The Best Man (Blue Heron #1)(112)

“So you make plans to move to San Francisco for a month, maybe more, but you don’t think to talk about this with me.”

She stared at him a beat or two. “I guess it was a little hard to find the time,” she said, her voice cool. “Since you’ve been so busy with Nina and the peace talks.”

“You could’ve made the time. And there are no peace talks,” he growled. “Give me some credit. She left me. That was the end of it.”

“Really nice of you to tell me. Funny, how it’s taken you two days to mention this.”

“You can’t really believe I’d get back with her.”

“I have no idea what to believe, Levi! Because you don’t talk to me!”

“Said the woman who neglected to mention she’s moving back to San Francisco.”

She jammed her hands on her hips. “Well, it looks like communication isn’t our thing.” She was mad now. Good. So was he. Kinda furious, actually.

Twice in his life, Levi had been left. Hadn’t seen either time coming. Both times, he’d had to pick up the pieces, jamming down misery, going on with day-to-day life, burying all that hurt, going on as if everything was fine.

He didn’t feel like doing that again.

She was glaring at him, waiting—for what, he had no idea. This was too complicated, too difficult, too...emotional. He jammed a hand through his hair. “Okay. That’s fine. This wasn’t working, anyway.”

Faith’s head jerked back a fraction. “Wait. What? You’re dumping me?”

He shrugged, shaking his leg to dislodge her dog. “Have fun in San Francisco.”

Her mouth opened. “I’m coming home after this job, Levi,” she said, her voice softer now. “Don’t make this into a big deal. It’s just for a few weeks.”

“You sure?” he said, his voice tight. “Because the first time you went for a few weeks, it turned out to be a few years. Then you come back here, and you decide maybe you’ll stay. But maybe not. Maybe this is just a stopgap for you. You’re going back to California, and, hell, maybe that’ll be so great, you’ll change your mind again!” He seemed to be yelling. Not good. Definitely not good.

She tilted her head. “I have to say, your head does seem to be up your ass with that branch right now. You know what I think? I think this is really about Nina.”

“It’s not.”

“Seems like it is.”

“It’s not.”

She threw up her hands again. “Great! Another conversation we can’t have. You won’t talk about the war, you won’t talk about your father, you won’t talk about your ex-wife. And here’s the thing, Levi. I’ve already been with a guy who hid some very important things from me. I’m not doing it again, so if there’s something you’d like to say, by all means. Go for it.”

“Well, I’m not g*y.”

“I’m aware of that. Still, I would really appreciate it if you could tell me what on earth is really going on here. Blue, for the love of God, get a room, okay?” She kicked the dog his pillow, which the dog happily jumped. “You have ten seconds. One.” She grabbed a book and threw it into a box. “Two.” Another book. “Three.”

“Don’t forget the picture of Jeremy,” Levi said.

She froze, book in hand. “Really? Are you really going there?”

“Maybe you never got over him. I’d hate to force you to take sloppy seconds with me.” Ah, shit. This was bad, and getting worse by the second.

“It’s ironic,” she said. “You’re the one who can’t resist the chance to run off to open a jar or save a cat. You’re the one with an ex-wife sniffing around. I’m trying to make a real relationship here, but I can’t do it alone.”

He shrugged. Felt some heat rising to his face that he didn’t like one bit.

“You know what?” she said, walking over to him, her eyes narrowed. She poked him in the chest with her forefinger. Hard. “I’m the one who said I love you. The fact that you didn’t say boo was duly noted, Chief Cooper. You can’t even admit you gave me that damn rock, and I’ve been carrying that thing around from place to place for decades!” Another poke. “Say what you want about Jeremy—” poke “—but g*y or not, at least he knew how to be in a relationship. At least he was willing to commit.”

He looked down at her. He didn’t like having all these...these...feelings churning around. He didn’t like fighting.

And he didn’t like being wrong.

“Enjoy California,” he said.

With that, he turned around and left.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

“HE’S A THERAPY DOG,” Faith said, fishing out a tissue and Blue’s papers at the same time. “He can ride with me. Persons with Disabilities Act and all that.” She wiped her eyes and gave the TSA drone a watery smile.

“Boarding begins in forty minutes. Next.”

Faith sat down, Blue’s head immediately resting in her lap.

Ah, irony. Back at the Buffalo-Niagara Airport, once again dumped. The tears wouldn’t seem to stop leaking out of her eyes, but she gave her dog an ear-scratch nonetheless.

The first time she’d gone to San Francisco, she’d been fleeing in shock and heartbreak. This time, though, her heart was made of stronger stuff.