I sit in the armchair, glancing around, the quiet now unusual with six rowdy guys around. “Where’d everyone go?”
“The boys went off for a hike, and they took Wren with them, so it’ll be the two of us for a while.”
Silence cloaks the room, slightly uncomfortable as Gigi stares at me, almost contemplating.
My eyes flit around the room, suddenly aware of how exposed I feel. “So,” She finally says, her tone casual, though her body language is anything but. “What’s the deal with you and my brother?”
I shrug lightly. “Oh, nothing. I’m just his trainer.” I pause, before adding, “But I’ve grown to enjoy his company now.”
Her gaze sharpens as she tilts her head to study me. “So, you just so happened to disappear at the same time last night? Is that a coincidence?”
I chuckle as I lean forward to mirror her, meeting her stare head on. “So,” I counter smoothly, “What’s the deal with you and Bennett?”
She jerks back and I know that I’ve caught her off guard. Her mouth opens and closes as she searches for words that don’t come. That’s what I thought. Without giving her a chance to recover, I keep going. “You guys aren’t as slick as you think. You’re just lucky Levi's naive.”
“You can’t tell him!” She blurts out frantically, panic taking over her features. “Please. I’m just… curious about what’s happening with Levi, I promise.”
I study her for a moment before I nod slowly. “I won’t, as long as my secret will be safe with you.”
I raise an eyebrow as Gigi nods.
“Good.” I say taking a sip of my coffee before continuing, “So why are you so curious about what’s going on with Levi?”
She weighs her words before giving me an honest response. “I’ve just… never seen him this relaxed.” She admits. “I think that’s the best way to put it. Levi’s always on edge but since we’ve been here, he’s changed. In a good way.”
My heart stutters. I knew he’d changed since I met him - but I’d also just chalked it up to circumstance with him being pissed at the situation he’s in. I had no idea that his sister would pick up on it too.
“I think the sessions have helped him.” I offer. “He’s been gaining confidence again. Recovery’s been difficult for him to accept.”
Gigi blinks at me unimpressed. “Uh, no. Scar, the sessions have nothing to do with it.” She holds my gaze. “It’s you. He likes you.”
I suck in a breath at the admission as the words settle between us. I laugh uncomfortably. “That’s… not really how it works.”
I stand to put my mug in the dishwasher, and Gigi follows me silently, just watching me. I turn leaning against the counter. “Seriously, Gigi.” I raise my eyebrows. “I’m his trainer. That’s it.”
Noticing I’m not getting one past her, I tip my head back as I let out a dramatic sigh. “You know he just left this morning?” I drop my gaze back to hers. “He said nothing.”
Gigi shrugs casually as she places her mug in the dishwasher as well. “Levi just tends to shut down sometimes. He’s probably freaking out because you’ve made him feel emotions, he’s never felt in the twenty-nine years he’s been alive.”
My eyes widen slightly. “Never?”
Gigi shakes her head softly. “Levi just had it rough with our dad. He learned early on that if you don’t let anyone in, you can’tget hurt so he’s built some walls. But he feels safe with you. His guards have come down, I can tell.”
I look away, the feelings overwhelming, knowing that in the short time I’ve known him, I’ve made him feel safer than he ever has before. Not knowing what to respond to in the moment, I deflect.
“So,” I meet Gigi’s eyes again, pumping my eyebrows once. “What’s the deal with you and Bennett?”
Gigi is the one to look away now, trying to avoid the confrontation. “We’re… friends.” She settles on, though, her tone isn’t convincing.
“Come on, I know something is going on between the two of you. Do the other guys know?”
She nods and mumbles something under her breath.
“What was that?” I ask, wanting her to spell it out for me.
“Reid and Hudson know.” My eyebrows shoot up. I was not expecting that. Hudson gives me the vibe that he’s not all that good at keeping secrets.
“How long has this been going on for?”
