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“So tell me. What’s up with you? What’s been going on for the last nine years?” he asked, drawing her attention back to his face. Staring into his warm brown eyes brought back a flood of memories, the majority of them pleasant. It was weird, how he felt so familiar yet like a stranger too.
How could she catch him up on nine years in only a few minutes? Ugh, she was a talker. It was both her greatest asset and biggest fault. Her incessant chatter had always driven her family crazy, but Levi never seemed to mind.
Then he dumped her, and she’d been so sad, yet so pissed, all at once. Why she was even talking to him, she wasn’t sure.
“There’s not much to tell. I never left Wildwood, so how exciting could my life be?” Before he could protest, she continued, “You already know about the biggest thing that happened to me this summer. My entire life just went up in smoke. Poof.” She laughed, trying to make light of the fire, but when she saw the sympathy flare in his gaze, she knew she blew it. Houses burning to the ground weren’t that funny.
“So awful, Wrennie,” he murmured with a shake of his head. “Do they think it’s the arsonist?” His voice was laced with concern. Hearing him mention the arsonist set her back a bit. Being a part of the firefighting community, she’d always known things before anyone else did. Not that any confidentialities were broken, but the Gallagher family always seemed to have the inside track when it came to local fire or police information. “My parents mentioned there have been a lot of fires here this summer,” he explained, no doubt because of the surprised expression on her face.
“I don’t know exactly what’s going on with the investigation, but I believe arson is suspected,” she answered carefully. She didn’t want to reveal too much information, not that she knew anything.
“Terrible. I can’t imagine what you’ve suffered because of this.”
“It hasn’t been so bad,” she started, but he shook his head, cutting her off.
“Next thing you know the entire town is on fire. Why isn’t anyone doing anything about this?” He sounded angry.
She laughed, though it was forced. “I think they’ll find him before anything as drastic as all of Wildwood burning happens.” Her brothers wouldn’t allow it. Neither would Tate.
Her heart ached just thinking of him. She knew he was frustrated. She’d been so distracted after they ran into Levi at the BFD, the entire rest of the evening had been ruined. She’d felt guilty about that.
So guilty.
> “Who says it’s a him?” Levi raised his brows, reaching for his iced vanilla latte and taking a sip. “It could be a woman too.”
“Doubtful. Most arsonists are male.” She could recite a list of facts on arsonists she’d learned from her father over the years, but she didn’t want to bore him with those details. “Now come on. You don’t want to hear my entire sob story. It’s boring. Tell me what’s new with you.”
He glanced down at the table and smiled, looking downright . . . bashful? That was so un-Levi of him. “There’s not much to tell.”
Wren grabbed her cup and sipped from her white chocolate iced mocha. Maybe they hadn’t spoken or seen each other in years, but she knew Levi loved to go on about himself. He’d always had a big ego and needed it stroked. She’d accommodated him, thinking that was what good girlfriends did.
Now she knew better. This time she was just digging for information to see what he’d been up to since he left.
“Come on. We haven’t talked in forever,” she coaxed, making his smile grow. “Have you even been back to Wildwood since you left for college?”
“Of course I have.” He looked downright offended at her question. “Always brief visits though. Work never allows me to get away for too long. Sometimes my parents come to visit me.”
“Where are you living now? Last I heard you were in Los Angeles.” Why did she just say that? He probably thought she was keeping tabs on him.
But it was like he didn’t even notice what she said. “I live in San Francisco. I, uh . . . well, you wouldn’t believe what happened, but I created this app with a friend, and it sort of took off.” Levi launched into a description of the app, how it revolved around banking and keeping track of various accounts and investments. The longer he talked, the more bored she got, folding her straw wrapper into a tiny accordion, stretching it out between her fingers before smushing it back in.
He said something about how he used to live in Los Angeles before moving to San Francisco almost two years ago, since that’s where all the app designers lived, and how he bought a house in the same neighborhood as Mark Zuckerberg.
That little tidbit made her ears perk right up.
“Wait a minute. You live in the same neighborhood as Zuckerberg? Founder of Facebook?”
“I do.” He smiled. “It’s in the Mission District. Great house, completely renovated with all the modern necessities while keeping the exterior true to its original look. The place is three stories and with a fantastic view of the bay.”
Levi was so enthusiastic about his house and his job, and that was great, but his words also felt like he was . . . showing off? But she shouldn’t think that way. He had reason to be proud. She’d be proud too if she created a popular app and lived in the same neighborhood as the creator of Facebook.
“Sounds nice.” She smiled at him, going for polite, yet hating the nagging feeling that churned inside her. Since when had her first love been so boring?
“Yeah, that’s one way to put it. I think you’d love my house, and the neighborhood. I know how you’ve always loved San Francisco.” His smile faded, his expression going super serious in a frightening short amount of time. “You should come visit.”
She was touched that he remembered her love of the city, but no way could she go visit him. “Oh, I don’t think—”
“I mean it,” he interrupted. “I’d love for you to come see me, Wren. I have plenty of room.” He reached across the table and took her hand. She let him, curious to see if she’d experience that same old rush of tingles sweeping up her arm at his touch.
