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But the tightness in his jaw tells me he’s not okay, that my news has hit him hard. I can sense the battle within him, the struggle to stay calm when every muscle in his body is tensed, ready to react.
“Are you alright?” I ask, though it’s clear he’s anything but.
“Yeah, I’m fine.” He gives me a curt nod, but the way he says it, it’s like he’s convincing himself, not me.
And just like that, the moment shatters. He’s closing himself off, building walls with silence and short replies. I can feel the distance growing between us, a gulf widening with each word left unsaid.
“Thank you for today,” I tell him, forcing a smile, but it feels brittle, about to crack.
“Anytime,” he echoes our earlier exchange, but this time it sounds hollow, like an echo fading into nothing.
We’re silent for the rest of the ride, the only sound the hum of the engine and the occasional hiss of tires over wet asphalt. My heart pounds, a relentless drumbeat echoing the turmoil inside me.
The car rolls to a stop outside my place. Dad’s truck is parked out front, a beacon of normalcy in the chaos of my emotions. Levi’s hands grip the steering wheel, knuckles white. He stares straight ahead.
“Thanks for the ride,” I murmur, reaching for the handle.
“Sure.”
I get out, legs shaky, and Levi doesn’t follow. Doesn’t say another word. Just sits there, a statue with stormy eyes and clenched jaw.
“Hey, Brielle!” Dad’s voice booms from the porch, all smiles as he jogs down to us. “Levi! Good to see you.”
“Jim.” Levi nods, a tight smile not reaching his eyes. He’s out of the car now, all rigid lines and forced politeness.
“Come in for the game! It’s just about to start. You’ll stay, right?” Dad slaps Levi’s back with a friendly thump.
“Actually, I?—”
“Can’t miss this one. It’s gonna be a classic. Come on!” Dad wraps an arm around Levi’s shoulders, steering him toward the house.
“Sure. Why not?” Levi’s voice is flat, his steps slow.
I trail behind them, my stomach in knots. Dad doesn’t notice, caught up in his excitement for the game. But I see the effort it takes Levi to keep walking, to play the part. And I know, beneath the veneer of calm, Levi’s hurt is just waiting to burst free.
Levi
I shuffle my feet, glancing toward the car. It’s an escape pod I can’t reach. “Actually, Jim, it’s been a long day and?—”
“Nonsense,” he interrupts, his grip firm on my shoulder. “You look like you could use some cheering up. The game will do just that.”
“Really, I should be going.” My protest is weak. Feeble against Jim’s enthusiasm.
“Levi, I insist.” His voice brooks no argument as he tugs me toward the warmth spilling out from the open door.
The house swallows us, the noise of the crowd on TV washing over me. I’m adrift in a sea of forced camaraderie, one I never asked to navigate.
Jim claps me on the back again. “Beer?” He doesn’t wait for my answer, already moving toward the kitchen.
“Sure,” slips out. It’s automatic. Polite. Fake.
Brielle hovers by the entrance, biting her lip, eyes flickering with a silent apology.
“Sit, sit!” Jim gestures to the couch like he’s hosting a royal banquet instead of a casual game night.
I sink into the cushions, the leather cool against my skin. On screen, players clash, a tangle of limbs and focus. My mind isn’t on the game. It’s on her. On us. On everything unsaid.
“Here.” Jim thrusts a cold bottle into my hand. “Drink up.”
