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“Jim!” Levi calls out, pitching his voice just right—friendly, nothing more.
“Levi, Brielle,” Dad greets us with a broad smile. He scans us quickly, a flicker of something in his gaze—curiosity? Suspicion?
“Didn’t expect to see you here,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Just supporting the community. And is this little Amelia?” His attention shifts to Amelia, asleep and unaware. “She’s gotten so big!”
“Yes, she has,” Levi says, pride lacing his words.
“Ah, she’s precious.” Dad’s smile softens, and I exhale silently. “You two having fun?”
“Loads,” Levi answers, and there’s truth in his simplicity.
“Good, good. That’s what these events are all about. Bringing folks together.” Dad claps Levi on the shoulder, oblivious to the undercurrents swirling between us.
“Enjoy the rest of your evening.” Dad waves off, turning to join another group.
“Close one,” I breathe out once he’s gone.
“Was it?” Levi asks, a wry twist to his lips.
“Maybe not. But let’s get that cotton candy before we overanalyze.”
“Lead the way,” Levi says, and we meld back into the crowd, the pulsing energy of the amusement park enveloping us once again.
The sun dips low, painting the sky in streaks of orange and purple as we make our way to the parking lot. The buzz of the amusement park fades behind us, replaced by the distant hum of traffic. Levi glances at me, a small frown creasing his brow.
“Need a ride home?” His voice is casual, but there’s an undercurrent of something else—concern, maybe.
“Sure, thanks.” I nod, feeling the day’s fatigue start to settle in my bones.
We walk in silence, Amelia snug in Levi’s arms, her chest rising and falling in the steady rhythm of sleep. He clicks the car seat into place and secures her before opening the passenger door for me. I slide in, the leather cool against my skin.
The drive to Amelia’s mother’s house is quiet, the only sound the gentle purr of the engine. Streetlights flicker on, casting pools of light that dance over the dashboard. When we arrive, Levi gently lifts Amelia from the back seat, her head resting on his shoulder.
“Wait here,” he whispers, and I watch him disappear inside the house, a silhouette against the warm glow of the porch light.
A few minutes tick by, and then he’s back, sliding into the driver’s seat with a soft sigh.
“Okay, your turn,” he says, pulling out onto the street.
I chew my lip, the question burning a hole in my mind. As houses and trees blur past, I gather my courage.
“Levi…did you know about Conrad and Grayson’s…arrangement…with me?” My voice is barely above a whisper, but it cuts through the silence like a knife.
I watch the rise and fall of Levi’s chest as he takes a deep breath, his knuckles white on the steering wheel. He turns to me slowly, eyes searching.
“An arrangement? With Conrad and Grayson?” His voice is steady, but there’s a tremor there when I listen close enough. “Brielle, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I bite my lip, heart pounding. “I’m…with them. Both of them.” The words hang in the air, heavy and undeniable.
Levi’s face freezes, his eyes clouding over. He blinks once, twice, as if to clear his vision or maybe to erase the image of my confession from his memory.
“Both of them…” he murmurs under his breath, and his hands loosen their grip. For a second, it looks like he might reach out to me, but he doesn’t.
“Levi, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—” I start, but the words choke off when I see the storm that’s taken over his gaze. It’s anger, hurt, something fierce and raw.
“Sorry?” He turns away, staring out the windshield. “You don’t have to apologize for anything. It’s your life, Brielle.”
