Levi moved his arm, leaving my shoulders. I turned to thank him, to kiss him and express gratitude for the greatest gift I’d ever received, when he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a red hard-backed book. The blush on his cheeks almost matched the pigment of the book cover, and he handed it over, a delicate ribbon tied around it.

With trembling hands, I took it from him and read the title—‘Trials’. It was by Sarah Carol, the woman we’d just listened to. “Happy birthday, Elsie,” he added lovingly.

“Levi,” I whispered in response, a lump clogging my throat. I swallowed, but managed to say, “You… you gifted me words?”

Levi shrugged, nervously raking his fingers through his hair. “You have them in you, in your heart, even if you don’t like saying them aloud. Though you’ve shared them with me. I thought I’d return the gesture.”

I couldn’t stop them if I tried, the tears building in my eyes. I didn’t let them fall. I blinked them away. Leaning forward, I kissed Levi’s unshaven cheek. I couldn’t speak right now. Levi smiled and pointed at the stage.

“She’s signing them, Elsie.” I followed his hand, but shook my head.

“I couldn’t, I couldn’t ask…”

“I’ll get it signed if you want?”

My head tilted to the side, and I said, “You don’t like speaking to strangers either.”

“But I’d do it for you. I’ll be your voice when you can’t speak.”

Levi took my book from my hand and got to his feet. I quickly stood beside him, slipping my arm around his waist. Levi glanced down, and I said, “So you’re not alone for this too.”

His gray eyes filled with an emotion I wasn’t sure I was ready for, but he didn’t say anything, instead he led me toward the poet with his arm around my shoulders. We waited in line until it was our turn.

The poet smiled, and I dropped my eyes. “You enjoy the reading?” she asked.

Levi cleared his throat. “Yeah.”

I could feel the woman’s eyes on me, when she asked, “So, which of you likes the poetry?”

Levi squeezed me tighter, and replied, “My girl, Elsie. She writes too.”

Nerves accosted my body. I heard the woman scribble her signature on the page, when Levi said, “She’s kinda shy. She don’t speak all that much.”

I glanced up and the woman met my gaze. “I used to be the same, but I found the strength to express my voice through my words. That and by the woman I fell in love with.” I already knew she was bullied for being gay, made homeless for being gay, so her words were no surprise. In fact, they were like a balm to me. Because she’d been healed.

She handed the book to me, and I reached out and took it. Leaning in she said, “Eventually, something or someone will come along in your life to show you that what other people think don’t matter. You’ll find the strength to not let what people say affect you in quite the same way.”

I stared at the poet, and shyly smiled. Reaching behind her she gave me a black booklet, and said, “Here, for when inspiration strikes.”

I took the black blank notepad from her and held it to my chest.

“Thank you,” Levi spoke for me, and we made our way to the door. As we hit the cold night air, I looked up at Levi and pulled him to a stop. He turned, confusion on his face, when I rose to my tiptoes and kissed him with everything I had. I poured all of my thanks into that kiss, keeping my treasured books close to my chest. When I pulled back. Levi was out of breath, but his eyes were fixed on me.

“Thank you,” I whispered. “It’s been the best birthday I could ever have dreamed of.”

That shy smile I adored so much spread on Levi’s face and he slipped his hand in mine. “Let’s go home, bella mia.”

Home, I thought as we began walking to the Jeep. I knew Levi was referring to Austin and Lexi’s house, but I only read it as him and I. Because I was pretty sure that my home was solely with this sweet soul—wherever that may be.

Chapter Twelve

Levi

Something had switched on between us. I could feel the tension in the air as Elsie laid her hand over mine on her thigh. I was more aware of her now. Her hand felt differently in mine, and when I kissed her, I didn’t wanna stop.

I shook my head at the thought of that, because I never thought I’d ever get to this point with someone. I never thought that I’d ever get comfortable enough with someone to make love, or want to at least.

“Are you okay?” I glanced to Elsie beside me, who was looking at me with real concern.

I shook my head again. “I’m good, just tired that’s all.”

“You’ve had a long day.”

I smiled, knowing it still wasn’t over. I just hoped Austin had done everything I asked.

Pulling up to the house, I parked close to the back gate. I waited for Elsie to join me and guided her through the yard. As we were about to reach the door, Elsie pulled on my hand. Her books were close to her chest, which made me feel so proud I could burst.

Her head was cast down, when she said, “I just want to say thank you, Levi, for today. It’s been…” her soft voice faded off, ending the sentence with a sigh. I pulled her close, her eyes widening as I threaded my hand in the back of her hair.

“It’s not over,” I rasped, then opened the door to the pool house. I heard Elsie gasp behind me as she beheld the flowers and balloons filling the pool house.

“Levi,” she whispered, and scanned the entire room.

“Wait here,” I said, and moved to the spare back room. As I walked in, there was the birthday cake I’d bought. Throwing my jacket on the chair, I lit the candle on the cake and made my way into the front room.

Elsie was touching a cabbage rose when I approached. She turned when she heard me, and I said, “Tanti auguri, Elsie. Happy birthday.”

Elsie froze, then she dropped the books on the tabletop. Her hands went to her mouth. I stepped closer and closer until I stopped right in front of her, watching as she stared at the birthday cake, tears filling her eyes.

“It’s round, pink and my name is written on it,” she whispered. A sigh came from her throat. “Levi,” she cried and met my eyes.

I shrugged, feeling every ounce of her shock; but I wasn’t sure if I’d done the right thing. “I wanted today to be real special.” I hung my head, thinking that I’d really messed up. “You said your favorite birthday involved a cake. A pink cake that was round and had your name written across the top. I wanted to remind you of when your life wasn’t so hard.”

“My life has always been hard, Levi. Every day of my life.”

I winced knowing all this had been over-the-top. I was an idiot, trying too hard to make her happy. I turned to walk away, when Elsie grabbed hold of my arm. “Until I met you,” she confessed, almost in a whisper.

Her tiny voice caused my feet to plant onto the ground and heat to fire in my chest. I felt a kiss on my shoulder blade, and she said, “The day I met you, even in that alley, with just a simple cup of coffee, you showed me more kindness than I’d received in years, maybe ever.”

Her forehead fell to my back. “You’ve given me my voice, without judgment. You’ve given me adventures, and kisses. You’ve given me health and comfort… and you’ve given me words. You’ve given me words,” I heard her huff a laugh, “and you gave me light in a mason jar to keep the darkness away.”