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“Really?” Nina’s smile is gentle, encouraging.
“Really.” My voice is firm. The prospect doesn’t scare me; it feels like a promise taking shape.
Nina’s gaze wanders to the window, her reflection a shadow against the night sky. She turns back to me, her eyes holding an earnest plea.
“Conrad, I want to see more of Brielle,” she says, her voice soft but determined. “Can you bring her around? I’d really like to spend time with her.”
The request catches me off guard. Soft lamplight casts a glow on Nina’s face, highlighting the resolve there. It’s not the first time she’s shown interest in my love life, but this feels different—more personal.
“Sure, Nina,” I reply, and the corners of my mouth lift slightly. “I’ll talk to her about it.”
“Thanks.” Her smile is grateful, tinged with hope. “I just…I think we’d get along, you know?”
I nod, understanding her need for connection. “I think so too.”
“Great.” She settles back into the cushions, looking content. “It’ll be fun, won’t it?”
“Definitely.” I stand up, ready to leave, feeling good about the bond forming between two important women in my life. “I’ll let her know.”
“Tell her I’m not always this banged up,” Nina jokes, glancing down at her crutches.
“Will do.” My laugh is genuine, and I head for the door, already imagining the future gatherings.
40
BRIELLE
The clink and clamor of the amusement park swirl around me, a cacophony of laughter and mechanical whirs. I’m tying balloons at a booth, part of my community service requirement for college, when the scent of cotton candy sweetens the air. I straighten up, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face, and that’s when I see him.
“Levi,” I say, a bit breathless. He’s here, amidst the throng of excited kids and overzealous parents, his presence like a calm in the storm.
“Hey, Brielle.” His smile is easy, but there’s something new in his eyes as they flick to a small figure beside him—someone I’ve never seen before. “What are you doing here?”
“Helping out.” I gesture to the booth, to the sea of colorful balloons bobbing in the breeze.
“Right. Community engagement?” he asks.
“Exactly.”
He nods, then turns slightly, pulling the little girl forward. She’s hesitant, clutching the hem of her dress. “This is Amelia, my daughter.”
My heart does a strange flip. Daughter? Levi with a child, a family? The idea rattles in my brain, dislodging the image I had of him—Levi, the brooding hot guy with no strings attached. Now he’s Levi, the dad.
“Wow, I had no idea…” I trail off, looking down at Amelia, who offers me a shy smile that mirrors her father’s. “It’s nice to meet you, Amelia.”
“Are you going to ride the roller coasters too?” Amelia’s voice is hopeful, her grip on the bear loosening.
“Maybe later,” I say, returning her smile. “I have to make sure these balloons don’t fly away first.”
“Can I have one?” she asks, eyes wide as she points to a balloon shaped like a heart.
“Of course, pick your favorite.”
As she ponders her choice, I steal a questioning glance at Levi. Amelia isn’t paying any attention to us, so I take a moment to ask quietly, “Are you…still with her mother?”
“Divorced,” he whispers in response, looking slightly hurt by the question. “I would have told you otherwise, Brielle, I swear.”
I’m relieved by his words, and give him a nod to show I understand.
