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“Isra and Levi get along when it matters. And you shouldn’t be worrying about anything. You’re resting.”
“I’m a pro at worrying, just like the rest of my generation.”
“You don’t need to. Levi is a fixer. Let him help you.”
And I had, but now that I was back to myself, I already was back to where I started. Yes, I wanted his help. But I wanted to help him too.
“I’m gonna check on them anyway.” I stood. “And at the very least, I can tell Isra which shelf is which.”
I made it to the den before Nancy could stop me, and I wasn’t prepared for what I saw. Isra stood close to Levi, her arms crossed. I thought they were fighting, but then I heard her speak softer than I thought possible.
“You’re allowed to be upset, kid. At least in front of me. And don’t try to tell me you’re fine again. I know you’re not.”
“I thought the days of me coming home to someone in pain were over,” he said lowly. “I guess they’re not.”
“Why she didn’t tell you is between you two, but I hope you’ll tell her what it meant to you.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Come on?—”
“She needs me. That’s what I care about.”
“Levi,no.When your dad died, you jumped in to help Nancy and me. More than any child should.”
“I was an adult.”
“You wereourchild. We should have been there for you.”
“You were grieving.”
“And so were you. When did you take time to do that?”
“I did it privately. With ...” His eyes moved toward the door, as if he were about to look out into the distance. They landed on me instead. “Amy.” He stepped away from Isra. “Is everything okay?”
“I ... I was just checking in on everyone.”
“You don’t need to do that. You should be resting.”
Isra’s previous words rang out:You jumped in.
And he was jumping in now.
“I’m good. I feel better than ever, actually.”
“Do you?”
Do you?I wanted to ask back, but I had a feeling I knew what he would say. Instead of starting a fight in front of his family, I smiled. “I think the food is ready. Should we all eat?”
Chapter Twenty-One
I tookmy time getting up the next morning. Levi slept next to me the night before, but he wasn’t there now, and I assumed he’d gone back to work. He needed to, especially considering he ran an entire company. But I didn’t mind. Him not being here would make it easier to figure out what to say to him, would allow me to wonder if this was how things were now—him sleeping next to me every night just like we were a real couple.
But as I walked downstairs, I found him making breakfast.
“Good morning,” he said. “How are you feeling?”
“Fine. The same as last night. I think it’s over.”