Dammit. “No . . .”
“Yes.”
“Maybe.”
“Why?”
I blew out a breath and leaned against the fire engine. The sun was shining bright, per usual. Water ran down the concrete and it glistened, along with the bright red of the truck. I’d been washing the damn thing because it was that time of the month, but it was an annoying job for one guy.
I raked my fingers through my waves. I wore my cargo work pants, suspenders, and my Whynot Fire Department T-shirt—one I probably needed to retire soon given how much I’d worn it. But the town had a budget, and custom shirts were fucking expensive.
“I can’t tell you,” I said.
“Sure you can.” Maria smiled. “I’m too busy to be part of the Whynot clique.”
“It’s not a?—”
“It is. It’s fine. I don’t care. But what I do care about is one of my only family members out here avoiding me. Abuela asked if you were still alive the other day. She asked if she needed to call your parents and complain.”
I drew in a steady breath and released it. “I’ll come over for dinner next week.”When Levi is gone.
She narrowed her eyes. “What’s that face for? What’s wrong?”
“Do you have to be up in my business? Don’t you have a library to run?”
“I’m on my way there now,” she said, shouldering her canvas tote.
“Is that full of smut?”
Now, her glare turned wicked. “Do you want to die today?”
“I’m not judging.”
“Whatever. It is, in fact, full of smut.” She shrugged. “If you’re not going to tell me, fine. I just wanted to check on you.”
“I’m okay,” I said. “I . . . I’ve been seeing someone. Two people, actually.”
“You’re cheating?!”
“No,” I laughed. “No. Of course not. You know better. They’re also seeing each other.”
Her eyes widened. “See, that’s like one of my books. Who are they?”
“Maria, if I tell you . . .”
“Who am I going to tell? The cat? My online friends?”
“Avery. And Levi. And you can’t tell anyone because no one knows.”
“Oh.” Her eyes widened even more. “Goddamn. Both of them?”
I found myself relaxing. “If you tell a single soul . . .”
“I won’t. So, why are you upset then? What’s wrong?” she asked and then pressed her lips together, as if she already knew. “Wait. Isn’t he leaving?”
I nodded.
“Oh. Soon, right?”
