"Drama," he said, not asking.
Levi didn’t answer.
Knox nodded at me, then patted Levi’s shoulder with one massive hand. "You did good," he said. "She won’t come back. Not with me watching."
Levi laughed, then scrubbed at his eyes, and for a second I thought maybe he’d break. But he didn’t. He looked at me, reallylooked, and then at the bakery, at the people who’d seen it all and decided it wasn’t worth their trouble to interfere.
"We’re getting married," he said, the words for himself as much as anyone.
"Yeah," I said, squeezing his hand. "We are."
And if Gloria came back, if she ever even tried to set foot in this town again, she’d have to go through all of us.
I made a silent promise to myself: I’d never let him be unmade again, not by her or anybody. Let the world watch. Let them all know. He was mine. And I was never letting go.
Gloria didn’t stay gone. She stood on the curb outside, chain-smoking menthols one after the other, pacing the concrete like a zoo animal. Levi watched her through the window, jaw set. Every time she turned, the sharp edge of her face caught the sun, making her look like she’d been carved out of bone and regret.
Knox went to settle up at the register, giving us a minute alone. I kept Levi’s hand in mine, thumb tracing the line of his pulse. It had slowed, but not by much. He was still somewhere far away, locked behind his own eyes, and I hated how easy it was for her to pull him back there.
The bell over the door chimed again. Gloria reentered, all bluster gone, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to keep from splitting open. She didn’t sit right away, just hovered behind the empty chair and looked at Levi.
“I forgot something,” she said. “Please. Just another minute.”
Levi hesitated, then nodded. I squeezed his hand, but he didn’t look at me.
Gloria took her seat, folding her hands with care, like if she moved too quick she’d spook him.
“I’m sorry I lied,” she said, voice trembling just enough to pass. “But I really am sick. Stage four. Six months, maybe less. I know you don’t believe me, but it’s the truth.” She wiped at her face, smearing her mascara into smoky bruises under both eyes.
Levi stiffened, the bones of his hand turning white in my grip. I could see him working it out: part of him wanted to laugh in her face, but another, older part—the part that had spent years wishing she’d come back—wanted to give her the benefit of the doubt.
Gloria reached for him again, this time with more care, palm up on the table, waiting. Levi swallowed, then let go of my hand and placed his own in hers. I hated the way she smiled at the contact, a triumphant little curl of lip like she’d just won the lottery.
“I’m alone,” she said, and her voice hit a new register, the one people use when they want something. “Nobody to drive me to chemo, nobody to come home to at night. I know you don’t owe me anything, but—Levi, I just want to see you once a week. Maybe we could get coffee, talk about old times. You could tell me about your life, what you’re building here.” She leaned in, her grip tightening on his hand. “Nobody else cares. You’re all I have.”
The room had gone silent again. Even Knox, back at our table, was holding his breath.
I saw the shift in Levi—his face went slack, eyes glimmering. He wanted to pull away, but he didn’t. He let her squeeze his hand, let her see the tears forming.
I felt the anger bloom in my chest, ugly and hot. She’d never loved him, not even as a kid. She’d used him for leverage, a pawn in her endless string of cons. And now she wanted him to mop up her mess, like he owed her for the accident of her DNA.
I said, low, “Convenient how you’re dying when there’s a payday, Gloria.”
She shot me a look, pure venom. “What would you know about it, McKenzie? You have a whole family. He’s got nobody.”
I braced a hand on Levi’s thigh under the table, steadying him. “He’s got me,” I said, and made sure she saw the ring of new ink peeking from his cuff. “And he always will.”
She smirked. “I heard about your little arrangement. Thought it was a phase, but I see it’s not.”
Levi’s head snapped up. “It’s not a phase.”
Gloria clucked her tongue. “Oh, honey. You’re so young. You don’t know what you want.” She patted his hand, her own shaking. “Nobody your age settles down for life. You’re going to wake up one morning and realize you threw it all away on someone who doesn’t even know how to love you.”
Levi’s lips parted, and for a second I thought he’d fold. But then he blinked, wiped his cheek, and squared his shoulders. He looked at her, not angry, not even sad. Just done.
“You don’t get to judge what I have,” he said, voice flat. “You lost that right when you left when I was six years old. Quiad’s never abandoned me. He’s never lied to me. He’s the only reason I even survived long enough to sit here now.”
Gloria’s hand trembled. “You think he loves you? He just wants to own you. That’s what people like him do.”
