“What?” He looks over at me. “There’s no smirk,” he leans down and lightly kisses me. “No plan.”
“Right,” I drawl. “When should we talk to Frank?”
“As soon as we walk in.” He kisses my forehead. “I plan on making a show of it. Prepare yourself.”
“No. Levi, just no.” I shake my head. “No PDA at the office. I don’t want people thinking I’m there because I’m fucking the heir apparent.”
“We’ll see.”
We fall into an easy silence the rest of the way. He holds my hand and absentmindedly runs his thumb over my knuckles the whole time. When pull up to the building, he helps me out of the car, never letting go once. It almost feels like he thinks I’m going to disappear if he isn’t holding onto me in some way.
I get it. Every time we’ve gotten to this point in the past, we’ve ended up torn apart. I’m serious this time though, I won’t ever willingly leave him again. I doubt anyone truly understands the bond we have. How we fit so perfectly together. Our ability to slide right back into each other’s lives like we never left.
I love him in the deepest, purest way possible. Our love has grown from being young summer love to tumultuous teenage angsty love to a warm golden glow that hums through my veins. There is no pulling it from me now. My phone chimes with a text message. I’ve been added to the group chat with Lilith and the guys.
Lilith: Added Ivy. She and Levi finally got their heads out of their asses and are back together.
Griff: Finally. Moody Levi is a little bitch.
Con:
Levi:
Ivy:
Griff: On a serious note, I’m happy to hear this.
Levi: We’re happy, too
We both put our phones away and step on the elevator. I look over at Levi who looks amazing even though he’s wearing the same suit as yesterday, just with a borrowed shirt from Con. His hair is a bit disheveled, and he’s got some blonde scruff on his face from not shaving. Even in my heels, I still only come up to his shoulders.
I run my hand up his chest, over his shoulder, and into the hair at the nape of his neck.
“I love you.” I stare into his eyes. “I’m with you with anything you want to tell Frank today.”
He leans down and kisses me tenderly. “I love you, too.”
The doors open before the kiss can move from tender to passionate. I step away from him, attempting to put a respectable distance between us, but he has other ideas. His hand finds mine again, and he firmly tugs me in the direction of Frank’s office.
He doesn’t bother to knock, just walks in. Frank is sitting with his back to the desk, on the phone with someone while he looks out over lower Manhattan. Levi clears his throat causing Frank to spin his chair around. A warm smile spreads across his face when he notices our hands.
“Levi, Ivy,” he points to the chairs in front of his desk when he hangs up the phone, “have a seat.” His eyes follow us expectantly.
“We’re back together.” Levi says with a matching smile for his dad.
“So I see.” His gaze lands on me and the fatherly affection in his eyes makes my own water. “I can’t begin to describe how happy I am to hear this. You two have always had an undeniable bond, and no one makes him happy like you, Ivy. We should celebrate with drinks after work one night this week.”
“Well,” Levi looks to me for reassurance. When I give him a nod he continues, “I have to tell you something.”
“Are you pregnant?” Frank looks at me, alarmed.
“No,” I say shaking my head, “nothing like that.”
Frank lets out a sigh of relief. “Good. I want to be a grandfather but not before you two graduate from college.”
“That’s what I wanted to tell you.” Levi says softly. “I changed my major from finance and business to history. I don’t want to take your position here.”
Sadness and disappointment wash over Frank’s face before he can school his features. “It has to stay in the family, Levi. The bank has been ours for four generations.”