Page 68 of Twisted Trust
I cry until my throat burns and my hands ache from how tightly I’m gripping onto Levi’s arms. He soothes me through it all and remains close by my side when I finally lift my head.
“What happens now?” I croak.
A small, soft smile crosses Levi’s lips. “Do you feel better?”
My shoulders roll.
“Next, we get you home to Scott.”
“What about…” Sniffling, I rub my eye. “What about the dress? And your mother? And Cameron… There’s so much I don’t understand.”
“Cameron is something I’m looking into, but I don’t want you to worry about that. As for my mother… I’m afraid you will just have to be satisfied with the dress she’s picked out for you. I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Sighing deeply, I untangle myself from Levi’s arms and stand. “I can put up with a shoddy dress that isn’t to my tastes. It’s hardly the worst thing I’ve ever done.”
Despite wanting space to breathe, being away from Levi creates an immediate ache in my arms as if I should sink back into his hold. Meeting his gaze, I finally smile. “So… you don’t want to kill me now?”
“No.” Levi rubs his hands down his thighs and stands. “I want to do several things to you, Maeve, but killing is not one of them.”
“Oh, really?” I arch one tired brow. “If I weren’t feeling so emotionally run over right now, I think I’d let you.”
“Tease,” Levi replies without much real heat in his voice. “Let me take you home. You can rest. I need to discuss everything I’ve learned with Chip, and we’ll go from there.” He holds out his hand to me, and instinct makes me take it, but I don’t move when he takes a step.
“Levi.”
“Yes?” He turns to me and follows my gaze down to our joined hands.
“What does this mean?”
“I don’t know.”
I lift my gaze to his. “We’re fake engaged with five years of pain between us and you said you still loved me.”
“I did.”
“I don’t know how I feel.”
“That’s okay.” Surprisingly, the usual stiff frown on Levi’s face is absent. “If you’re feeling half as confused as I am, then I don’t blame you. I don’t have answers, and like I said, only time can help with that. The only thing I know for sure is that I want you to come home with me so I can take care of you. The rest we can work out together.”
Maybe it’s the warmth of his fingers interlocking with mine or the soft way he looks at me as if no time at all has passed, but something inside me finally feels safe. Safe enough to smile strongly.
“Okay. But if I find out the dress your mother has picked has a box collar, the wedding’s off.”
24
LEVI
“Are you sure about this?” Unable to stop myself, I reach for Maeve and lightly tuck one curl of her hair behind her ear. Ever since our talk a few days ago, it’s been hard to keep my hands to myself. “We can always end this early if it’s too much for you.”
She immediately shakes her head and turns her face into my palm, briefly kissing my wrist. “Are you kidding? I’ve put so much work into this engagement party and I’m reveling in the look of shock on your mom’s face when she walked in here and saw the ice sculptures and the dancers. She didn’t think I could pull this off, did she?”
“No,” I reply honestly. “But it’s not what you think. She’s a complicated woman.”
“You mean a bitch?” She arches one brow at me, then her bare shoulders slump and she briefly adjusts the gorgeous golden dress that clings to all her mouthwatering curves. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t say that. This whole thing just feels like a giant test, y’know?”
“It is, but I think it’s less about how you present yourself and more about how you survive in this kind of world becausethose?” I nod over the indoor balcony where we’ve taken refuge from the party for a few minutes. “This is the life you will lead as my wife. Parties and galas all with a hidden agenda, people who will crave your downfall out of jealousy because of who you are married to, and every person will be a subtle threat.”
“Are you trying to put me off?” Maeve smiles up at me. “Because it won’t work. This? And people believing it? Is what will keep Scott with me.” She hesitates as if there’s more to say, but nothing else comes. Instead, she presses her lips together and smiles. “Thank you for letting this happen.”
