Page 181 of Gathered Sparkle

“And he’smy fucking best friend.” My chest feels like it’s about to cave in, but I hold his gaze. “Don’t make me choose again, Levi. Because I wouldn’t be so sure it’s you this time.”

Levi’s face crumbles for a heartbeat, his walls breaking before he quickly rebuilds them. But I saw it. The stricken look in his eyes cuts deeper than I expected.

The silence between us stretches taut, and I can feel everyone watching, feel the weight of what I’ve said hanging in the air like a guillotine.

Ezra moves in and pulls Levi back into his chest. “Koen.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Don’t even start, Ezra.” My eyes lock onto Levi’s. “You know I fucking love him to death, but I’m not going to let him take my best friend from me again. Not because of a misunderstanding. Not because of his damn pride.”

Ezra doesn’t argue. Instead, he gives me a slow nod and pulls Levi another step back while his shoulders sag as he looks away.

When I finally turn back to Nicholas, his wide eyes meet mine. There’s a mess of emotions in his gaze—shock, guilt, confusion. But beneath it all, there’s something that looks a lot like hope.

“Nico.” I take a breath, steadying my voice. “Get in the car,please.” He hesitates, his eyes flickering back to Levi, then to me. Slowly, he nods and turns toward the driver’s side door. I step forward and grab his shoulder, stopping him and holding out my hand. “Keys. Tomyfucking car.” There’s a beat of silence, and Nicholas lets out a soft, shaky laugh. Tired, but real. He digs intohis pocket and drops the keys into my hand. “Thanks,” I mutter. “And now get in thepassenger seat,dammit.”

Novalee steps up beside me, tugging lightly at my sleeve. “Can I come?”

I glance over the car at Nicholas, who catches my eye. He gives a small, almost imperceptible nod before he gets in the back seat.

“Sure, Little Thief.” Some of the tension eases out of my chest. “Get in.”

She flashes a faint smile and slides into the passenger seat. As I slide in, I glance at her. She’s holding her bracelet between her fingers, but her breathing is steady.

“You’re coming on a drive of your own free will?” I tease.

“I don’t trust you two not to start bickering again.”

Nicholas snorts from the back. “Fair.”

I start the engine and glance in the rearview mirror at Nicholas. “You okay?”

He meets my eyes in the reflection and nods. “I am.”

“Are you?” I turn to Novalee again.

“Thanks to you.”

I give her a peck on the mouth. “Glad to hear that.”

We drive off, the hum of the engine filling the silence. At first, it’s tense—none of us speaking. But the longer we’re on the road, the more the tension unravels, like the weight pressing down on us is finally lifting, piece by piece.

Novalee leans back in her seat, her fingers still brushing the bracelet. Nicholas is staring out the window, the rigid set of his shoulders easing with every mile.

For a while, it’s peaceful.

Then, the car in front of us slams on its brakes.

“Shit!” I hit the brakes hard, the tires screeching against the pavement. The seat belt locks across my chest as the car jerks to a sudden stop, and my arm flies out instinctively acrossNovalee’s chest like I’m the only thing keeping her from flying through the windshield.

I turn and scan her frantically when we come to a stop. She blinks up at me, wide-eyed but calm. “I’m fine.”

“Like the seatbelt wasn’t enough protection,” Nicholas comments dryly from the back seat.

I glance at him in the rearview mirror, raising an eyebrow. “You know, I could make you walk.”

He leans back, folding his arms with a smug grin. “That threat lost its meaning years ago when you never actually did it.”

Novalee snickers, and some of the leftover adrenaline drains away. I lean over and press a quick peck to her temple.

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