Stars Over Alaska (Wild River #4) - Jennifer Snow Page 0,27
about. She leaned closer and caught herself as she slid off the bar stool.
Levi glanced her way and she quickly retrieved her new cell phone and busied herself with it.
“Yeah, just send over the documents and I’ll sign them and scan them back to you in the morning,” he was saying.
Documents? What was going on? She hadn’t spoken to Dawson’s mother since the funeral. She’d left town shortly after and there was never a good time to reach out from LA. She’d had so much to deal with, so many life transitions that she’d easily found an excuse not to. They’d never gotten along anyway and now that they weren’t going to be forced family anymore, staying in contact had seemed pointless and unnecessary.
Mrs. Powell had obviously felt the same.
Leslie hadn’t been bothered by the shutting out until now. She couldn’t help but feel jealous of the relationship that Levi had with the people who were supposed to have become Leslie’s family. The Powells had always loved and accepted Levi, treating him like a second son and he’d always tried his best to connect them all, to no avail.
“Great. Thank you... Take care,” Levi said, disconnecting the call. He tucked the phone into his pocket and picked up his beer glass. Empty beer glass. He brought it to his lips anyway and drained the remaining drops. Then he scanned the bar. Looking everywhere but at her.
“Are you really going to make me ask what that was about?”
He shrugged. “You don’t have to.”
Was he serious? “Levi...”
He sighed, leaning forward on the bar. His forearm muscles flexed and momentarily caught her attention, until he spoke... “She’s setting up a charity in Dawson’s name, that’s all.”
“What kind of charity?” Sure, she was no longer going to be Mrs. Dawson Powell, but it hurt that Levi knew about the family’s plans and she didn’t. No one had reached out to her about it. What would she have done if they had? Would she have wanted to be involved? Would she have answered a call if she’d seen Mrs. Powell’s number lighting up her cell? And what would her involvement have required? For her to stay locked in the past, reliving the hurt, constantly remembering a better time in her life and having to recount the tragedy over and over to strangers... Probably for the best that she hadn’t been contacted.
“She wants to start a foundation in support of mental health. I guess it’s their way of showing forgiveness and honoring Dawson’s memory at the same time,” he said.
The edge in his voice rang loud and clear. They all thought she wasn’t honoring him. Leaving town right after the funeral, never returning to Wild River unless absolutely necessary and leaving them all behind. Just running from the memories. Well, they were damn right about that. Who wanted to remember when remembering made it difficult to breathe?
“That’s nice of them,” she said tightly. She hesitated. It was none of her business. But she was curious against her better judgment. “And you’re involved?”
He nodded, not looking overly pleased about it. Or maybe he just didn’t want to discuss it with her. “She wants me to help with the fundraising events...be sort of the spokesperson, the face of the foundation, I guess.”
Her eyes widened. Levi? A spokesperson? “You hate public speaking.”
“That’s correct.”
“And you get awkward in big crowds and formal events.”
“Yep.”
“And yet you agreed to do it?”
He turned on the bar stool and stared straight into her eyes. “What choice do I have, Les?”
The sound of her nickname made her heart race. He was the only person who called her that. She’d beat the crap out of anyone else who tried. But she’d always let him get away with it.
And now, the sound of it had her heart racing in an unfamiliar way. Or maybe it was the way he said it—the tone in his voice that held traces of longing and regret.
She simply stared back, not sure how to answer. He was right. He really couldn’t refuse to help after everything the Powells had done for him over the years and how close he and Dawson had been. The fact that he was stepping out of his comfort zone for the family said a lot about his character. Same old Levi.
Selena rejoined them. “The restroom was surprisingly clean,” she said.
Neither Leslie nor Levi answered her.
“What are we talking about?” She looked back and forth between them. “Did I hear you say something about fundraising?” she asked Levi.