Ten Months Ago…
In less than two hours, Levi was already parked out front of El Shaddai Ministries, waiting for Sasha to come through the exit. He hadn’t changed out of his skimpy shorts, for the simple fact that he’d noticed how his exposed thighs had produced a level of interest in Sasha. She’d tried to hide it, but he could tell that she was only putting on a façade. Could it be that she was having the same inappropriate thoughts of him that he was having of her? Why else would she agree that he should pick her up? Sasha was well-loved in her church and she could have gotten any number of persons to take her home.
Levi smiled, deeming himself a lucky man. To have a woman like Sasha in his presence, even if it was only for ten minutes, was enough to take him through the rest of the week. He was not out to destroy the relationship between Drake and Sasha. But he couldn’t deny the burgeoning feelings that he harbored on the inside for Sasha. As a matter of fact, he’d had his eyes on Sasha for a long time, long before Drake ever dreamt of confessing his love to her.
The thing was: As children, growing up on the deeply religious island of Devin’s Cay, boys and girls weren’t allowed to play together alone after they reached a certain age. And with Levi being older than both Drake and Sasha by almost four years, he’d long since passed through the rigors of puberty before them. His height and hair that sprouted everywhere on his developing body, made him look like a grown man at thirteen years old. So Levi could understand why mothers would want to keep their nine-year-old girls from the boys of his intimidating size. After all, the preachers on the island assiduously taught that puberty marked sexual maturity, which was a time when boys’ desire for sex was at its peak.
However, the lack of fellowship with Sasha not only put an unfair distance between them, but it placed Levi at a disadvantage. While Drake and Sasha and the other nine-year-olds continued to play their childhood games together, Levi was forced to pursue other friendships with boys closer to his age, particularly with Drake’s two older brothers. Soon, being the only man in the house, he was thrust into a life of responsibilities and gradually forgot what it was like to tease Sasha about her ponytails and freckled face. It wasn’t until Drake and Sasha joined him in high school and he got to see Sasha on a constant basis that he awakened to her beauty and maturity. But by then, Drake had officially declared Sasha as his girlfriend.
Levi’s walk down memory lane was interrupted by the sound of Sasha’s voice, who’d just opened the passenger side door of his car.
“Wow, this is a surprise,” she joked, “I wasn’t expecting you to be here on time.”
Levi smirked, loving how this girl was messing with him. “Please, come in the car and sit down. I have something I want to show you.”
Sasha’s gaze brushed passed Levi’s hairy thighs. It was less than a second but her brain had already taken a snapshot of the image from the last time. This time, however, she felt the pressure of temptation heating the tips of her ears. Should she get into the car or should she not?
“Just in case you need to be reminded,” Sasha said, as she climbed into the passenger seat and shut the door, “people talk. I don’t want my name all over the place saying I’m riding all around with you while my fiancé is in Ohio, trying to make life better for us.”
“Well, if they knew Drake had assigned me to take care of you while he is not here,” Levi replied, “they would mind their own business, wouldn’t they?”
Sasha shot Levi a look of reproof. “Now we both know that people’s perception doesn’t work that way. Especially these nosey church folks. The Bible says we are to not let our good be evil spoken of.”
“So now you’re calling me evil?”
“Don’t twist my words. You know what I mean.”
“Maybe I do; maybe I don’t.”
“And what is that supposed to mean?”
“Well, let’s see…I practically have to beg you to accept my kind gestures. You don’t call me often enough and I can go on. But please help me understand why you treat me so badly?”
“Oh my word!” Sasha exclaimed. “Please tell me that we are not having this conversation?”
Levi laughed. “I’m right, aren’t I? You do think I’m evil.”
“I don’t think that you’re evil, Levi. I am an engaged woman and I’m simply saying that my spending time with you could be misconstrued.”
Levi held in his response as he slipped into the light traffic. He was on cloud nine, simply because Sasha was sitting in his car. They didn’t even have to say another word. The chemistry between them was loud enough.
“Can I ask you a personal question?” Levi inquired after driving half a mile.
“Does it have to do with Drake?”
“Am I that transparent?”
“No…but you and Drake are always talking about each other, so I simply made the assumption.”
“Well, this question is really about you.”
Sasha gave Levi a side glance. “Oh?”
Levi smiled. “What’s wrong? You don’t like talking about yourself?”
“No, it isn’t that…well, yeah…I do mind a little. It depends on what is being said.”
“Well, let’s give it a try.” Levi proceeded when Sasha appeared to give him the green light with an inquisitive expression. “I know that you love Drake, but are you really in love with him? You two have been exclusively dating from junior high and we both know that desires change as we get older –”
“Don’t go any further,” Sasha said. “I see where you’re heading with this.”
“Really?”
“Yes. But let me set the record straight. Drake is the love of my life and I can’t imagine living without him. My love and admiration for Drake has only grown over the years and I can’t see myself being with anyone else. I hope that answers your question.”
That is such a text-book answer, Levi wanted to say, but instead, he replied with a smile, “Thank you…you can relax now. I promise I won’t ask you any more off-the-wall questions.”
For the rest of the five-minute commute, Levi let silence rule, but not without the sensual lyrics of R Kelly playing softly in the background. Your Body’s Callin’ – a 1994 old school favorite of those men intending to make a play for the object of their desire. Surprisingly, Sasha didn’t object to the song, which made Levi think that maybe his intuition was not leading him astray. Sasha wanted him as much as he wanted her, but she didn’t know how to make the first move. That nonsense about her still being in love with Drake was a cop out. However, Levi assessed, now was not the right time to make any bolder moves. He was certain to scare Sasha away.
He pulled into the parking lot of a mechanic shop, right in front of Sasha’s blue Toyota hatchback. The mechanic had just slammed down the hood and was making his way toward them. Sasha narrowed her eyes at Levi.
“What is my car doing here?” she questioned.
Levi shrugged. “When Drake told me to take care of you, I took that to heart, which includes fixing your car. Though I’m a bit disappointed you won’t be riding along with me anymore, I wanted to make you happy more than anything else.”
“Wow, Levi, you didn’t have to do this. I told you –”
“I know what you told me. Now the only thing I want to hear from you is, ‘thank you’.”
Sasha was indeed grateful, but she was also not one who benefited off of others for free. “How much do I owe you?”
“Seriously? Just say thank you…that’s all I want to hear from you.”
With that devilish smirk on Levi’s face, Sasha was still wary of trusting Levi’s motives. “I mean, for real. What’s the catch? Because no one does anything for free.”
“Aw, girl, you’re hurting my feelings. But since you insist…”
Sasha exclaimed. “You see? I knew you had an ulterior motive! Tell me, what is it that you want?”
If I told you what I really want, you would fall out. “Well,” Levi said, adjusting his perverse thoughts. “I was hoping you would have dinner with me tomorrow night.”
“And that’s it? Just dinner?”
“No pressure, no weird questions. I just want to grab something to eat. Besides, we all used to be friends growing up. What harm is there in two buddies sharing an innocent moment together?”
A lot, Sasha wanted to say. Instead, for the second time that day, Sasha sighed away that uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.
“I will have dinner with you on one condition,” she proposed.
“Okay, let’s hear it.”
“Dinner has to be at a restaurant or some public place, not at your house.”
Levi seemed pensive for a moment before he nodded his head. “Agreed. I know just the right place to take you. I promise that you will enjoy it.”