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Nights like this are both some of my favorite nights and some of my worst nightmares. The stillness of the lake, the chill in the air, and the crushing reality that I am very much alone. My mind and heart roam as I lie back on the dock and look up to the gray sky.

In the lake, there’s splashing and rustling, and after a bit, I sit up and watch a few ducks chasing each other and scooting through the water. I wonder if they are a family. I wonder how the little ducks feel when the parent ducks leave them and move on to something else. Do their feelings get hurt like mine do? Do they wonder why they weren’t good enough for their parent ducks to stay around?

I linger there in the peace and relative quiet for a while, smoking and taking in the air and sounds around me, my mind still going back and forth between the ducks, Nate, Lev, and my parents. When it starts to get too cold for me, I head back home.

After I finish my nightly routine, I crawl into bed. My phone pings, and I pick it up.

Lev: Hey. I wanted to see how your day was.

I smile at the tingle in my chest, but I also think it’s odd that he’s reaching out to me like this.

Me: Hey yourself. It was okay.

Lev: That’s good. What did you do?

I chuckle and scoot down farther into bed.

Me: I worked. Ate. Took a walk down to the lake.

The three bubbles bounce, so I know he’s writing something.

Lev: That’s cool. Do you spend a lot of time at the lake? I know we used to as kids.

A warmth spreads through me at the fact that he remembered.

Me: Yeah. I try to go as much as I can.

I see the bubbles working again, but then they stop. They work again and stop. I think he’s going to write something profound. Nope.

Lev: That’s cool. I have to check it out. I haven’t been there for a long time. Well, sleep well, Darian.

I chuckle because sleeping well doesn’t happen often. But I won’t tell him that.

Me: Thank you. Same.

I settle into the covers again and put my phone on the side table. I don’t know what Lev’s angle is here or what he’s hoping to accomplish, but I won’t pretend that the little bit of attention from a good-looking guy—particularly Lev—isn’t exciting. I kind of like it. Okay, I like it a lot.

Chapter 15

Levon

As my Thursday workday draws to an end, my uncle and I get through all of our orders and help a few walk-ins with whatever they need. I have an urge to get outside and enjoy the weather, ride a little, and I have an idea.

I say good night to my uncle and climb onto my bike. Then I take off down the road, letting the gorgeous fall air hit me as I maneuver the bike around the curves and down the hills. New York will get hit hard for winter, but this is my favorite time of the year to be out and riding. Now that the sun has started to set, it’s a little cooler, but it’s still gorgeous.

After riding a bit through town, I pull over at a local sandwich shop, cut the engine, and reach into my pocket to take out my phone.

Me: Hey.

I wait a few minutes until I see a response being typed.

Lycan: Hey yourself.

Me: You busy?

Lycan: Not really. What’s up?

For some reason, my heart is beating out of my chest.