Page 14 of Taboo

“Hey, baby girl. I fuckin missed you.” Levi’s voice rumbles next to my ear and I can finally breathe knowing he’s out.

“This is all my fault. I shouldn’t have called you.”

“Stop that shit right now. I’d do it all over again this very second if that fucker was in this lobby.”

“Please just take me home.” I know he would, that’s the problem. I don’t want him to have to fight my battles.

“Not on your fucking life. You’re staying with me tonight.” He takes me by the hand and guides me out the door. “Here, let’s talk out here. That place makes me fuckin’ claustrophobic.”

“I can’t stay with you. Noah would kill us.”

“He’ll have to get the fuck over it, because you’re not staying in that damn house so that asshole can just walk right over and get you anytime he wants. You’ll never stay there alone again and I’ll make fuckin’ sure of it if it’s the last thing I do.” He starts pacing in front of me, running his hands through his messy hair while I listen to everything he says knowing he has a point, but the thought of dealing with Noah constantly makes my insides twist into a knot.

“Maybe I should just get a hotel room…” He interrupts me before I have a chance to continue.

“No. It’ll be fine. Just let me handle it.” Without giving me a chance to argue, he walks toward Noah as he exits through the glass doors. I don’t have the heart to go near them; I can’t stand the thought of listening to Noah deny him when he asks to let me stay at his house. He made it very clear last night and this morning that he did not want me there. I don’t expect him to change his mind now.

I look around and it’s already getting dark, but the urge for me to flee is overwhelming. I hate waiting on yet another disappointing denial from Noah and instead of doing just that, I start walking while the two of them talk. I can tell it’s not going well by the way they’re both animated in their responses. Fuck Noah.

I don’t want his help. I don’t need his help. And the last thing I’ll ever do is let him think I’m a helpless charity case that he needs to save.

I’m almost two blocks away before I hear the roar of his car engine. Just like I expected, they drive by slowly, looking for me. Hiding in a doorway was the only way for me to stay out of their sight. I can still see the back end of Noah’s car when my phone rings.

“Where the fuck are you?” Levi sounds angry.

“I’ll be fine.”

“That’s not what I asked you. Where are you?” The car continues down the road, so I step out of the doorway only to come face to face with Noah.

“Nice try, Kali. Levi, back track about a block. We’ll be waiting.” I hang up and walk with a heavy step away from him. He doesn’t get to hate me and want to save me at the same time.

“Since when do you track people on foot?”

“Since Levi stole my car and told me to find your ass.” It’s obvious he’s frustrated by his rude tone.

“Look. I don’t want to inconvenience you any further. Just take me home and you’ll never see me again.”

“Sounds like a perfect plan, but Levi tells me I need to hear some shit that will change my mind. So, I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt and told him we can take this conversation to the house. You can stay tonight. That’ll give you a chance to figure your shit out.” He walks past me and I can’t tell if he wants to dismiss me or scream at me.

When Levi pulls up, Noah walks with a determined stride straight to the driver’s door. “Get the fuck out of my car and if you do that shit again, I’ll kill your ass.” Levi steps out and gives me a glare that’s telling me he’s not happy with my little stunt. I ignore him and take the back seat, feeling defeat from this terrible day wash all over me.

I just want to go to bed and forget everything that’s happened today.

Chapter Seven

Levi

Damn her and that cute little ass of hers. Noah catches me watching her walk by while we wait for her to pack a bag at her house. I swear he practically growled at me, but I pretend to be oblivious to his behavior. He has pushed her away his whole life and I stood back because I thought he’d come around one day. He’s made it very clear that he won’t, so I’m not going to deny what I’m feeling anymore.

“This will be enough for tonight. I’ll just come back tomorrow when I figure out where I’m going.” I look at her, confused. What does she mean when she figures it out? She’ll be staying with me until she can afford another place. If I have to move in with her to help her, then I will. I’m still not sure what Noah will do once he hears everything. He could be a dick and throw us out tonight, or hell, he may surprise me and say she can stay if she needs to.

Something tells me he’ll decide she needs to stay once he hears everything, though.

The drive to our house is quiet until Noah starts asking questions. I tell him all about the events of the day and it seems to shock him into silence, which is something unusual for him.

“You can’t go back to that house alone.” This is the first and only sentence he says in the car after I start explaining everything.

When we pull into the driveway, Kali doesn’t open her door right away. I can see how stressed she is about this day and it seems only right that I break the ice in a way that only I can.

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