Page 9 of The Stranger's Code

“In the middle of the night?”

“That’s the best time to do it.” He smiled lightly. “I usually don’t have any company.”

“Did you want me to go back inside?”

Levi shook his head. He then came and sat next to me, his hands hanging in his lap. “It’s kind of nice. Having the company. Especially since you’re not going to ask me a bunch of questions about my company or the family ranch?—”

“I mean, I could, but I won’t.” I chuckled. “I’m too busy trying to remember which constellation is which.”

“Want to know which one’s my favorite?” Levi pointed towards a set of four stars, some distance between each one. “There she is. Lady of the Heavens. Andromeda.”

“Andromeda?”

“Yep. This might sound a little… you know… out there…” Levi moved his hand back and forth. “But I always liked her story. Almost killed by a bunch of angry nymphs. Got saved by Perseus and they lived happily ever after. And when she died, Athena placed her in the sky as a constellation, to honor her. It’s like a finalfuck youto those nymphs, you know? They counted her out, but she still had something to contribute, she was part of something epic.”

“Are you talking about Greek mythology right now?” I was almost stunned into silence. “Levi Stratton, who the hell are you?”

Levi laughed, doubling over as he did. “Why do you sound so surprised? Did you think I couldn’t read or something?”

“I don’t know. I just wasn’t expecting…” My words trailed off as I spoke. “Most people aren’t that… layered.”

“Sounds like you go around with assumptions about people in your head.” Levi hummed. “That’s always dangerous, Cam. You never know what you’ll miss assuming things like that.”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t have assumed anything. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Levi nodded in agreement. “You should also read up on Andromeda. It’s a pretty good story.”

Andromeda.

I stared over at Levi as he stared up at the stars.

They counted her out, but she was still part of something epic.

I wondered why Levi related to that, curious about the rest of his family. Was that how he felt? Like no one expected anything from him?

I shifted closer to Levi, as crickets filled the air around us. I wanted to be closer to him, even though I knew that wasn’t why I was here. There was just something drawing me closer to him, something that may have gone beyond character work for my big break.

I wondered if Levi felt it, too, a thin piece of string that seemed like it was wrapping around him and me, too small to be seen, too small to be felt. And yet, there was something there…

Or maybe I was just projecting again.

Just then, Levi smiled over at me, taking a break from the stars.

And I smiled right back. Projection or not, his smile was one of the realest things I’d experienced in a long, long time.

4

LEVI

I’d been watchingmy email like a hawk all afternoon.

I was waiting to hear back from potential clients, even as I continued to reach out to new ones. Rescuing Teddy and Cameron gave me an idea for a new angle to pitch people on, reminding them of how choppy cell service can get in more rural areas, how quickly roads could disappear in flash floods and rainstorms. It didn’t hurt that I’d responded in record time to Teddy’s distress call, a fact that I knew he’d be willing to attest to when asked by future clientele.

I could do this.

I could make this work.

I was so focused on Big Sky that I didn’t even notice a rapping on my office door. Not at first, anyway. A few more knocks, and I finally looked up from my computer. “Come in! It’s unlocked.”

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