Levi went to protest, but Leslie still wanted an answer to her question, though she did reword it to sound less offensive. “So, are you heading back to the station tonight?”
Selena’s side-eye was murderous. Obviously still not subtle enough. Leslie knew how it sounded, like she wanted Levi out of town ASAP, and she did. Being in Wild River was tough enough without spending time with him. Something Selena wouldn’t understand and something Leslie wasn’t planning to explain.
But if Levi caught her vibe, he was choosing to fight against it. “I took a few days off, decided to stay in town...since you were here. Thought we could catch up.”
Catching up was the last thing she wanted.
“So, you two went to school together?” Selena said, positioning herself to block Leslie’s view of Levi, obviously annoyed that the man’s attention had been solely focused on Leslie so far.
Levi cleared his throat. “Yeah...we’ve been friends for years.”
Best friends. The three amigos. Leslie was closer to Levi than almost anyone else and she knew what he was doing right now. The same thing he always did. Pushing his way in. Refusing to acknowledge her pushing him away. As kids, whenever she was upset and didn’t want to talk, to open up, he’d always barreled his way into being there for her and eventually she’d give in and tell him what was wrong and he’d be the shoulder to cry on. That was his role in their little group. He was the rock for her and Dawson. The sounding board. The fixer. The advice giver.
Damn, she could use some of him right now...
But no. They weren’t kids anymore and this was a problem she needed to find a way out of herself.
And not let nostalgia and “catching up” get in the way.
Luckily, Selena launched into a recap of Levi’s heroics that day and the two quickly seemed to forget that Leslie existed. Which was fine. She’d sit there in peace and enjoy her flat, watered-down diet soda. She wasn’t interested in hearing all the details of how the smoke jumpers executed the rescue. She wouldn’t intercept with her own questions, even if Levi’s job was super exciting and intriguing...
Selena laughed at something he said and her hand landed on Levi’s arm causing Leslie’s stomach to twist.
This was fine. Someone else to entertain Selena for a while was good. She could use a break and at least when the star had a captive audience, the whining and complaining was reduced to a minimum.
Levi’s cell rang on the bar in front of him and he glanced at the caller ID. “Sorry, I have to take this,” he told Selena.
“No problem,” Selena said. “I have to check my phone too...oh wait, I’m not allowed to have one.” Her pointed glare was directed at Leslie.
Leslie ignored it. Being without a cell phone wouldn’t kill her. Actually, a social media hiatus would be good for Selena. Social media for validation wasn’t great for one’s mental health.
She glanced at the caller ID, vaguely recognizing the phone number, then listened as Levi answered the call. “Hi, Mrs. Powell... Yeah, that’s no problem. Never too busy for you. What’s up?”
Mrs. Powell? Dawson’s mother was calling Levi? Why? The two of them were still close obviously...but calling him at nine at night on a weekday seemed slightly unusual. Leslie studied him but he avoided her questioning gaze as he listened.
Leslie could hear the woman’s voice on the other end of the line and strained to hear what she was saying.
“He’s so nice,” Selena said, checking her reflection in the mirror across the bar.
“Yep.”
“And really good-looking.”
“Sure.” Leslie could hear Mrs. Powell laugh and Levi was nodding. What were they talking about? Seemed important based on Levi’s expression as he listened intently. He was doing the one-eye-closed thing he always did when he was trying to commit details to memory. She’d always teased him about the habit but secretly thought it was cute. Seeing it now was completely messing with her ability to remain distant and neutral.
Selena was looking around the bar. “Hey, you want to play darts?”
“No.”
“Pool?”
Oh, so now the star appreciated the bar. “No. Shhh...” she muttered. Levi was talking now. Something about an event?
“Can I go to the washroom at least?” Selena asked.
“Yes. Go,” Leslie said through gritted teeth.
Selena left the bar and headed toward the restrooms and Leslie pretended to be keeping an eye on her and not listening to Levi’s call. But she was desperate to know what they were talking