Levi didn’t miss a beat. “Hi Allie, Diane. Mr. Davis, it’s nice to finally meet you. I’m Levi.”
Dad shook his hand. “Hello, Levi, please call me Tim.”
“All right, Tim.”
“So you’re the one my little girl has been spending all her time with?”
My mom glared at me and I shrugged. I had no idea how Dad knew about him.
“Yes, I have been monopolizing her attention all summer. I just can’t seem to get enough of her.” Levi smiled and he seemed much more relaxed suddenly.
“Allie told you about Levi?” Mom asked.
Arrgh. I could see where this was going.
“She didn’t have to tell me. I know what’s going on in my daughter’s life. I’m sorry she didn’t feel the need to share it with you.”
“She didn’t actually tell you then?”
“Not exactly,” Dad said through clenched teeth.
“So how did you hear?”
“Oy vey, Diane. You got me. No one actually told me, I only assumed.”
“Just like I thought.” Mom smiled smugly.
I glanced at Levi whose mouth was pressed in a firm line again.
“Okay, let’s get to dinner before someone gets killed,” I said quickly.
“Good idea.” Levi put his arm around me as we headed to the front entrance. He leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Is this okay, friend?”
“Please don’t start,” I pleaded quietly. Dinner might be worse than I thought.
“Oh, I haven’t gotten started yet, babe.”
“Lovely.”
We were given a corner table at the Palace Café. I was seated between Levi and my father, and my mother sat directly across from me. The way she smiled at me as we perused the menu let me know she was also gearing up.
Thankfully, things stayed calm long enough for Dad to order wine.
“So Levi, are you in school or have you graduated?”
“I’m about to start my senior year at Tulane.”
“Any plans yet for after graduation?” Dad asked.
“Dad, you don’t need to interrogate him.”
“It’s fine. I don’t mind in the slightest. I’m going to be working in the family business,” Levi explained.
“And what kind of business is that?” Dad asked with obvious interest.
“It’s a large diversified corporation; we’ve got hands in a lot of places.”
“Sounds a lot like my own. What did you say the name was?”
“I didn’t. It’s the Laurent Corporation.”
“Oh wow, I had no idea.”
Levi smiled politely.
“Will your business keep you in New Orleans, Levi? Any plans to spend time in the Northeast after graduation?”
“We’re very locally based, but there are some travel opportunities if I’m inclined.”
“I see.” Mom smiled lightly.
The waiter brought over the wine and we ordered dinner. I hoped the conversation would lighten up.
“How did you two meet?”
I deliberated how to answer, but Levi didn’t give me a chance. “Your daughter first caught my eye in the lobby of the hotel, but I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting her formally until I ran into her at a karaoke bar of all places.”
“A karaoke bar?” Mom said with surprise.
“Yes. Allie and her friend did a lovely rendition of Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”
“I was wondering about that. Why isn’t Jessica joining us tonight?” Dad asked.
Mom’s face turned to stone. “Do you mean to tell me you weren’t aware that Jess left weeks ago? You had no idea of this when you left our daughter alone in a hotel suite on Bourbon Street of all places and with Casanova over there?” Mom pointed to Levi who smirked.
I spared my dad from answering. “Mom, I’m starting college in the fall, I don’t need to be babysat.”
“Princeton is not New Orleans.”
“No it’s not, but it’s still unsupervised. Besides, I could have come to college in New Orleans if I wanted.”
Levi looked at me with interest.
“But you’re not. Your father shouldn’t have left you.”
“What’s done is done, it’s not an issue. Now please can we enjoy the evening?” As if on cue, our meals arrived and I sighed with relief.
“So where do you live, Levi? Are you on campus?” Dad asked, trying to put someone else on the hot seat.
“I only lived on campus one year. I live in an apartment with a few friends. It’s a nice place. Isn’t it, Allie?”
I kicked him under the table, what was he playing at?
“Oh, Allie has seen it?” Mom asked.
“Yes, she’s spent plenty of evenings there.”
I was going to kill him. “Evenings meaning hanging out. The only time I stayed over was on the couch. Okay? Can we please change the subject?”
“Of course.” Levi smirked again. “So Diane, how long are you in town for?”
“I leave tomorrow morning. I only wanted to check in on Allie since no one else apparently is.”
“Oh, that’s too bad. I would have loved to introduce you to my parents.”
“What?” I was sure my mouth was hanging open.
“How thoughtful, that would have been nice.”
“My parents know all about Allie and are so excited to meet her.” Levi challenged me with his stare.
“It’s nice to hear you are close to your parents. I think communication between a parent and child is of extreme importance.” Mom’s glare let me know I was in deeper trouble. Mom was okay with the omission when things were casual, but Levi was acting like we were moving in together or something.
“Well, I’d like to meet your parents, Levi. Just name the time and place,” Dad said.
“I will. My parents will be thrilled.”
“Excuse me.” Throwing my napkin down on the table, I pushed back my chair and headed for the bathroom. I couldn’t believe Levi was playing this game. Why did he care that I didn’t mention him? It was just a summer fling, right?
After taking a moment to get my anger in check I returned to the table with a huge smile plastered on my face. “Honey, we’re going to be late, aren’t we?”
“For what?” Levi asked, watching me closely as I sat down.
“That thing we just couldn’t miss.” I shot Levi a look to kill and he got the hint.
“Oh yeah.”