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Story: Ill Will

Lily looked up. “What does that mean?”
I checked behind me, making sure Levi and his family were inside. “I don’t know. He was really nice today, and I found myself leaning on him a lot. Plus, he did a really good proposal, and?—”
“I thought we said that there was no romance happening,” Sebastian added as he moved the arch Levi and I had gotten married under.
“There shouldn’t be, but he’s kinda romantic?” I groaned after I said it. “Which he was the first time too. This is how he gets me every time, by being nice until he pulls the rug out from under me.”
He exchanged a look with Lily before walking to the shed to drop off what was in his arms.
“What?” I asked.
“What if heisactually like this?” Lily’s voice was gentle, yet her words hit hard.
“No, I’m not falling for it again. You weren’t there when he confirmed he kissed me to piss off Calvin, and he’s made it clear that all of this is to make my brother mad.”
“You don’t have to fall for him to admit that he’s nice.”
“That’s the thing. If I do admit it, then I could forget that this isn’t real. None of it is. It’s for revenge, and he always has to be the best at that.”
“But does it feel like revenge?”
“None of it does. That’s the problem. When we practiced our kiss?—”
“Hang on, you practiced that?” Lily’s eyebrows rose.
“Yes.”
“And?”
“It was good.”
“But practicing is gonna lead to more confusion.”
I rubbed my forehead. “I know, and I accept that I’m shooting myself in the foot here. Even if I say it’s practice, I know he’s doing it to make this perfect. But it feels nice, therefore, I’m getting confused.”
“At least you’re admitting it,” she said as she threw things away.
“Will you still be there when I get my heart broken?”
“Of course I will.”
“It would almost be easier if he was a bad actor, but he’s definitely not.”
“After he goes home tonight, you’ll have some time to cool down. I think you’ll need it.”
“Amy!” Isra called out from the deck. I turned to see her waving. “Can you please come talk some sense into my stepson?”
“That’s my cue.”
“We’ll finish up here and head home,” Lily said, giving me a smile. “You’ve got this.”
I gave her a quick hug before darting inside.
“Isra,” Levi said, head in his hands, “don’t bring Amy into this.”
“She’s your wife!” Isra exclaimed. “It’s important that she’s involved.”
“What’s going on?” I asked.

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