The Spiral Down (The Fall Up #2)(64)

“What?” I snapped, jerking the door open.

“Evan!” The woman tipped her sunglasses down her nose and raked her eyes over my shirtless torso while mumbling to herself, “Nice job, Henry.”

“Can I help you?” I impatiently bit out.

“Hi! I’m Levee—”

“Williams,” I filled in when I finally recognized her.

Chestnut-brown curls covered her shoulders, and her pregnant stomach might as well have been inside my house even though her feet were firmly on the other side of the threshold.

“Well, technically, Rivers, but yes. We met briefly in L.A. at one of Henry’s shows.”

The mere mention of his name wrenched my heart.

I nodded, crossing my arms over my chest as though it could mask the pain. “I remember.”

“Right. Well, anyway. I’m here to do the obligatory cleanup mission.” She shot me a megawatt smile.

“Cleanup mission?”

“Yeah. You know… Henry f*cks shit up, I come in to save the day, and we all live happily ever after.” She shrugged. “I would have been here sooner, but you’ll find, with Henry, it will be quicker in the end if he has time to really stew on things.”

“Funny. I’m no longer interested in any kind of ‘happily ever after.’” I tossed a pair of exaggerated air quotes her way. “I’ve been stewing too.”

It was a lie of epic proportions, but my pride wouldn’t allow me to fall to my knees and beg her for help the way I so desperately wanted. He’d left me. Not the other way around.

Her eyebrows popped in surprise. “Oh. So, you aren’t interested in knowing how miserable he’s been for the last week?”

I ground my teeth. Part of me hoped he had been worse than miserable. Lord knows I was.

“Not really.”

She adorably twisted her lips. “Hmm… Well, that makes this a little more challenging, then. You mind if I give you my speech anyway? It would be such a waste. I’ve been practicing for a week.”

“Maybe you should give it to Henry, then.”

She pouted her bottom lip and stomped her foot. “Come on! It’s a good one.”

My head was killing me and my heart was aching, but my only lifeline to the man I had been pining over was standing in front of me. Fuck my pride.

My shoulders fell as I let out a resigned sigh. “You want to come in?”

She had the good grace to look surprised. “Why, that would be fantastic.”

I stepped aside and motioned her in. Just before closing the door, I caught sight of a giant leaning against her black SUV.

“You want to invite Hercules in too?”

She laughed. “Nah. Linc is fine out there. He’s not Henry’s biggest fan anyway. He probably wouldn’t help my cause.”

I slanted my head in silent question.

“Oh, it’s nothing. He just doesn’t sympathize with Henry’s equilibrium issues.”

“His what?” I asked.

Giggling, she waved me off and settled on one of my barstools. “You’ll have to ask Henry.”

“I would if he would answer my calls.” I rolled my eyes as I made my way to the fridge. “Or, ya know… texts, e-mails, Morse code, smoke signals.”

“Have you tried the Pony Express? I have it on good authority he likes horses.” She winked as though I should have gotten her joke.

“Right. I’ll hop right on that. Coffee?” I asked as I caught sight of Scott meandering shirtless into the room behind her.

“Dude, you’re up early. I figured you’d still be cry— Shit.” He froze when Levee spun to face him.

“Oh, shit,” she breathed, swinging her head between Scott and me—her eyes growing angrier every time they landed on me. “No f*cking way.”

My lips twitched as she got the completely wrong idea.

“Are you…” Scott started in awe.

“Levee,” I said in both an answer and introduction. “This is my best friend, Scott. Scott, this is Henry’s best friend, Levee Williams.” I scratched the back of my head. “Er…Rivers.”

Levee’s murderous glare leveled me. “Best friend?”

The woman was more than a tad pissed off on Henry’s behalf. If it hadn’t been for the gaping hole in my heart, I would have burst into laughter.

Even still, I released a quiet chuckle and elaborated. “Straight best friend.”

“Totally straight!” Scott proclaimed after me. “Super straight. So straight, straight men wish they could be me. Straight as an arrow. Ruler straight. No! Make that yardstick straight.”

“You done yet?” I glared at him, unimpressed.

He bulged his eyes and tipped his chin to her while mouthing, “Holy shit!”

I shook my head and looked back at Levee. “You’ll have to excuse Mr. Straight. He has problems.”

Her cheeks pinked in embarrassment. “Sorry…I thought…”

“Coffee?”

“Yes! But no. Sam would sense the caffeine hitting my taste buds and show up like the Kool-Aid Man busting through your wall to stop me.” She propped her chin on a hand and frowned. “Any chance you’d be willing to indulge my voyeuristic needs and let me stare at you while you drink it? I’ll do my best to suppress the creepy moans.”