Page 111 of Ace of Spades

Then he sighs, dragging his hand through his already tousled hair. "But–”

“It’s complicated,” I say for him.

He nods. And it makes my heart ache in longing for something that we just can’t have. Not now, at least. Not with how fresh everything is.

We drive for a beat in silence, the rain hissing softly against the roof. Our hands stay locked together as we turn down a long gravel road with a two story home at the end of it. It has a wraparound porch on it, with many rocking chairs.

That must be his home.

"Theo’s got a thing for you, you know."

I blink, caught off guard. "What?"

Levi chuckles. "You really didn’t notice?"

"He’s just... nice to me," I protest.

Levi smirks. "Yeah, Angel. He’s nice. That’s what it looks like when a guy your age wants to be more than just friends."

I sink back into the seat, mind reeling.

"He looks at you like you hung the damn moon."

My cheeks heat.

"I didn’t know," I mumble.

Levi huffs a soft, almost fond laugh.

"Hey,” he says softly. “You didn’t do anything wrong. Just... be careful not to hurt him."

I nod. Heart twisting a little.

He must be thinking of his son when he says we can’t be more than what we are right now. The last thing I want to do is tear another piece of Levi’s world apart.

He pulls into the driveway and cuts the engine.

The front door swings open and Carter steps onto the porch, Josie tucked into his side like she doesn’t want to let him go.

“Well, if it isn’t the big dawg back from wherever the hell he got lost last night,” Carter says.

“I don’t want to talk about it,” Levi says, jumping down from the truck, coming over to my side to open my door. I jump down.

“Hey! No judgement here,” Carter says, hands up in surrender. “Hi, Ms. Riley.”

“Hello, Carter,” I say, not giving anything away.

Josie pokes her head up from where she’s been hiding behind him. Her dark curls bounce around her face and she beams when she sees Levi and I approaching.

“Hey bug. How’d Uncle Carter treat you?” Levi bends down and opens his arms to receive a hug. But Josie doesn’t stop at Levi, she side steps him and comes straight for…me?

She tugs gently on the hem of my hoodie, showing me the colorful beaded bracelet on her wrist.

I crouch down, smiling wide. "That’s beautiful, Josie. Did you make it?"

She nods emphatically, her whole body just buzzing with pride.

I reach out and trace one of the beads with my fingertip, and she smiles, bouncing on her toes.

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