Page 42 of Sangria

“Playtime is over, Zara.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“This whole eye for an eye thing you’re doing to Van. He gets it. He’s sorry and wants you to come home. He expects you to be there when he checks out of rehab.”

I roll my eyes as my thumb hovers over the End button on my phone. One would like to think that she would side with me, just once, over this Van bullshit, but she never will because she was all too happy to spread her legs for him.

“Is there a reason you called, Laura?”

She laughs as if I’m wasting her time. “Zara, I know you’re hurt, but this is reality. Shacking up with some random, ahem, cowboy isn’t going to make things change between you and Van.”

“He’s not random,” I say, feeling the need to correct her even though I don’t care what she thinks.

“Come home, Zara. Everyone knows you’re there now so you might as well face them on your own turf, with your own people.”

I look at Levi, who has his eyes focused on the road. I lean my head on his shoulder and sigh. He is my person. He makes me feel safe, loved, and perfect. I can be me when I’m around him. He hasn’t asked me to change or to be someone I’m not, even when he tried to get me to buy cowgirl boots.

“Zara, are you there?”

I almost wish I wasn’t, at least on the other end of the phone. “I’m here, Laura. Is there something you want? Unless it has to do with Reverend Sister, we really don’t have anything to talk about.”

“This attitude you have, and you wonder why Van left you,” she pauses, waiting for me to correct her, but I don’t. “The label isn’t happy, Zara. They’re afraid that your inability to forgive Van will hurt the band.”

“It’s my band.” I point out.

“But he’s the star, and you know it. If Van walks, Reverend Sister is no more.”

She’s right, but I refuse to believe her. Levi kisses the top of my head as we pull into his driveway. There’s a car there, likely belonging to his housekeeper.

“Come home, Zara. You know it’s the right thing to do. No man is worth losing your record deal or band over.” She hangs up, leaving me speechless. I’m afraid to look at Levi, unsure of what I’ll see when I do.

He opens the truck door and slides out, bringing me with him. I’m flush with his body as he presses me up against the side of the truck. Levi’s arms encase me. “Close your eyes, Zara.”

I do as he says and pucker my lips, but his lips never press against mine.

“Now pretend I’m not here, that what we shared last night and into this morning hasn’t happened. Think about the day before you met me, and what it would’ve been like if I hadn’t spilled my coffee on you. Think about your home in Bel Air with your swimming pool and favorite coffee shop down the street. Think about your brother and other band members.”

I do as he asks and hate the way I feel. Something deep down tells me that I’m supposed to know Levi, that he and his girls are meant to be a part of my life.

“Now, tell me how you feel.”

“Empty,” I say with my eyes still closed. “Alone.” This time I open my eyes and find Levi even closer. My hand instantly goes to his cheek and my thumb brushes over his lips. “Not happy.”

“Are you happy here?”

“I am. It’s peaceful, tranquil, and most importantly, you’re here, and this is where I want to be. I have no regrets, Levi.”

He kisses me fully, pulling my legs up to hitch around his hips so he can grind into me. The hardness of the truck pushes into my back, and I cry out but hold on to him because I don’t want him to stop. We’re all hands, tongues, and dry humping until someone behind us is clearing their throats.

Levi sets me down, waiting until my feet are firmly planted on the ground before turning to face the intruder.

“Barb, I didn’t see your car here.”

“It’s in the shop,” she says as she leans slightly to the left to see me. I feel like I’ve been caught by my mother doing something I shouldn’t be doing. “Hello, Ms. Phillips.”

“Please, call me Zara.”

“Very well. I’m here to do damage control or something,” she says, giving off a flippant wave before returning to the house.

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