Page 8 of Chasing Forever

Truth was, there weren’t a whole lot of options when it came to places to live. I needed a home for Levi, but I didn’t have the money for a down payment on an apartment, and I’d just quit my job. Walking out without so much as a word, I seriously doubted I could put them down as a reference. I needed a roof over Levi’s head and a job, and I needed themnow.

Levi had been talking about Tristan’s dog nonstop since we left the center, asking all kinds of questions I couldn’t possibly have the answer to.

“Do you think it’s a big dog, or a little dog? Do you think it’ll let me snuggle with it? I bet it licks my face!” he said with an excited giggle. Through the rearview mirror I could see him bouncing around in his booster seat like he was coming out of his skin. Seeing him so excited about something after what he’d been through soothed a place inside of me that had been running off stress and anxiety for the past several hours.

As good as it felt to see that the most important person in my life wasn’t indelibly scarred by what he’d witnessed, I still wanted to track my brother down and hold a pillow over his face until his body stopped thrashing. I would never understand how a parent could do that to their own flesh and blood, and I would never forgive Ozzy for putting Levi in such a dangerous situation. No kid should have to call the police because his father was seizing and choking on his own vomit. Fortunately, that rage had been somewhat tempered by Levi’s smile before I could do something stupid, like drive to the hospital and maim my older brother.

“I’m not sure. I don’t see why not. And I bet it does,” I said, answering his questions in order.

“If it licks my face, that means it likes me, right? You think it’ll like me?”

My eyes shot back up to the mirror, my gaze landing on that precious little boy. His hair flopped down over his forehead, the color the same deep, dark brown as mine, only a few shades from black. His cheeks were still a little chubby and always had a rosy hue to them that only added to the sweet innocence in his cherubic face.

“What are you talking about? Of course, it’ll like you!”

“Think so?”

“Absolutely. You’re the most likable kid in the whole entire universe, little dude.”

His eyes, just a tad darker green than mine, went wide and his lips parted, forming an adorable little O. “Wow, that’s a whole lot.”

I nodded seriously. “Sure is. I mean, think about it, kid. Every single person who’s ever met you has instantly fallen in love with you.”

His cute little face scrunched up in thought for a few seconds before he nodded earnestly. “Yeah. You’re right. I have atonof friends.”

I choked out a snort. He wasn’t being conceited or vain—he didn’t have it in him—he was simply pointing out the truth. Most of the kids in his class gravitated toward him because he showed kindness and acceptance to everyone equally. I’d never met a human being with a bigger heart and a larger capacity to care as much as my nephew, and I counted my blessings that my brother’s influence hadn’t rubbed off on him.

Now it was my job to make sure Ozzy never had the chance to tarnish Levi’s tender soul ever again.

“Dang straight, you do. So any dog you meet is going to love you just the same.”

Levi’s eyes pointed out the window beside him as his feet swung back and forth. “I always wanted a dog,” he said, his voice quiet and his tone almost wistful.

I swallowed, a ball of emotion clogging my throat. “Well then this is your lucky day, isn’t it? We just have to pack up the rest of your things and you’ll be good to go.”

I shifted my focus a bit higher in the mirror, seeing that Tristan’s big gunmetal gray suburban was still trailing behind us.

When we left Hope House, he’d insisted on coming along to help. When I tried to refuse, his jaw ticked as he ground his back molars together before his features gentled.

His throat worked on a swallow as he stepped closer and lowered his voice so only I could hear. “I’m so sorry, but... it’s still an active crime scene.” The words sounded like they were being pulled roughly from his throat, almost like he didn’t want to let them out but had no choice.

My eyes went wide as realization settled in, chilling me to my very bones. “You think there could be more drugs in there?”

His hand came out, his rough fingers somehow gentle as he gave my forearm a reassuring squeeze. “We don’t know, but I always prefer to err on the side of caution, and I hate the thought that you and Levi could be walking into something dangerous.”

Sincerity had swirled through his baby blue eyes, and the guards I had up around me lowered a couple inches as the heady scent of his cologne penetrated my senses. He smelled like cloves and musk and something spicy. It was a combination I wanted to dive into and swim laps around.

“Aunt Merri,” Levi called, bringing my mind back to the present. “We can’t forget my wrestlers! Wehaveto take them with us.”

My little guy had a serious obsession with all things wrestling, and more than once, he’d nearly scared the life out of me by jumping off the back of the couch or something, just like he’d seen one of his favorite wrestlers do. Since my brother was always conveniently broke come the holidays or around Levi’s birthday, I made sure to spoil my nephew as much as Warren would allow, buying him his favorite wrestling figures every year. They were his most prized possession.

“We won’t forget your wrestlers, I promise.”

“Do you think da-tek-iv Tristan likes wrestling?” he asked, butchering Tristan’s title for at least the fifth time.

“Detective,” I attempted again, stressing the word.

“That’s what I said.”

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