Page 90 of Puck My Stepbrother
I drew a deep breath, then exhaled. Thinking we could live as ourselves, unconcerned about others, sounded so romantic, but I worried that it would only ever be a dream.
“I don’t know, Levi…”
“Are you saying that, after everything we’ve been through, that you wouldn’t at least give it a try?”
My reluctance to answer immediately should’ve suggested that the stigma would always hang over me. But I couldn’t say that to him. Levi was so determined, so in love with me, so…
“I don’t know what I’m saying. I just…”
I couldn’t tell Levi that I was scared. My old bully was the most fearless person I knew. Courage must’ve come naturally to him, but I was a different case.
To me, this felt like coming out of the closet again—only worse. Most people understood gayness, even if they didn’t like it. I could be myself, more or less, even if the threat of rejection remained ever-present. Getting together with my stepbrother totally changed how people would view us, even if our love had begun brewing long before my dad ever met his mom.
We could always run away to a remote island. At this point, there was no one I’d rather wind up on an island with than Levi Dunn. At least the sex would be top-notch. I understood that love never came without its share of challenges, and that the person you love is always worth fighting for.
“It’s okay,” Levi said. “I see I just have a little more work to do. You’ll come around.”
“Are you saying you’re going to win me over again, whether I like it or not?”
“Boy, you really do catch on fast.”
“Guess I should’ve expected this.”
And of course I should have. Levi Dunn operated that way. Spending eternity with him meant dealing with his unwavering determination in all things, especially concerning me. I continued eating my dinner without any further words about us becoming a real-life couple. Again, the idea excited me, but cold hard reality threw up walls. Thankfully the speeches began and Ididn’t have to worry about coming up with answers for Levi. But the time would come.
Soon.
Once the speeches concluded, the dancing began, starting with my dad and his new bride. I stood back and hooked an arm around my new stepbrother, forgetting for a moment what others would think. When others began dancing, Levi’s eyes met mine, and I knew exactly what he wanted to ask. That dragged me back into reality. The two of us dancing together at the wedding would make a big splash. It would clear up any misconceptions about our relationship, too.
At the same time, doing that would steal a lot of attention from my dad and stepmother, which I didn’t want to do. Yes, I had other reasons, but I found it best to stick with that one.
“You want to dance?” Levi extended his hand to me.
My throat felt desert dry. I had to lick my lips before speaking.
“I can’t,” I said.
“Sure, you can.”
“No, I’m serious. I really can’t.”
Saying no to Levi felt like heresy. I would’ve thought I’d conquered the worst of my fears when I realized Levi cared about me and Jeff didn’t, but apprehension still nagged at me.
“Come on, Quinn.” He spoke not with an air of command, but of insistence, knowing how momentous it would be. I wanted to believe it would be okay, but I just couldn’t shake my fears.
“It’s getting hot in here,” he said. “Why don’t we go outside for a minute?”
“Okay.”
I followed my stepbrother outside, wondering what he had planned. After all, wasn’t Levi Dunn always up to something?
36
LEVI
Sometimes Quinn just needed a little push. I knew what was in my stepbrother’s heart, and he did, too. Something always stopped him from reaching out and taking what he wanted. That’s why he needed someone to nudge him along. That’s also why I didn’t sweat his nervousness at the head table. Anyone would’ve felt their share of reservations with so many others within earshot.
Most importantly, I knew what was in my own heart, and I couldn’t let it go. I loved Quinn Standish. My life would be nothing without him in it. I could go for it, even if he couldn’t. I’d never shown any quit on the ice, and I wouldn’t succumb to it in my love life, either.
