“Evie,” I hissed. “Be serious.”
The door swung open and June burst in carrying two bags of hot fries from Whynot Burgers, a joint two miles outside of town and worth the calories.
June’s hair was cosmos pink and cut into a wavy bob. She wore a green tank top and palazzo pants, her arms covered in flower tattoos that bloomed up to her shoulders. Most people in Whynot thought they were socutegiven that she ran the local flower shop—but Evie and I knew every single one of those flower tattoos were actually poisonous plants, which was just perfect for her.
Sweeter than sugar on the surface, but she’d rip someone’s heart out through their throat if she needed to.
“Oh hell yes,” I said. “Have I told you that you’re beautiful?”
June flashed her dimples. “That bad of a day, huh? Why the fuck is your face blue? And why didn’t you tell us this morning when we were asking about your new neighbor?”
“Because I was running late.”
“And what’s new?” June countered. “I could have helped you get the dye off. How do you think my hair stays so damn vibrant? I certainly don’t let Betty at the hair salon touch it. If you’re turning your hair blue, you need to bleach it first. I’ll come over tomorrow to do it.”
“You’re an angel,” I sighed. “I just want the ends done, honestly. I need some sort of change.”
“So you woke up at seven this morning and decided to make one?” Evie asked.
I scooped up another bite of pie. “Have you met me?”
June plopped the bags on the counter and grabbed a stool, taking her spot next to Evie. The two of them exchanged glances and I frowned, wondering what they were thinking about me. Probably that I was a mess.
“Are you going to tell me the rest of what happened?” June asked.
I was being just a little dramatic, but I let out a long groan and made myself sit up straight. I dragged my pie plate closer and relayed everything I’d told Evie between the gooey bites.
“And in the end, I was an asshole to both of them. I’m certain Levi will never talk to me again and Mateo probably thinks I’m awful. But, I was just so embarrassed, and everyone kept asking about the dye. And I was running late, and I don’t know. Well, and Levi asked about Dad.”
Evie and June’s expressions dropped.
“He didn’t know?” June asked softly.
“No.” I swallowed hard, suddenly losing my appetite. “Not his fault. He hasn’t been back in Whynot in a long time. I think I was fifteen the last time I saw him.”
At fifteen, a twenty-three-year-old seemed like an alien. He was completely in a different stage of life. And I distinctly remembered the last time I saw him, because he’d gotten into a fight with his dad on Main Street that ended with my dad and Austin pulling them apart.
“I’ve seen pictures of him in magazines and online,” Evie said. “He’s done some modeling. I mean, he’s a hockey player. Well, he was one.”
“What do you meanwas?” I asked. “Isn’t he some big league hotshot?”
Evie drummed her nails on the counter, clearly mulling over the info she had on Levi. “He quit last week. The only reason I know is because someone was talking about it at the pie shop earlier. They spotted him in town and were shocked to see him.”
“He’s probably looking for some privacy then,” I muttered.
The silver sports car across the street from my house came to mind and I frowned.
Surely not.
SurelyLeviwasn’t the new mystery neighbor.
Evie shrugged. “Who knows. I just know the internet is losing their damn minds about his announcement. They’re saying a lot of shit about him, both good and bad. His publicist is earning her paycheck, that’s for sure.”
June shook her head. “You know way too much about this, Evie.”
She shrugged. “It’s all over social media. Hard to miss when the algorithm knows you like hot beefy dudes rubbing all over each other.”
I laughed as June pointed a french fry at her. “Good point. Send me the videos when you get a chance. Sharing is caring.” She redirected the fry to me. “Are you still going to therapy?”
