Page 13 of Break Away
Darkness had fallen, and the globe lightsgave the gathering a sweet, cozy feel. Zoey rose to gather up thestacked plates, putting out a hand when Justin would have risen.“You all stay seated. I’ll bring out the crème brûlée.”
“No dipping in your finger,” Justin called asshe crossed the porch.
“Awesome,” Eva said, and Zoey caught hersnuggling in next to Diego on their loveseat.
Zoey carried dishes to the cabin door, notrealizing Levi had followed her until he reached around her to pushit open. The door opened a scant inch before it was blocked on theinside.
“Lucy, move.”
A groan sounded from the other side of thedoor.
Zoey put her shoulder into it and pushedharder. The door gave abruptly and Levi dropped an arm around hershoulder to steady her.
“Bear dog lies against the door?”
“There’s no logic to where Lucy sleeps. Theonly thing you can count on is that it’s not likely to be her bed,unless it’s bedtime or she’s not feeling well, then that’s the onlyplace she wants to be.”
“Huh. Funny dog.”
Bright headlights speared through thedarkness as a car turned onto the driveway.
“Expecting more company?”
Zoey was more than aware of Levi’s arm stilldraped around her shoulders. “No, are you?”
“Nope.”
“I’ll go see who it is,” Diego said, risingfrom his seat.
Zoey and Levi stood in the glare of theheadlights as Diego approached the driver’s window. Before he couldreach the car, it bulleted in reverse back onto the street beforetearing off in the direction from which it had come.
“What the hell?” Levi leapt off the porch andacross the driveway to the street, where he stood staring in thedirection the car had gone. He walked back to Zoey’s house and metup with Diego on the steps.
“You recognize the car or driver?”
“No. It was a small SUV, light colored. Couldbe anywhere between gray and white. That’s what we get for nothaving streetlights out here. I couldn’t see through the windows.So basically, I got nothing.”
“Surely that was someone turning around. Whyare you so concerned?” But Zoey felt suddenly cold and gathered hersweater around her.
“Whoever it was seemed anxious not to let meget close enough to see who was driving,” Diego observed.
In the shadowed light of the porch, theplanes of Levi’s face tightened. “Zoey, did the vehicle lookfamiliar to you?”
“No. I don’t get many unannounced visitors.We’re far enough from town that most people will call first to makesure I’m home before making the drive out here. Maybe the visitorwas yours.”
Levi shook his head. “Same deal as you. I’mnot likely to get casual visitors here, and since I only moved in acouple of days ago, not many people know I’m back home or where Ilive.”
Eva bustled by with dirty dishes stacked inher hands. Zoey followed her into the cabin and returned a fewmoments later, carrying Justin’s crème brûlée. Enjoying the creamydessert, she tried to ignore the uneasy feeling brought by thearrival of the car that sped off into the night.
The brulee was gone. As in, no leftoverfinger swipes. Justin got high praise from everyone. Her guestshelped to tidy the porch, and after hugs and promises to do itagain soon, Zoey waved as they drove away.
Levi stood beside her on the steps, Lucyleaning against his leg. Zoey rubbed her arms against the eveningchill. “Well, that was fun.”
“Yeah.”
Zoey angled him a look. “Is that you soundingsurprised that you enjoyed yourself? I have nice friends, plus it’sobvious your cousin loves you.”
“My surprise has more to do with you lettingher invite me.”
