My brows shot up. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that I’ve known for a while that she’s had feelings for you. Avery is shit at hiding things.” Austin shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve known.”
I kind of wanted to punch the idiot. “There’s no fucking way you’veknown.”
“Yes fucking way. I’m busy, but I’m not an idiot. I’ve known since she came back. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. Then I kind of noticed how you looked at her, and I always wondered. But you never made a move and it became easier for me to be the asshole older brother. The thing is, Mateo, you deserve her. I was wrong when I said that and I didn’t mean it. I can’t think of another person in this world that you should be with, aside from Levi.”
He held out his hand this time and I squeezed it, holding back tears. “Thank you. I wish he were here.”
“Well . . . I have a confession.”
I scowled. “What?”
“I lied about something.”
“Ugh.What?”
“The thing is that you’ve been sitting in your truck for a really long time this morning.”
“Okay, and?”
“Well, you haven’t been watching the station. You’ve been watching the street.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Am I fired, Mr. Whynot?”
“No,” he laughed. “No. But itwasconvenient.”
I had no idea where he was going with this. “Spill.”
“So the thing is, I did get a hold of Levi.”
I sat up and leaned forward. “What?”
“Yeah. He sold his place.”
“He what?”
“And I picked him up from the airport and just got back to Whynot. I’ve been up since 3:00 a.m. because his damn flight landed at 6:00 a.m.”
“What?”
“And I think you should maybe go inside the fire station.”
I couldn’t breathe. I stared at him for a moment and immediately unlocked the truck. “If you’re fucking with me?—”
“Mateo.” Austin gave me a soft smile. “Go get your man.”
I couldn’t believe it. I jumped out of my truck, my limbs feeling like jello as I sprinted to the station door. I shoved it open, sucking a breath as flowers covered the floor, all making a path to?—
“Levi.” My voice was hoarse. Tears blurred my vision. Was I imagining things? It wouldn’t be the first time I’d imagined him standing in front of me.
“Mateo,” he whispered.
Our eyes locked, and—god—the pain in his eyes killed me, because it was the same pain I’d been carrying for weeks.
Before I knew it, I was throwing my arms around his neck and he was lifting me, holding me tight. His lips searched for mine and I kissed him until we were both breathless.
“What are you doing here?” I rasped.
