Love Him Free (On the Market #1) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,84

said, voice muffled by the soft dough. “Is this beer?”

“Blue Moon,” Simon answered softly. “Rose was stocking some of the OU cert cases for me.”

Levi looked Simon directly in the face as he chewed, then shoved the rest at Fitz who took it with a fumbling hand. “Eat the rest of this.” At Levi’s command, Simon’s heart sank. “It’s too fucking good and I’m so full, I’m going to die.”

Simon’s entire body shuddered with a wave of relief. “It’s not awful?”

“No, and if I didn’t love you, I’d beat the shit out of you for holding out on me like this. You can bake,” Levi accused with a slightly powdered finger leveled at him.

Simon turned his gaze away. “I didn’t learn nothing from Bubbe. It’s just…I didn’t love it the way she did. Or you.”

Levi softened and he reached past Simon for a napkin. “I’m glad you did this.”

Simon shrugged. “I’m glad you pushed me.”

Fitz smiled because he had to know the comment was directed partially at him. “Can we add some of these to our bagel order?”

“Yes,” Simon told him, then he felt a small pang of grief because he’d have to break the news to him eventually—no matter how much people loved this, it was coming to an end. “Just remind me on Sunday.”

Fitz nodded and gave him a quick salute before he turned away, leaving Simon and his brother alone. The tension was thick between them, but Levi didn’t look angry. “People are going to miss the shop when it’s gone.”

Simon bowed his head. “I know. But a weekly bagel order—even adding doughnuts to it—it’s not going to make a difference.”

Levi let out a bone-deep sigh. “Yeah. I went over all the books while I was there on Sunday and…and I get it. And I’m still not happy you kept it to yourself, and I don’t love that you took out a fucking personal loan for my truck…”

“I’m not going to apologize for that,” Simon told him firmly. He held Levi’s gaze. “It’s you, Levi. It’s so…you.”

Levi curled his hands into fists, but he nodded though it looked like it cost him something to admit the truth. “It’s doing well. God, it’s…there’s so much potential, and people actually like it. I think it’s going to work.”

“That’s all I wanted,” Simon told him. “And I’m going to be fine.”

“If you’re not,” Levi warned, but Simon waved him off.

“I am. I promise.”

Levi nodded, opened his mouth like he was going to say something, then stopped. “Give me the rest of your cookies.” He dug into his pocket and slapped a wad of cash on the table. “You’re almost out anyway, and I was going to put together a couple of meals for Dr. Alling to take to some of his long-term patients.”

Simon was surprised he knew who Levi was talking about, but Parker Alling had moved to Cherry Creek a year after Simon’s family had. Simon only took notice of him back then because anyone with differences stood out in this town whether they wanted to or not, and everything about Parker had been a sore thumb. Parker was in Simon’s grade—with one arm, and had a thick Norwegian accent. His English had been a little better than Simon’s, but he was still different. Parker hadn’t taken the teasing lying down, though. Not like Simon. He won and lost a few fistfights and gained the respect of the other kids in his class long before Simon had the courage to say two words when the teacher called on him. When Simon came back from UCLA, he found out Parker had gone off to medical school. He returned a few years after Simon with MD attached to his name, married to Ronan, and he started his own life in Cherry Creek.

“You two are friends?” Simon asked as he scooped what was left of the cookies into a paper bag.

Levi shrugged. “We ran into each other a few months ago and he told me that he does meals for some of his long-term patients. Over Purim I threw together some stuff for his charity thing, and he liked it so…I guess we have sort of a contract now? He’s…Parker.”

Simon raised his brows as he threw the cash from Levi into the cash box. “Which means…”

“Nothing, really,” Levi said, scooping the bag into his arms. “He’s married to Ronan, and he’s inappropriate in public. He offered me the use of his arm for a day if I did a strip tease for