Page 79 of Levi Bailey has Butterflies

I swallow, and then I lie through my teeth. “I meant, I don’t want to.”

“Oh.” Her brows pull together, but she doesn’t look at me.

“Maybe I gave you the wrong idea. I just saw this place online. It’s not going to be in Port Falls much longer. It seemed like the right thing to do—taking you there.”

She gives one curt nod. “So then, youdon’tlike me?”

I clear my throat—the nerves inside of my body turning spastic. “You’re a good friend, Meredith.”

She doesn’t say anything. What do I expect her to say?

I clench my jaw, hating that forlorn look in her eyes. And hating myself for producing it. The point of today was to make her happy—not sad.

“Do you mind if we drop by Coco’s?” I say with a last-second thought. The baby will cheer her up. The baby will make her forget that I ruined our day together. Babies are kind of magical that way.

32

Meredith

One second, I am certain that Levi Bailey likes me, and the next I have no idea. Are men always this confusing? Is this just how relationships are? Constantly guessing? Constantly unsure? Even when I ask a straight question and it sounds like he’s giving me a straight answer—I end up confused.

We had the perfect morning. I caught a butterfly! Several, actually.

Number one on my list because, once, for a science class, Dad bought me an at-home butterfly nursery habitat. I talked and talked to those cocoons, but they never hatched. We didn’t get one butterfly.

Seeing thousands of them today felt like a marvel.

Being with Levi felt like a dream.

At least it did until I asked why he hadn’t kissed me yet.

We pull up to Coco’s house and I give Levi back his phone—the man takes a lot of pictures of bikes. He needs more people, more mountains, more sky, more fun in his photo roll.

I follow him up the steps to Coco and Jude’s home. He knocks twice, then lets himself in. Alice lays on the couch, a blanket over her lap, and cartoons on the flat screen above the fireplace.

“Uncle Bear,” she says, but it’s not as jubilant as usual—that and it’s a bit nasally.

“What are you doing home?” Levi says.

Alice slaps the couch with her palm. “Well, I’m sick, of course.” She pulls a tissue from the box next to her and wipes her little nose. “Oh, hello there, Mere-bith.” Herd’shave all turned tob’swith her congestion. “I missed you behind my giant Uncle Bear.”

I wave and hold back a chuckle. My heart is confused and aching, but Alice is still a ray of sunshine. She makes it difficult not to smile.

“Mama!” Alice attempts a bellow.

Coco shuffles in from the hallway, no Lulabelle in sight. “Sweet pea, I just put your sister down. Please don’t yell.” She blinks, realizing she isn’t alone with her stepdaughter. “Levi. Hey, Meredith.” She’s uncertain with our surprise visit—and then, all at once, excited. “Ooo! Where did he take you? Tell!”

“Wait—you knew?” Levi looks from me to his sister.

“How could I know, you big dummy? You didn’t even tell her. Now, tell me! Where did you take her?”

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” Levi says, the words coming from his throat in a growlish tone.

Coco raises her brows. “Sure. Just be quiet. Lulabelle’s sleeping.”

I watch as Levi follows his sister out of the room—no doubt he’s scolding her. He’s once again informing her that he doesn’t like me, and she shouldn’t be getting silly Meredith all worked up.

“Why do you look like your fish died? Didn’t you see any butterflies today?” Alice mutters, then runs another tissue below her nose.

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