Page 72 of The Marriage Deal
The movie resumed at the marriage proposal scene. I glared at him. "How many times have you watched this?"
A flush of pink crept into Levi's cheeks. He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. "A couple of times."
"Uh. Huh."
"Don't uh, huh me. It's a perfectly fine movie. The set design is gorgeous. The soundtrack is angelic. The color grading is amazing, and Keira Knightley should have won best actress."
"Have you watched the behind-the-scenes extras yet?" I've never seen him this passionate about anything outside history.
"A couple of times. You know, I do like what they did with the Bennett's house, even though technically it would not be the type of house some like Mr. Bennett would own."
"Right. And have you signed on to the release of the director's cut petition yet?"
He jerked, eyes wide. "There's a petition!"
I nodded.
"Fuck me, I need to get on that."
I shook my head, smiling. "Now I don't know if I should introduce the nineteen ninety-five version to you yet. I fear I created a superfan."
"I've since read the book a couple of times, so I guess I am already one."
We settled back to watching the movie again.I had forgotten how much I enjoyed this. Not just the movie, but watching the movie with Levi. There wasn't much we were doing, just sitting in silence, and yet it felt like the best time I've ever spent with someone.
We were in the middle of the movie when the doorbell rang. "You ordered something?" he asked.
I shook my head.
"They will go away. I am not expecting visitors," he added.
The doorbell rang again. "It could be something important," I said as I disentangled from Levi's embrace. "A friend or a neighbor or something. Maybe there's a fire."
Levi rolled his eyes as I got up."Let the world burn," he shouted after me. "They will stop the fire without us."
I went to answer the door on the third ring. When I opened it, standing in front of me with her back to me was a woman wearing a casual white silk blouse and pink linen pants. When she turned to face me, thick rim sunglasses partially covered her face, but I immediately knew who she was.
"Rebecca."
She gave me a bright red smile. "Hey darling."
31
Levi
"WHAT THE HELL ARE you doing here?" I said in a low voice. My eyes darted to Elle, who had gone to the kitchen to prepare a drink for Mom. A fizzy drink she had said when Elle asked her what she would like. I don't think Mom has ever drunk a soda in her life. Elle had immediately jumped into action, but not before making a surreptitious glance between my mom and me. She had felt the tension that radiated between mother and son.
"Visiting my sick son," she said, reaching for my face only to snap back her hand when I flinched. "You look so pale. When Elle called me telling me what happened, I was shocked. I freaked out."
"You freaked out? You?"
"Of course, honey. I could not believe it happened again. You've always been diligent about your allergies."
I felt my eyes narrow. There was no way she was simply here because I was sick. She has never cared about me that much. If at all. Elle and I were having a fun time together. I was finally feeling confident enough to tell her how I felt. I hadn't planned it, far from it, but when she came to see me in hospital. When she walked into that room, worry straining her face, I knew she was the one. I've always known, but that moment solidified it. Then she hugged me. And then she cried. For me. No one has ever done that. It was a brand new experience for me. To have someone care for you that much that they drop everything andcome and be with you. My father would never. My mother was only now pretending to do so.
"I am fine, so you can leave now."
Mom's face fell.
