Her body tensed.
Levi continued gently, “Greg’s been sending messages. Angry ones. Threats, more or less. We’ve seen them, and we’re dealing with it.”
Her eyes went wide, her fork slipping slightly in her grip.
“It’s not your fault,” Roland jumped in, voice soothing. “You didn’t do anything wrong. But he’s trying to get a rise out of you, or us, and we just want you to know that it’s being taken seriously. Security’s aware. The whole staff is looped in.”
Sydney swallowed. “Is he… coming here?”
Levi shook his head. “No sign of that. But if he tried, he wouldn’t make it past the front gate. You’re safe. We promise.”
She nodded slowly. “Thank you. I—goodness, I wish I could understand why the heck he was even doing this. What was the point in all of the lies?”
“Why, doesn’t matter right now,” Levi said, steady and certain. “For now, we need to focus on keeping you safe. And part of that is figuring out what you want to do next. That includes with us.”
Sydney blinked quickly, like she wasn’t quite comprehending his words.
Roland smiled gently. “You don’t need to figure out anything right now. We thought we could just focus on getting to know each other tonight.”
“I think… I’d like that,” she said. “For now, I’d like to stay Big for it, if that’s okay.”
“More than okay,” Levi said. “We’d like to get to know all the parts of you, Sydney. that includes the Big you.”
That made her smile, small and real.
They lingered over the last bites of dinner, drifting into easier conversation—about Gavin’s art class, about the differences between American and South African snacks. Roland was horrified to learn she’d never had Slim Jimsordonuts from a bag.
By the time the plates were cleared and the last biscuit was gone, Sydney’s shoulders had dropped a good inch, and Roland was laughing more than he’d spoken in complete sentences.
Levi watched the two of them from the sink, drying his hands slowly. This was good. It wasn’t perfect. But it didn’t need to be.
Sydney was here. With them. Right now, that was all he needed.
Chapter Eleven
Sydney
Sydney felt full in more ways than one. The pasta had been perfect—creamy and rich with garlic, the kind of comfort food she hadn’t realized she’d missed. The biscuits had been flaky and warm, and Roland’s nervous apologies about them had only made her like him more. But it wasn’t just the food. It was the laughter. The soft candlelight. The way Levi’s deep voice could calm her pulse with a single word, and how Roland’s smile felt like a sunrise just for her.
She sat curled up on their couch now, a mug of tea warming her hands, and tried not to think too hard about how this was the safest she’d felt in a long time.
And how scared that made her.
Levi sat in a chair across from her, legs spread and relaxed, watching her with an unreadable expression. Roland had disappeared into the kitchen to fetch something—some more biscuits, she hoped, though he’d been mysterious about it. She wanted to relax fully, to let herself enjoy this moment. But her thoughts kept racing ahead, toafter.When she’d have to go back to her room. When the night would end.
What happens now? What if they don’t want me? What if this is just a nice evening and nothing more?
She must have gone quiet for too long, because Levi’s voice cut through her spiraling.
“Sydney, little miss, look at me,” he ordered.
She blinked and met his gaze, startled by the firmness in his tone.
Levi’s expression softened. He held out a hand. “Take a deep breath, and come over here.”
Her heart leapt. She didn’t even think, just moved. She set down the mug and walked toward him, slipping her hand into his. His grip was firm, sure, and when he tugged her forward, she found herself settling into his lap like she belonged there.
And somehow… she did.
