Where We Belong (A Touch of Fate #1)(21)

"You know I'd never let anything happen to Max while he's in my care. Right?" he asks with his lips pressed against my temple. Snuggling in closer, I pat his thigh gently.

"I know, Levi."

"Gag! If you guys are going to start doing your 'friends with benefits’ thing, then I'm outta here."

"You have nothing to worry about, Quinn." Tightening his arm, Levi gives my shoulder a quick squeeze. His voice softens, but it’s still loud enough for Quinn and I to hear. "I’m fairly certain the ‘benefits’ phase of our relationship is over,” he says with a smirk.

Quinn eyes snap to me and I look at Levi, curious where that came from. How long has he been thinking about this? The idea that we might need to back off has crossed my mind a time or two, but I didn't know he felt the same way. Or maybe...maybe he met a girl. That has to be it! Levi met a girl! I smile at him knowingly, but he immediately begins shaking his head vigorously.

"No! This is not about me. I did not meet someone, so wipe that smile off your face and stop planning my damn wedding."

"Then what's this all about?" Quinn asks.

"Tyson."

"What?" I squeak as Quinn chokes on her wine.

"What about Tyson? Is there something you aren't telling me, Harley? Because if that’s the case, then I’m totally pissed at you right now."

"No!" I reply, shaking my head. "I don't know what Levi's talking about. Tyson and I talked the other night outside the bar, but you both know that. I told you what was said, and then we talked again..." My words trail off and I can’t help the small smile that begins to form when I remember the tea that Tyson bought and left for me at work the other day.

"When?" Quinn prods when I don’t continue. "When did you talk again?"

"At work," I answer softly. "We talked at work." My eyes bounce between her and Levi, waiting to see who is going to react first.

"Whoa! Back up a minute," Quinn says, setting her wineglass down and scooting forward in the chair. "You and Tyson work together?" Nodding my head, I turn to Levi and find him watching me curiously. His eyes are soft and caring and maybe a little...hopeful? I'm so confused right now.

"Yes. He is doing his residency in the ER and I float. We ran into each other the other day."

"Wow. Um. Okay. But you guys already agreed to try the whole friendship thing again, so why does that put a halt to things with you?" Quinn asks, directing her question to Levi.

“Yeah, Levi. What does Tyson being home have to do with us? Are you having blue balls? Is this because I left you unsatisfied the other—”

Quinn grips the side of her head and covers her ears. “Gah! Blah, blah, blah...TMI, Harley. TMI!”

“Nooo..." Levi drags out. “This doesn’t have to do with us because there is no ‘us,’ remember?” Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Quinn lowering her hands.

“Yes, I remember," I answer sarcastically. "But I’m still curious. Why, Levi?”

“Because that boy is head over heels in love with you,” he answers, matter-of-fact. Quinn and I both gasp. The only difference is that she has a huge goofy smile on her face and I don’t.

“What?" I ask, pushing up from the couch. "He is not! He’s only been home for a week, and we’ve only talked twice. How would you...what makes you...”

“I’m a guy, Harley, and I saw the way he looked at you when you walked into the bar the other night. It wasn’t an oh-there’s-my-old-friend-Harley kind of look. It was more of a there’s-the-other-half-of-my-soul kind of look.”

“Oh, it was not!”

“Uh, yeah, it kind of was, Harley. The boy looked at you like you were water and he hadn’t had a drink in forty days!”

“Quinny. NO,” I reply firmly.

“Not only that, but you should’ve seen his face when you ran out and I told him to stay put because I was going to go after you,” Levi says, shaking his head. “Jesus Christ, I thought he was going to pulverize me!”

I've had enough. “Okay, you guys are f*ckin’ crazy!" I say, throwing my hands up in the air. "First, I’m over it. Been there, tried that. He wasn’t interested. Second, he has a girlfriend, remember?”

Levi cocks his head and looks at me curiously. “You guys really haven’t talked much, have you?”

“NO! I told you that! We’ve barely talked at all. Why? What do you know that I don’t? Have you talked to him?" Quinn must sense my increasing level of anxiety because she reaches over and hands me her full wine glass.

God bless you, Quinn. She should really just go grab the whole damn bottle.

“Actually, I have," he answers cautiously, leaning his elbows on his knees. "We’ve talked a few times since he came home, including when he came into the restaurant last night. We had a late dinner after he got done with his shift." Levi eyes me warily, obviously unsure how I'll react.

This whole conversation has my head spinning. I can’t let myself go there. I can’t let myself hope for something that I know will never happen. I’ve done this once before. I’ve already laid everything out on the line, putting my heart on the chopping block, and the end result was devastating.