44. Brielle

Istride toward the school, the morning air crisp against my skin. Sierra is hunched over her phone, thumbs flying. I wave, a tentative smile on my lips. She doesn't look up until I'm close enough to catch the scent of her vanilla perfume. Her eyes meet mine, cold and dismissive, then she rolls them hard and turns away. It's a wordless rejection that slices through me.

"Sierra?" My voice comes out softer than I intend, a thread of confusion weaving through it.

But she's already pacing away, her silence a heavy blanket thrown over my head. I stand there, the sting of her dismissal fresh on my cheeks. Hurt burrows into my chest, a familiar ache that I can't shake off as easily as I'd like to.

The bell sounds, a reminder that time waits for no one, especially not for high school drama. So, I push the hurt aside, lock it up for later. Class is calling.

One foot in front of the other, I make my way inside, the buzz of fluorescent lights overhead mingling with the murmur of students settling in. The classroom beckons me forward, a sanctuary or a battlefield—I can never decide which.

I slide into my seat, books clutched tight to my chest. It's then that I feel it—a gaze like a touch. Levi. His eyes snag mine for a fleeting second. A blush detonates across my face, fiery and fast. Memories flicker—his lips, his laugh, the heat of whispered promises shared under the cover of darkness. Heat coils low in my belly, distracting, demanding.

I try to focus on the class, but the words blur together, nonsensical sounds lost beneath the drumming of my heart. Levi's presence is a magnet, his mere proximity tugging at me with an invisible force. The lecture drags on, but I'm adrift in a sea of what-ifs, anchored only by stolen glances and the soft scratch of my pen pretending to take notes.

And all the while, I fight to keep myself from drowning in thoughts of him, of us, of moments too precious to let slip through the cracks of a distracted mind.

My pen is running out of ink, so I slide my hand into the depths of my backpack, searching for a new one. Instead, my fingers brush against a foreign piece of paper. Not the silky caress of my well-worn notebook pages, but something more crisp, invasive.

I pull it out.

Watch your step, Brielle, the scrawled handwriting warns. Secrets like yours burn bright…and fast.

My heart hammers. Blood rushes in my ears. My eyes dart around the room—searching, accusing. Could it be Conrad's stern gaze that harbors this threat? Levi's charming smirk? Or Grayson's silent scrutiny?

No one looks back. No one looks guilty.

I shove the letter back into my bag as if it's on fire. The words sear into my memory, branding me with fear. What if they find out? What if everyone knows?

"Ms. Rose, is there a problem?" Levi's voice slices through my panic.

"Uh—no, sorry." But the words come out weak, unconvincing.

* * *

The bell rings,shattering the silence of concentration. I shove my notebook into my bag and rise, muscles tense from sitting too long. I'm determined to put the threatening note out of my mind, for now.

Levi is at my desk before I can step away, his presence like a sudden storm cloud.

"Stay for a second?" he asks, voice low, eyes insistent.

"Planning to give me a pop quiz on the way out?" I tease, hoping to lighten the mood. My words hang, awkward and out of place in the emptying room.

"No jokes. Just come with me." His tone brooks no argument, but his lips twitch with something unreadable.

"Where?" I hedge, curiosity piqued.

"Trust me?" It's all he offers, an invitation wrapped in mystery.

I nod, despite the flutter of unease in my stomach. Together we exit the school, the afternoon sun harsh after the dim classroom. We don't speak as he leads me to his car, the air between us thick with unasked questions.

The drive is short, and soon we're pulling up to an unfamiliar house. The lawn sprawls before us, dotted with white chairs and strings of lights not yet illuminated.

"An engagement party. This is my mother's house," Levi says, and it's not a question.

"Um, okay." It's all I manage as disappointment stings. How could he not tell me?

I glance down at my clothes, casual and so out of place among the festive setup. "I wish you'd let me know."

"Sorry," he murmurs, sounding anything but sorry. He's watching me, a half smile playing on his lips, as if he's enjoying this.

We walk toward the house, my heart dancing a nervous beat. Unprepared is an understatement, but with Levi by my side, somehow it feels like just another adventure waiting to unfold.

We reach the front door, and I tug at my shirt, trying to smooth out imaginary wrinkles. Levi catches my hand, stilling it.

"Hey," he says softly, tucking a loose strand of hair behind my ear. "You look great. Besides, it's Mom's fourth time at the rodeo. At this point, she'd marry a gold bar if it put a ring on her finger."

I can't help the laughter that bubbles up from my chest. Tension eases from my shoulders as his words sink in. Levi always has a way of making light of heavy things.

"Gold digger, huh?" I tease back, allowing myself a moment to enjoy the sparkle in his eyes.

"Let's just say she's got expensive taste."

The door swings open before we can say more, and a woman who I assume is his mother stands there, surprise etched onto her face for a split second before it brightens into an excited smile.

"Levi! Darling, you made it!"

"Mom, this is Brielle," Levi says with a smile.

"Call me Tina, dear," she says immediately. "It's so lovely to meet you." Her voice is warm, enveloping me in an unexpected welcome.

"It's great to meet you, Tina." I step forward into her offered embrace, feeling her genuine affection. "Congratulations."

"Thank you, sweetheart." She pulls back, her eyes scanning me. "You look absolutely beautiful. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Thanks." The compliment soothes any lingering insecurity about my casual attire. With a grin, I glance at Levi, who gives me a wink that sends a quick shiver down my spine.

"Come on." Tina beckons us inside. "There's so much to celebrate."

I weave through the crowd, Levi's hand a steady presence at the small of my back. Laughter and clinking glasses fill the air, mingling with the scent of expensive perfume and rich food. A tray of delicate canapés catches my eye, and I steer us toward it.

"Charlotte was always so picky about food," I overhear Tina say to a cluster of women. The name jolts me, unfamiliar and yet obviously significant in Levi's past.

"Who's Charlotte?" I ask as we reach the snack table, my voice barely above the hum of conversations around us.

Levi pauses, a frown momentarily crossing his handsome face before he picks up two stuffed mushrooms and offers one to me. "My college girlfriend," he says, his tone even. "Before she made some…complicated choices."

His eyes meet mine, and there's a shadow there that wasn't present moments ago. I take the mushroom but my appetite wanes with curiosity swirling inside me.

"Complicated how?" I probe gently, setting the uneaten appetizer back down.

He sighs, running a hand through his hair. "She claimed I was the father of her baby. Turned out to be my best friend's." He shrugs, trying to appear nonchalant, but the tightness around his eyes betrays him.

"Levi, that's awful," I breathe out, my heart aching for him. I can't imagine the betrayal he must have felt. "I'm sorry you went through that."

He looks at me then, really looks at me, and I feel seen in a way that sends warmth cascading through me. "Brielle, I know you would never do something like that," he says firmly. His hand finds mine, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "It's one of the reasons I trust you…why I'm with you."

His words wrap around me like a blanket, comforting and solid. Trust is a currency more valuable than anything else in a relationship, and Levi just handed me a vault's worth.

"Thank you," I whisper, squeezing his hand back. In this room filled with people celebrating potential new beginnings, I realize that what Levi and I are building might just be the most precious thing of all.

Levi's hand still envelops mine, grounding me. I gaze up into his eyes, searching the depths for shadows of past hurts.

"After that kind of betrayal, and after your ex-wife…do you think you could ever really fall in love again?" The question spills from my lips before I can catch it.

A flicker of something crosses his face. It's gone before I can name it, but then his lips curve into a soft smile. "I already am," he murmurs.

The words hang between us, a delicate suggestion that sends my heart racing. It's not a declaration, but it's as close as Levi has ever come to baring his soul to me. I swallow hard, trying to steady my breathing.

"Levi…" His name is a whisper on my breath, laden with all the emotions I'm struggling to contain.

"Hey, don't overthink it," he says gently, thumb brushing over the back of my hand. "We're here now. That's what matters."

But my mind is a whirlwind. Sierra's dismissal earlier today slices through me again, sharp and unexpected. Why would she turn away like that? And then there's everything Levi just shared about Charlotte—his trust in me feels monumental, frightening even.

Hurt, confusion, excitement—they swirl within me, a cocktail of feelings I can't quite name. The possibility of our future stretches out, thrilling and terrifying in equal measure. Levi's touch anchors me to the present, but I'm adrift in a sea of what-ifs.

"Are you okay?" Levi's voice is laced with concern, his eyes scanning my face.

"Yeah," I lie, forcing a smile. "Just…a lot to think about."

"Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together." His assurance is firm, confident.

Together. The word resonates, soothing some of the turmoil, but deep down I know there are things I have to face alone. For now, I let myself lean into him, borrowing his strength for just a moment longer.

I bolt upright, my heart pounding against my ribs. The letter. That venomous collection of words lurking in the bottom of my backpack. It's a grenade, pin pulled, waiting to blow up my life.

"Levi, I—" My voice falters. I can't drag him into this mess. Not now. "I have to go."

"Is everything okay?" His brow wrinkles with worry.

"Fine. Something just came up." I stand abruptly, ignoring the quiver in my legs.

"Call me later?" Levi's eyes hold mine—a silent plea for reassurance.

"Promise." I force the word out and flee before the doubts can catch up with me.