She wrinkled her nose. “That easy to tell?”
“Sure is.”
She finished making my cup and handed it to me. I took a sip, humming as she finished hers too and leaned against the counter across from me. Her expression wavered.
“When are you telling Dallas and Austin about Levi and Mateo?” she asked.
Yikes. My stomach did a slow flip. “I don’t know. I don’t even know if we should. Levi leaves in two weeks.”
“Fuck. I thought he was staying.”
I shook my head as we took a sip of our lifelines. “He hasn’t said otherwise. I don’t know. I hope he stays. I want him to stay. Mateo does too. The three of us are just . . . not talking about it.”
In fact, it was almost a taboo topic at this point. We were exploring the physical side of our relationship together, and occasionally comments about the future would make it through. Things likeI wish we could stay like this foreverorIt would be fun to wake up next to each other every morning.
It was hard not to imagine a future where both of them were in it. When we were together, the three of us just clicked. There were things about each of us that complimented the other.
Like how Levi was quiet when he woke up. He needed a full hour to himself before he said much. He looked cute and grumpy at the same time, and Mateo and I loved it.
Mateo was chatty. And I was somewhere between. But that meant I could be quiet with Levi or I could be talkative with Mateo.
I didn’t like cooking. Levi’s idea of cooking was attempting to bake high-protein muffins. Between the three of us, Mateo was by far the best at it, and he was already talking aboutmeal prepping.Meal prepping for the three of us like we were some married trio that had been together for a decade.
“Maybe he’ll stay,” Evie said softly. “I’ve got to say, I haven’t seen you this happy in a long time. You’ve got a glow again. And I think Austin and Dallas are noticing. Dallas dropped by the other day and asked me if you were seeing anyone.”
My mouth dropped. “What?”
“Yeah. I lied to him of course, so you’re welcome. I’m always keeping all of y’all’s secrets like I’m a human confessional.” Evie sighed and shrugged her shoulders. “I just think they should know why you’re happy.”
“And you know why that would cause issues,” I said. “I just want to enjoy my time with Levi and Mateo. I don’t want my brothers getting involved. Ever since Kevin, they constantly overstep. But because that guy was their friend, I just know they would react poorly to Mateo and Levi. Not even just one of their friends, but two. And I don’t think Mateo or Levi deserve that.”
“They knew that going in, though, sweetheart. And keeping secrets from family is never a good idea.”
I made a sour face. “I think more secrets might be a good thing.”
Evie shook her head, clearly disagreeing. But that was the thing about our friendship. Sometimes we disagreed with one other, but at the end of the day, I knew she’d still support me.
“Maybe after Levi leaves,” I said. “We can tell them. And at least he’ll escape whatever stupid shit my brothers will pull.”
“Or maybe they’ll be happy for you,” Evie said. “June and I are thrilled. A little jealous, maybe, but thrilled.”
I grinned and took another sip of coffee. “I’m honestly so in—” I cut myself off, shocked by the words that had almost spilled out.
Her brows shot all the way up. “What was that, Avery Anne Whynot?”
“Oh god, not the full name.”
“Yes, the full name. What was the end of that sentence?”
I covered my face, peeking at her through spread fingers. “I’m in love. I’m so in love. It’s ridiculous and it makes no sense and I know my heart is going to get stomped on, but I’m so in love with both of them.”
“Oh my god, you’ve lost it.” She shook her head at me, but she was beaming. “June owes me ten bucks, by the way. Speak of the devil.”
The door to the bakery chimed and I turned around right as June walked in. She raised a brow the moment she saw us.
“You owe me money,” Evie said triumphantly.
“It’s been like three weeks!” June exclaimed.
