"Daphne—"
"I told everyone it was a misunderstanding," I continued, my voice rising with frustrated panic. "I've been trying to explain that Oliver just said the first thing that came to mind to get rid of Trinity, that there's no actual courting happening, but no one listens. They've all decided this is some big romantic story and I'm just... I'm just trying to live my life!"
Levi was quiet for a moment, watching me with those blue eyes that seemed to see too much. "Is that what you want?" he asked finally. "For there to be no courting?"
The question stopped me cold. Because the honest answer was... I didn't know. Part of me wanted exactly that—for everything to go back to how it was before, quiet and safe and isolated. But another part, the part that had opened up during Friday's conversation with Garrett, wondered if maybe...
"I don't know," I whispered. "I don't know what I want. But it doesn't matter, does it? Because now everyone in town thinks I'm being courted whether I am or not. They're all watching, waiting to see what happens. And when nothing does, when you all realize I'm too much work?—"
"Stop." Levi's voice was firm but gentle. "First of all, you're not too much work. You're careful, which is different. And second, who says nothing's going to happen?"
I looked at him, confused. "What?"
"Daphne, we are interested in getting to know you better. That's not a secret. Garrett hasn’t been hiding his interest at all and the other two didn’t say anything when Trinity made thoseaccusations of courting you..." He smiled slightly. "We'd like to court you. If you're interested."
The words hung between us, impossible and terrifying and somehow exactly what I'd been both hoping for and dreading.
"But I'm..." I gestured helplessly at myself. "Look at me. I live alone in the middle of nowhere. I can barely handle a conversation at the market without panicking. I have more walls than a fortress. Trinity was right—I'm damaged and difficult and?—"
"And strong," Levi interrupted. "And skilled. And honest about what you need. Those aren't flaws, Daphne. They're just who you are."
"Most people would call them flaws." My voice was bitter.
"Then most people are idiots." He shifted slightly closer, still not crowding me but close enough that I could catch his scent—something crisp and clean with an undercurrent of cedar that reminded me of Garrett. "Look, I'm not going to pretend this would be easy. You've got walls, we've got complications. But that doesn't mean it's not worth exploring. Unless you genuinely don't want to, in which case we'll back off completely. But if you're only saying no because you're scared... maybe that's worth pushing past?"
I stared at the coffee in my hands, watching steam curl up into the cool air. Everything he was saying made sense in a distant, logical way. But logic wasn't the problem. Fear was.
"What if I can't do it?" I asked quietly. "What if I try and I just... fail? What if I let you all in and then I can't handle it and everyone gets hurt?"
"Then we deal with it. Together." Levi's voice was steady, certain. "But Daphne, you can't live your whole life avoiding things because they might not work out. Sometimes you have to take the risk."
Before I could respond, Eleanor appeared around the corner, slightly out of breath. "There you are. Daphne, honey, are you alright?"
I nodded mutely, not trusting my voice.
"Good. Because half the market is buzzing about Trinity's little performance, and I thought you should know—no one believed her." Eleanor's expression was fierce with protective anger. "Everyone knows Trinity's been making a nuisance of herself since she showed up. No one thinks you're scheming or desperate or any of those horrible things she said."
"They don't?" The question came out small, disbelieving.
"Of course not. We've known you for five years, Daphne. We know you mind your own business, work hard, never cause trouble. One dramatic omega throwing accusations isn't going to change that." Eleanor glanced at Levi, then back to me. "Though I will say, the general consensus is that if you are being courted, good for you. Those boys seem nice, and you deserve some happiness."
The casual acceptance in her voice, the matter-of-fact way she dismissed Trinity's accusations while simultaneously endorsing the possibility of a courtship, left me speechless.
"I should get back to my stall," Eleanor continued. "But Daphne? Don't let Trinity's poison get to you. You're worth ten of her, and everyone knows it."
She squeezed my shoulder gently before heading back toward the market proper, leaving me alone with Levi and a head full of conflicting thoughts.
"See?" Levi said softly. "Not everyone's judging you the way you think they are."
I took a sip of coffee, using the motion to hide my expression. "Trinity's not going to let this go."
"Probably not. But that's her problem, not yours." He stood, offering me his hand. "Come on. Let's get you back to your stall.I'll stay nearby if you want—moral support against any more dramatic confrontations."
I looked at his offered hand for a long moment. Accepting it felt like accepting more than just help standing up. It felt like accepting the possibility he was offering. The risk. The terrifying chance that maybe, just maybe, letting people past my walls wouldn't destroy me.
Slowly, I reached out and took his hand. His grip was firm, warm, steady as he pulled me to my feet. And he didn't let go immediately, didn't release me the second I was standing. Instead, he gave my hand a gentle squeeze, his blue eyes meeting mine with understanding.
"We've got you," he said quietly. "If you'll let us."
