His dad’s words echoed in his ears, settled in the back of his neck, tightening the corded muscles.
Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
A wave of dizziness washed over him. His vision blackened at the edges, and he grabbed hold of the mantel. His heart was beating too fast, he realized. And maybe he was a little short of breath. But it had been a busy night and it was late. He was exhausted. They all were.
He blinked, his vision gradually returning to normal. If today had taught him nothing else, it had taught him this: he had to make some changes. He’d alienated his sisters, and he had to fix that. He’d allowed himself to become distracted, and chaos had erupted. He couldn’t keep up this pace and hold them all together.
Mia’s melodic laughter tinkled through the open window like a magical wind chime. His gaze followed the sound even as his heart sank like a leaden weight.
There were certain responsibilities he couldn’t shed. His sisters. This inn.
But Mia was new to his life. Clearly he wasn’t capable of maintaining a romantic relationship on top of his other responsibilities.
Her words from that day in the library came back.That doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy the time we have.They’d repeated themselves to him before.The time we have.She’d always looked at their relationship as a short-term thing. A summer romance. Somehow he’d forgotten that these past couple weeks. Allowed himself to believe it could be more.
She’d never said anything to make him think she might’ve changed her mind. She had to go back to LA eventually, and then the relationship would die a natural death. He’d just need to end it a little sooner.
He watched her through the window, admiring the joy on her face despite the difficult night. He ached inside at the thought of giving her up. Molly was right. He’d fallen for her in two short weeks. And now barely five weeks after meeting her, he was head over heels. It wasn’t logical, but it was true.
Levi had been planning to tell her tonight that he loved her. And he realized now that could never happen.
***
Mia threw the sodden cardboard box into the trash pile and listened as Grace told the story of her worst day in high school. She had Molly and Mia in stitches with her dry delivery.
Mia glanced at the window, catching Levi staring at her with an intense expression. He grasped the mantel with one hand, his shoulders sagging as if they held the weight of the world.
She searched his face. But before she could decipher his expression something shifted in his eyes, and his lips lifted in an unconvincing smile.
“Be right back,” Mia said as she came to her feet, her body aching from sitting so long. They’d decided she would stay in the girls’ room rent-free. She didn’t like freeloading off them, but she understood the legality of the situation.
When she reached the living room, Levi was pulling off the rubber boots Erik had brought over. He set them on the fireplace hearth.
He turned and gave her a placid smile. “We should probably head to bed. The rest can wait for morning.”
She walked closer, studying him. He looked so weary. “Are you all right, Levi?”
His gaze skittered around the inn, avoiding her gaze. “I’ll be fine. This is a little overwhelming, that’s all.”
She could only imagine, considering what he’d confided earlier about the inn’s financial condition. “Of course it is. I’m so sorry this happened. How long do you think the repairs will take?”
“I don’t know. Weeks. Months. Depends how busy the tradespeople are. And being summer, I imagine they’re pretty tied up already.”
She wanted to wrap him in a big hug. He seemed like he needed one badly. But he also seemed unreceptive, which was unlike him.
She set her hand on his arm instead. “One thing at a time. It’ll all work out.”
His lips pinched together. “I should tell the girls to get some sleep.”
She tightened her grip on his arm. “Wait.”
He paused, meeting her gaze with eyes that looked very different from the ones that had gazed back at her this afternoon. These eyes were cooler. Sadder. Detached.
Her chest squeezed tight, even as her heart punished her ribs. “Is there something else, Levi? I mean, I know this is a lot. But... are we all right? You seem... It seems like there’s a canyon between us suddenly, and I’m not sure why.”
He flinched, then quickly offered her a benign smile. “I’m just tired. It’s after four o’clock. We’re all beat. Let’s get some sleep.”
“It’s more than that.” The words were out before she had a chance to contemplate them. It was late—a terrible time to discuss important things. And yet she sensed this was important. And the way her heart was ready to rocket out of her chest she knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep.
