He laughs again. "You don't give my niece enough credit. That kid is resilient and honest—almost too honest…"
That earns him a grin and eases some of the tension.
"Don't underestimate her."
My jaw ticks, holding back my next words. I know he's right, but that doesn't change the past. Finally, I throw back the last inch of my drink and let them fall. "I would never put her in a situation to lose someone like that again."
Levi freezes, rolling his lips in before he answers quietly but with a bite. "Youdidn't put her in any situation."
I stare at the empty glass, spinning it against the wood, the faint sound grounding my focus. That lump in my throat grows as I picture a babyRuthie asleep in my arms as I slide down the back of my old apartment door.
She was too young.
Too small.
Too perfect to be given up like she was nothing.
She's everything.
"I…"
My voice fails.
Levi turns toward me completely, propping his feet onto the bottom rung of my stool. "You've spent nearly twelve years making sure that girl never felt like she was missing anything. And she isn't. She has you and me and the rest of her village that would never leave, Liam."
I clench my teeth.
"You're a damn good dad," he continues, his eye contact steadfast. "But maybe it's time you remember you're also more than that. And more than a Gator, too."
His words bounce between us, landing with a dull feeling of hope.
I shake my head. "Tessa's just… different."
He smirks. "So you've said."
I inhale slowly, my shoulders unexpectedly light enough to take a full breath. "She might not even feel anything."
"She might not," he shrugs.
Panic sets in, and it's obvious it's written all over my face when Levi points to it.
"But anything that causesthatreaction from Mr. Unphased-And-Unbothered is worth pursuing."
I huff out a laugh as the bartender pops back into view. "Can I get you another?" she asks, her voice sultry, her gaze set on me. I stare blankly.
"Yes, please," Levi chimes in after what feels like an eternity. "One more round." He looks at me and smiles. "We're celebrating."
She nods and turns to leave before Levi calls her back to ask about trying a different beer on tap. I sink into my stool, using the time to recover.
I keep going back and forth about things with Tessa because as much as I'm drawn to her, there's no world where this is as simple as Levi makesit out to be. Not with her working for us. Not with Ruthie. Not with my retirement and my entire life changing. And definitely not with how, in just a brief moment, she was able to completely flip things upside down.
"To new beginnings," Levi cheers, holding up his new frosted mug as the bartender I once again didn't notice turns and walks away.
"We'll see," I say, mostly to myself. "It's probably nothing… I'm sure it's nothing."
Levi hums, swallowing my answer, and I wash down the lie with a gulp of my beer.
23
