Page 19 of Into the Fire
8
It had been two weeks since Emery had first stepped onto Levi’s porch for the first time, with nerves in her stomach and princess-shaped macaroni in her future. Since then, things had fallen into a routine that felt… natural. Peaceful.
Emery no longer needed an alarm in the mornings in order to wake up and drive over to the ranch; she was waking up excited and eager to start the day off. She'd handle the morning hustle—lunches packed, shoes found, June’s hair wrangled into a braid that never stayed for long. Levi had stopped hovering as much, even let her do the dishes without fighting herabout it.
They hadn’t had many moments alone since that first week. A few shared looks over the dinner table, a nod of thanks when she handed him a clean dish towel. Nothing earth-shattering, but something was there between them. Familiar, comfortable, easy.
Today’s errands were simple–a quick stop at the general store for more dish soap and snack packs. She was walking through the small grocery store, crossing off a short list. Apples, peanut butter, and more of the coffee creamer she liked. She'd started skipping the little drive-through coffee shop and now made hers in the morning at the ranch after Levi had filled his mug.
She paused in the cereal aisle. Two women stood a few feet away, chatting around the corner of the end cap full of shelves of cake mix.
“Did you see who Levi’s got living in his house these days?”
That name stopped Emery mid-step.
The women didn’t know that anyone was within earshot.
“I just think it’s strange,” one woman said, her tone too casual to be kind. “Levi is letting someone else run his house. That man’s been doing everything on his own for years.”
“She’s not living there,” the other replied, voice laced with fake sympathy and real judgment. “Though you wouldn’t know it with the way she’s been playing house. Some city girl who probably burned through any other options she had and thinks she landed herself a free ride with a single dad.”
“She’s probably got no idea what she’s doing, either. Bet she thinks she’s going to be the one to change him. Like he hasn’t already run off better women than her.”
The first one laughed. “She’s just the flavor of the month. I give it another week, then he’ll run her off. Poor thing probably thinks she’s the one who’ll stick.”
Emery’s stomach twisted, her hand gripping the basket tighter. She wasn’t sure what stung more—their words, or the sharp reminder that maybe she didn’t really belong here.
She wanted to marchover and say something biting and clever. But instead, Emery exhaled slowly, not wanting to cause a scene or do anything to embarrass Levi. Her face burned—not from embarrassment, but frustration. They didn’t know her. They didn’t know what she had walked away from, or how hard she was trying to build something that didn’t feel empty.
And yet… They already had a story about her crafted in their minds.
She quickly checked out, skipping the rest of her list, and climbed into her car, gripping the steering wheel for a moment.
The sun was too bright, and the air felt thick.
She’d left a job where her value was tied to other people’s power. She didn’t come here to be judged by strangers for finding something that actually felt good for once.
Her phone buzzed with a text.
LEVI:Just finished up with the tractor. Should be done earlier than normal today. Thought I’d grill tonight. Hope you’re stillstaying.
She drew her brows together, probably trying a little too hard to decipher his text.
Hope you're still staying.
That definitely didn't fit his usual texting tone of short and to the point. Deciding she was probably reading too much into it because of the conversation she had just heard in the grocery store, she went on to pick June up from school like she always did, listening as she chatted about spelling tests and a boy who ate a crayon. Her little backpack bounced against her back as they walked to the car. Emery nodded at the right times, smiled when June looked up at her, but it felt automatic. Distant.
By the time they pulled up to the farmhouse, Emery still hadn’t shaken the sting of those women from town. June burst through the front door ahead of her, kicking off her shoes and shouting for her dad.
Levi appeared from the hallway, wiping his hands on a clean rag. His eyes flicked up to Emery the second she stepped inside, his brow furrowing slightly.
Something was off.
She set her bag on the counter and started unpacking June’s lunchbox as if it were any other day, but didn’t talk much. Her usual energy was missing. She smiled, sure—but it was forced and didn’t look genuine.
Levi leaned a hip against the counter, his arms crossed. June had already disappeared into her room to change.
“You okay?” he asked quietly, voice low and even.
