Page 10 of Closer

“Yes, it is,” she says quietly. “But you know I’m not talking about your penis. Not everything is about your penis, Levi.”

“Sure, it is.”

“Look.” Ali sighs. “I can leave if this is too hard.”

“I thought we weren’t talking about my cock?”

“Levi.”

“What do you want me to say, Red?” I ask. “Yeah, it’s hard. Seeing you here, having you sit right next to me and being unable to touch you, fucking sucks, but I’ll get over it. Eventually.”

“I don’t like to see you hurt.”

“But you like to see him hurt even less.”

“That isn’t it.”

“You chose him, Red. You chose the man you couldn’t live without. Of course, I think you’re wrong, but what the hell do I know?”

“You’re going to make some other girl really happy one day. You just need to find the right one.”

“I already did,” I murmur. “She’s marrying someone else.”

She straightens, but her brows crease with confusion. “What?”

“Nothing,” I say with a sigh. I get to my feet, kiss the top of her head and stagger inside.

“Levi—”

“Goodnight, Red.”

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