you tread more carefully in regard to her emotions because of it, yes. Do you tiptoe around how she feels because of it? If she stood on her feet all day, would you have taken another shot six months later? A year?"
Anger and defensiveness swirled dangerously in my head, and I could feel Connor watching me carefully. He wasn't arguing with her, but he didn't agree with her either.
I paced into the kitchen and braced my hands on their counter, my head dropping down as I took a few deep breaths.
"I can't answer that," I said, words coming up like I'd yanked them from my throat with a rusty hook. "Because you're asking me to imagine a world that doesn't exist."
Sylvia's brow furrowed at my response.
"I'm not mad at you for asking, but Joss has to view the world differently because of where she sits. That's her viewpoint. Her chair, her legs are a part of her reality. Just like I can't look at the world from yours or Connor's viewpoint, I can only look at it from mine. She is not just a small part of my reality, Sylvia; she's the most important part of it." I straightened and met her gaze head-on. "So yes, I took her situation into consideration when I made my decisions, and maybe that makes me ridiculous, but I wouldn’t change anything. I don't regret a single day of the past five years because for those five years, she's been my favorite person in the world to spend time with."
I didn't even realize Sylvia was crying until she swiped a hand over her cheek.
She sniffed. Connor smiled softly, rubbing the top of her leg.
"Okay," she said in a watery voice.
"Okay?" I huffed out laugh. "Just okay?"
Sylvia got off the couch and walked toward me, wrapping me in a tight hug when I turned to face her. "She's really lucky to have you, Levi."
I set my chin on her head and smiled. "I've always thought so."
Connor rolled his eyes, and Sylvia laughed.
After she pulled away from me, Sylvia grabbed a tissue from the box on their counter and noisily blew her nose.
"You have to ask her to the wedding, Levi."
"I know," I said wearily. "But that feels like a cop-out for a first date option."
She nodded in agreement. "Then start small. Do sweet things for her that you know she'll like. Tell her when you think she looks beautiful. If she's feeling these date feelings for this PT guy, as you say, then you can make her feel date feelings for you. Mark my words." Her eyes swept me from head to toe. "She already likes your personality, and you're not horrible to look at."
"Gee, thanks," I said dryly.
Connor choked on a laugh.
"I'm telling you," Sylvia added. "This will be easier than you think."
"Making my best friend for the past five years fall in love with me?" I raised my eyebrows. "Yeah, I'm sure it'll be a piece of cake."
Chapter 8
Jocelyn
"I think we need to tell Jennifer," Joy said, wringing her hands together, face pinched with uncharacteristic worry.
"I promise, he's fine. He won't bother anyone." I pinched the fondant together at the end, then placed the rolled end into the buttercream, one perfect little green leaf sticking out from underneath the blossom I'd made for the top of the cupcake.
"But we've had complaints," Joy whispered.
I lifted my eyes to her. "You mean the one woman who asked why there was a dog outside?"
She nodded vigorously.
"Is that a complaint or a comment?"
Joy froze, eyes darting toward the entrance. Just to the right of the door, Nero had chosen his spot, and he was currently fast asleep underneath one of the wrought iron tables. "I suppose it's a comment."
I set another finished cupcake on the tray and looked up at her. "I promise, if one single customer comes in and says he shouldn't be there, I'll have Levi come pick him up and take him home."
Her eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Yeah," I answered.
"And he'd just do that for you?"
"Levi?"
She nodded vigorously.
"You know him? I mean, beyond seeing him pick me up the other day."
Joy gave me a look like I was crazy. "I was a freshman when he was a senior. He's … we all know the Buchanans. Of course, I know him."
"Ahh." Right. One of those moments when my 'sore thumb' status in Green Valley was ever so apparent.
"He's so handsome," she told me as if I didn't look at that face every single damn day.
I shrugged.