Sent: Is 8pm too late? This is Eren btw
Levi: Awe damn. I thought it was one of the other brats who've invited me to dinner tonight
Levi: It's late but not too late. I'll be over
Sent: I'm not a brat!
Sent: Who else invited you to dinner?
Levi: See? 100% Grade A Brat.
"Armin! Come look at my texts and tell me what you think!" I had no idea what to make of anything anymore.
Armin came in, witness to my pitiful pillow-cuddle, and curled next to me.
"Let me see your phone, Eren." I watched nervously as he scanned the lines. "HAHAHA! He's obviously teasing you. After what you told me about earlier, I'd say that's something he enjoys."
"Is he attracted to me? Was he just toying with me because he's a sadistic bastard? Am I being a brat?!"
Armin took my hand, leading me to the mirror. "All of the above! Look at yourself. You're lean, tan, handsome, and you have the most beautiful turquoise eyes in the history of eyes, ever. Everyone is attracted to you, Eren. So stop being a brat!" With one swift smack to the back of my head, he strolled out.
I re-read the texts. God, I love my best friend. When I put all the pieces together, he did seem at least a bit interested. So I decided to go with the flow.
Sent: I'm a prime cut.
Levi: Which part of you?
Sent: Depends. Where do you want the USDA stamp?
/
"He's gonna be here in less than 5 minutes." Armin sat next to me at the table with his hand on my knee. "Eren, calm down. YOU are not the one with a problem, my friend." He had no idea what he was in for, meeting Levi. But his confidence in me soothed my nerves.
The doorbell rang. I knew I should answer it. I was not sure if I wanted to. But I closed my eyes and freed it from the frame. "Hey kid. What the fuck is wrong with your eyes?"
I opened them immediately. Levi stood, poised, as I surveyed him. Surely he didn't mean to leave that many buttons at the top of his red, can't-get-any-tighter-shirt undone. Maybe his pecs wouldn't allow the buttons to stay properly? Does he own anything that doesn't make him look like a porn star? "Don't stare, brat. It's not like you haven't seen what's underneath." And that was the problem. I HAD seen what's underneath.
A few strands of his gelled-back hair fell into his face, framing his eyes. Christ, I hoped beyond hope this man was attracted to me. "Well? You gonna invite me in, or is dinner being served on the porch?" That's right. That's why he was here.
"Oh. Um. Yea haha. Come in. Dinner's about to be set out. I'll introduce you." And he followed me into my house. I felt his aura behind me, his step at my heels, stalking me like prey. "Mom, Armin, this is our new neighbor Levi. Levi, this is my mom and Armin."
Armin's eyes bulged so large, it was comical. I understood the thought process behind that look. Luckily, my mom stepped in before Armin blurted something out regarding Levi's over-the-top sex appeal. "Levi, hello! I'm Carla, Eren's mom. Please have a seat." He sat right across from me, convenient. "So what brings you to our town?"
"Oh… You know, better wages, better surroundings. Thank you for inviting me. You were the first around here to do so."
"You're very welcome! We like to get to know our neighbors. I'll be right back out with the food. I'm sure everyone's hungry."
Levi eyed me, daringly, as my mom strode into the kitchen. "Yes. I'm starving, actually."
We each filled our plates in silence. I didn't know if I should break it, or feel blessed. Armin cleared his throat once, but didn't follow up with anything.
Levi made the first move. "It looks delicious. Is this ribeye?"
"You have an eye for ribeye!" My mom's jokes are horrific, but endearing. "Grade A, young man." HA! Mom called Levi 'young man'.
He glanced toward me once before directing his attention back to my mom. "It's a prime cut, I'm sure. Where'd you put the USDA stamp?" Armin and I both choked through our next few breaths as Levi sat, calm and collected as ever. As if he hadn't just referenced our texts; As if he legitimately expected my mother to answer him.
"It's… in the garbage, Levi." She didn't even blink. She just contemplated him in pure confusion, spoke slowly. Like maybe they weren't on the same page because she missed something. Clearly.
Armin came to the rescue. "It was a joke, Carla. Here, I'll help you clear the plates away and get dessert ready." Have I mentioned how much I love him?
*BUZZ*
Levi: The little blond knew about that text, huh?
"I'm right here, Levi. You don't have to text me."
*BUZZ*
Armin: We can hear you from the kitchen. Your mom wants to know why he's texting you at the table. I told her it was another joke. I'm not sure if she's buying it.
"OK fine." I whispered, half to myself, half to Levi.
Sent: I can't believe you said that to MY MOM
I scrutinized Levi's face for any outward sign that he read my message. But it remained neutral. How the hell does he do that?
Levi: The opportunity presented itself and I couldn't resist.
Sent: So you like to take advantage? What other opportunities would prove irresistible?
I heard a slight huff from him as Armin and my mom walked back into the dining area carrying pie and ice cream. At least that warranted a reaction.
"So, Levi, what kind of work do you do?" My mom was obviously more interested in him, now.
"I make videos. Product reviews and tutorials." The glint in his eyes told me there was more to it than that. Curiouser and curiouser.
Fortunately, mom was oblivious. "You do work on the internet? That's wonderful! The boys love the internet. But I don't go on much, myself. I wasn't even aware you could make money with videos."
"What products? Maybe I've seen one." Leave it to Armin to fish for details, not letting a damn thing slide past him.
"Tools, blondie. And I doubt you've seen one. They are on… professional sites." The glint turned full-on devilish and my heart raced. Armin squeezed my knee and I noticed his legs fidgeting under the table. Levi is a dangerous creature and we were both feeling the effects of those calculating eyes as they bore into us.
"That sounds so neat! Would anyone like coffee?" I swear my mother could be surrounded by an apocalyptic amount of zombies and she'd still try to offer them food and drinks.
"No. But thank you, Carla. I really should be heading home." Levi rose from his seat and turned his attention toward her once more. "Dinner was absolutely delicious. Thank you for having me. We should do this again some time."
For a sexy asshole with shitty people skills, he really did have good manners… and shoulders and pecs and I'm certain his nipples stay hard constantly because they'd been pointing at me all evening; a wolf in sheep's clothing. I forced myself not to check out his ass as he and mom headed to the door.
Levi called over his shoulder, "Bye, Eren, blondie." I looked over at my friend. Armin did not have the same self-restraint. He was blatantly ogling Levi's backside.
"Eren, if you don't try to get him into bed, I will. Crazy or not, that man would be the best lay of our lives." And I agreed completely.
