The insistent ringing of her phone sliced through the peaceful silence of Lyse’s bedroom, dragging her from a deep, much-needed sleep. For a mont she thought she was in her bed in the penthouse, beside Levi then consciousness settled in and she rembered sadly that she was in her forr bedroom in Jas’s room.
She fumbled for the device on her nightstand, her eyes still heavy, the remnants of sleep clinging to her like a warm blanket. The caller ID displayed an unknown number, and she almost declined the call, but a nagging feeling of unease prompted her to answer.
"Hello?" she mumbled, her voice still thick with sleep and unable to contain the yawn that escaped.
"Mrs Van Doren?" a voice on the other end of the line inquired. "This is... this is the manager at The Blue Moon bar. We have a... situation here. It’s Mr. Levi. He’s... he’s had a bit too much to drink."
Lyse’s heart sank. She had a feeling it was going to be about Levi. She had been trying to distance herself from him, to put so space between them, but it seed he wasn’t making it easy for her.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice laced with a mixture of concern and exasperation.
"He’s... well, he’s quite intoxicated, Ma’am," the manager explained. "He is slumped over at the bar, and he is in no condition to drive himself ho. He ntioned your na and i found your number on his phone, so I thought I’d give you a call."
Lyse sighed. This was exactly what she didn’t need. Another reminder of her complicated relationship with Levi, another reason to get pulled back into his world.
"Alright," she said finally. "I will be there as soon as I can, please keep an eye on him."
She hung up the phone, a wave of weariness washing over her. She glanced at the clock on her nightstand. It was almost 1 AM. She had just fallen asleep.
She sat up in bed, her mind racing. She knew she shouldn’t go. She knew she should just ignore the call and let Levi deal with the consequences of his own actions. But she couldn’t. Despite everything that had happened between them, despite the hurt and betrayal, she still cared about him. She couldn’t just leave him there, vulnerable and alone.
For a second she considered calling Ethan to deal with it, it was after all his job. Then she reconsidered, deciding that it would be a good ti to warn him not to involve her in his drunken shenanigans.
She got out of bed, her movents sluggish. She threw on a robe and slipped into a pair of shoes. She knew she couldn’t drive herself in this state, so she called Joel.
"Joel, are you awake?" she asked, her voice urgent. "I need a favor. I need a ride."
"Mrs Van Doren? What’s wrong?" Joel asked, his voice instantly alert.
"It’s Levi," she said. "He’s... he’s drunk. He’s at a bar downtown, and I need to go get him."
"Of course Ma’am," Joel said. "I will be there in ten minutes."
True to his word, Joel arrived promptly, his car pulling up outside the apartnt building. She quickly got in, offering a grateful smile to him.
"Thanks, Joel," she said. "I owe you one."
"Don’t ntion it, Ma’am." Joel replied.
The drive to the bar was quick and silent, both Lyse and Joel lost in their own thoughts. Lyse couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled over her. She knew she was walking into a difficult situation, a situation that could potentially reignite the flas of her complicated relationship with Levi.
When they arrived at The Blue Moon, the bar was almost empty, save for a few stragglers nursing their drinks. Levi was exactly where the manager had described him – slumped over at the bar, his head resting on his arms, his breathing heavy and uneven.
Lyse approached him cautiously, her heart pounding in her chest. She hesitated for a mont, watching him, her eyes filled with a mixture of pity and frustration. He looked so vulnerable, so lost. It was hard to believe that this was the sa man who had once been so powerful, so confident.
She gently shook his shoulder. "Levi," she said softly. "Levi, wake up."
He stirred slightly, groaning softly. He lifted his head, his eyes bleary and unfocused. He blinked a few tis, trying to clear his vision. When he finally recognized Lyse, his expression shifted from confusion to happiness.
"Lyse?" he mumbled, his voice hoarse. "You ca back to ."
Lyse signed and motioned to Joel, who was standing nearby, watching the scene with a look of concern. "Joel’s going to help get you ho," she said. "Co on."
With Joel’s assistance, they managed to get Levi to his feet. He was unsteady on his feet, his movents sluggish and uncoordinated. He leaned heavily on Lyse, his weight almost pulling her down.
The ride back to Levi’s apartnt was quiet and tense. Levi was mostly incoherent, mumbling apologies and regrets under his breath. Lyse remained silent, her expression grim. She was angry with him, disappointed in him. But she also felt a pang of sympathy for him. She knew he was hurting, that he was going through a difficult ti. But that didn’t excuse his behavior.
When they arrived at Levi’s apartnt, they managed to get him inside and into his bed. He collapsed onto the mattress, his eyes already closed. He was out cold.
Lyse stood by the bed, watching him, her heart heavy. She sighed, shaking her head. She couldn’t understand him. She couldn’t understand why he was doing this to himself, to her.
She turned to Joel, who was leaning against the doorfra, his expression sympathetic. "Thanks, Joel," she said. "I really appreciate your help."
"No problem, Ma’am," he said. "I’ll leave you alone now"
Lyse nodded then she turned back to Levi, her gaze lingering on him for a mont. Then, she turned and left the room, leaving him alone in the darkness.
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