

What could I ever complain about? She is literally a perfect soul.

“I know things are busy right now for you,” he began, starting to pace the sidewalk again, in spite of himself. “You have your hospital project, and we’ve got Flora.”

“Speaking of Flora…” Lily said, looking around like the baby might just appear at the mention of her name.

“My mother took her for a little while,” he said, thanking his lucky stars again that he had gotten to his Mom before the town gossip chain did, so she heard what he was about to do directly from him. “She said she wanted some baby time.”

“That’s so nice,” Lily said with a smile.

“Yes,” Levi agreed. Everything seemed so nice these days. Sometimes he wondered if he was living in a happy dream. “Anyway, I know we’re both a little overwhelmed right now. But I want you to know that I’m very serious about you. ”

He stopped pacing and stood in front of her.

“What you did for me,” he said. “Making my office and house feel like a home… it was just amazing. And it showed me that even after such a short time, you really know me. Maybe better than I know myself sometimes.”

She smiled and looked down at her hands. But he could see how much his words had pleased her and he felt like his heart was warm enough to melt all of the snow around them.

“I don’t want to play games, Lily,” he said softly. “And I don’t want us to waste any more time. I asked you here tonight for a reason.”

She nodded, her expression dreamy.

“This place is special to me,” he said. “It wasn’t the first place I ever saw you, but it was the first time I truly noticed you for the incredible person you are. From the moment I heard your beautiful laugh that night, and saw that you were spending your free time helping Mr. Gustafsson learn how to read, I knew you were more than just a popular, pretty cheerleader in a pink sweater. I could see that you were a person with a big heart, a person I wanted to know better…”

He trailed off when he saw the look of joy on her face melt into horror.

“Lily,” he said, trying to understand what was upsetting her. “I know you didn’t make a big deal of it at the time, and I never said anything to anyone, though I have no idea why you wouldn’t want people to know you were doing something so selfless?—”

“I wasn’t,” she said suddenly. “It wasn’t like that, Levi. Mr. Gustafsson was the one teaching me how to read.”

Levi’s mouth fell open in shock.

“I’m not the person you thought I was, Levi,” she went on, standing up and tilting her face up to look him right in the eyes. “I’m not selfless or special. I’m just a dumb cheerleader who was incredibly lucky that a busy farmer like Mr. Gustafsson, who had to be up at four every single morning, would still have the kindness to spend his evenings at the library, helping me learn how to read well enough to get through middle school.”

Levi opened his mouth and closed it again, completely stunned.

And while he replayed the scene he had returned to so often in his mind, Lily grabbed her bag from the bench and ran off down the snowy sidewalk.

“ Wait ,” he called to her. “ Lily .”

But she was already in her car, driving off to who knew where. By the time he had sprinted back to his truck, she was long gone.

He sat in the frigid cab for a long time, his heart pounding in his chest as he rearranged the past in his mind.