“Why notmove to Texas and fall in love with two people who love you more than anything else? And want to share a life together? And grow old together? And make love together?”
Levi’s eyes softened. “Why not?”
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
Avery
My heart would eventually unbreak, right? Was that possible?
I ran a brush through my hair. This time, I was wearing gloves. And this time, I was following a set of instructions from June on how to dye my hair the color I wanted.
It was the same anime blue, of course. It was my favorite. But over the last few weeks, I’d let it run out until the ends turned seafoam silver. It was not my least favorite color on canvas, but certainly my least favorite color on myself.
So it was time. Time to put the blue back in, time to glue my heart back together, time to go back to the studio.
I crossed my legs on my stool and went strip by strip, pinning them back with clips June had given me. The first half wasn’t too bad, aside from the occasional wisp of hair that would cling to my cheek and leave a blue line.
“Avery!”
I squeaked as Mateo’s voice startled me and a glob of blue dropped straight onto my nose. “Dammit. No. Oh god. Fuck.” I pushed all my hair over my shoulders and tried to flick the glob off my nose. It spattered against the porcelain sink as I stripped off my gloves and grabbed a makeup remover wipe, quickly trying to salvage my skin.
That was what Mateo walked in on.
His eyes widened and his hand clamped over his mouth. “Avery.”
“Don’t laugh,” I hissed as I scrubbed my nose. “It was going great until you startled me.”
“Well, you see, I need you to come with me.”
He wasn’t serious, right?
“I’m literally in the middle of dyeing my hair.”
“I’m aware. I need you to come with me.”
“I’ll come with you later,” I teased.
“Avery.” His expression became serious. “You want to come with me.”
Had he hit head? I stared at him for a moment but his brows wiggled and he disappeared, off to the kitchen or somewhere else in the house. I sighed and shook my head as I attempted to put my hair up.
I looked like Weird Barbie. I shook my head but slid off the stool. I wasn’t wearing a bra. I was in an old paint-stained T-shirt and ratty cut offs, but the man wanted to show me something.
I sighed and followed him down the hall to the living room. A soft voice made me freeze before I rounded the corner.
“She’s coming.”
“What if she doesn’t want to see me?”
Levi?Tears sprang to my eyes and I leapt forward, rounding the corner to see if I was hearing things.
Levi stood in my living room. He wore a T-shirt and jeans and boots, as if he’d never left. As if he’d never gone back to Minnesota.
My breath whooshed out. “You’re here.”
“I am,” he whispered with a soft sniffle.
Was hecrying?Or was that me?
