big shoulders perfectly, and he was so beautiful as he walked toward her she was mesmerized.
Florence + the Machine started singing “Never Let Me Go” and Sloane’s eyes held Levi’s as he stopped in front of her chair and held out a hand. “Dance, beautiful girl?”
She let him pull her out of her chair and lead her onto the dance floor. Something weird was happening. She was all tingling and shaky, her chest full and tight, the room spinning a little around them even though she hadn’t had that much to drink.
He was a good dancer. Of course. He rested one hand on her waist, though it quickly drifted lower to her hip, then her lower back. His other hand held hers tucked between them as they moved to the music. He gazed into her eyes, the corners of his mouth lifted.
“That was an amazing toast,” she said, her lips feeling stiff. “Everyone loved it.”
His lips curved more. “Thanks. I’m glad it’s over. Biggest stress of the whole fucking wedding.”
“You didn’t look stressed.”
“Don’t put your hands inside my jacket,” he said. “My pits are super sweaty.”
She choked on a laugh and leaned her forehead against his shoulder. “Oh my God. Oh my God.” She was saying that about more than just his joke. She felt like she was falling…spiraling down a tunnel helplessly, out of control, feeling all the things she didn’t want to feel.
Chapter Fourteen
Somehow, later that evening Sloane found herself seated next to Levi’s mother, telling her the whole sad story about her own mom and her disappearance. Linda’s gentle manner and interested questions had sucked her in, and now Linda’s sympathy was threatening to make her cry. Sloane never cried.
Maybe it was the champagne.
Wasn’t bubbly supposed to make you happy?
Linda patted her shoulder. “You must be so strong. And it sounds like your younger brother and sister turned out just fine.”
“They’re great,” she agreed. “I’m so proud of them. Even though Becca lives in New York, we’re always in touch on Facebook and email, and we visit. And even though Eric’s busy, he keeps in touch too. He calls to ask how to get a mustard stain off his new shirt or how to hardboil eggs, and we have lunch every couple of weeks. He let me stay with him while my bathroom was being renovated.”
She talked more to Levi’s sisters, who had no compunction in telling her all kinds of tales about young Levi.
“Levi is spoiled rotten,” Essie said. “But it’s our fault.”
Heather and Madeleine nodded their agreement. “Mom and Dad were supposed to be done having kids after Essie,” Madeleine, the eldest, said. “They kept trying for a boy and ended up with three girls.”
“That’s always the way,” Sloane agreed. “I know someone who was trying for a girl and ended up with four boys.”
“Yep. Then along came Levi, a surprise baby, but the boy they’d always wanted. Of course they were prepared to give him anything and everything he ever wanted.”
“And there were Essie and Heather and me…how old?” Madeleine looked at Essie.
“I was five when he was born,” Essie said. “He was my very own real life baby doll.”
“Yeah, me too.” Heather grinned. “I was seven. We actually fought over who was going to change his diapers.” She rolled her eyes. “Then who was going to push the stroller and…well, you get the picture. Little Levi was pampered and spoiled rotten.”
“Remember that stuffed dog he had?”
“Squidgy.”
“Yeah. He slept with that dog until he was twelve.”
“No, I think it was more like fifteen.” They all laughed.
“Remember that time we went to Disneyland?” Madeleine said. “And he left Squidgy in the hotel bed and when we got back to the hotel that night we couldn’t find it anywhere.” She smiled at Sloane. “He was devastated, crying his eyes out. We were all running around the hotel trying frantically to find the damn thing for him. The maids had changed the bed and accidentally taken it with the laundry. Hotel staff hunted it down and found it in the laundry room and brought it back.”
Sloane grinned. “Lucky.”
“Actually, he might still sleep with that dog.” Heather tapped her chin. “It’s entirely possible.”
Sloane smiled. “If that’s an attempt to get me to tell you whether I’ve slept with him…what the hell, I’ll bite. I can confirm he does not sleep with that dog anymore.”
All three of his sisters grinned at Sloane’s directness. “I like you,” Essie said.
“What are you telling her about me?” Levi appeared beside her and