Stars Over Alaska (Wild River #4) - Jennifer Snow Page 0,72

were divided but he knew whom he’d choose given the choice. Unfortunately, that didn’t make him feel any better.

“Last night looked interesting,” the guy said as they climbed out, grabbed their supplies and headed down the trail toward the debris.

Levi looked at him. “Which part?”

Chad laughed. “Don’t worry, man. I wasn’t snooping. I just meant the picnic setup you had going. Not exactly your thing.”

“It was Selena’s idea and I thought taking Leslie’s mind off things would be a nice thing to do,” he said, taking big strides through the deep snow.

“Well, did you?”

Levi glared at him. “Did I what?”

“Take her mind off things,” Chad said with a grin.

“Look, it was just two friends reconnecting after far too long, that’s all.” He walked faster, putting distance between the two of them, and Chad took the hint that he wasn’t into discussing it.

Not that he wasn’t replaying every detail in his own mind as he trudged through the snow. Leslie’s kiss, her touch, her desire for him had him feeling ways he never had before. He was happy with his life and he’d mastered the art of being alone. As a child, he’d never had any real, lasting connections with people except his two best friends and so not having them now seemed par for the course. He’d learned to be okay on his own, depending on himself, offering support to others, but never really needing it. He didn’t need to be with someone out of fear of being alone or just wanting a warm body next to him at night. He wasn’t interested in settling and until someone else came along who made him feel the way Leslie did, who commanded his heart the way she always had, he wasn’t interested in getting involved. And now that he knew how amazing being with her was, even in this partial way, he was doomed.

As they reached the site, he put on his work gloves and immediately got to work picking up the larger pieces of charred logs.

Chad joined him a few minutes later and scanned the area. “Really nothing left, huh?”

“Nope.”

“Sorry, man. This can’t be easy on you either,” Chad said, his rare display of concern throwing Levi slightly off guard.

“It’s harder on Leslie.” Even if she was putting on a brave face.

“So, you two were best friends and she was Dawson’s girl?” Chad had far too many questions that morning. When had the guy gotten so chatty?

“Yeah...she was engaged to Dawson before he died.” He couldn’t get into the details. It would be that much harder.

“And then she left Wild River?”

“Yes.” Two weeks after the funeral.

“And she’s leaving again once all this blows over?”

“Yes.” Levi huffed. “What are you getting at?”

Chad stacked more logs onto one arm. “Just making sure I have all the facts straight, that’s all.”

More like making sure Levi had all the facts straight. Chad was looking out for him and he appreciated it, but it was no use to warn Levi not to get too invested in Leslie—that warning was far too late. “Well, less talk, more work,” he said grumpily.

“Yes boss,” Chad said, carrying the logs back out the trail.

Unfortunately, now that Chad had brought it up, he couldn’t quit thinking about the truth of the man’s words. Leslie was leaving again. Soon. Would she keep in touch this time or disappear from his life again? He knew how he felt, but he had no idea where Leslie’s heart was. He didn’t expect her to feel the same way about him and he meant what he’d said the night before about no expectations. He didn’t regret telling her he loved her—she deserved to know, even if now they were both at a standstill as to what to do with that knowledge.

Could they be together? For real? Would she ever consider him more than a friend that she’d had stress-induced sex with? Would she ever move back to Alaska? Would he give up everything here to move to LA for her?

So many unanswered questions and he was getting way too far ahead of himself.

Sorting through the debris of the fireplace, he noticed a broken photo frame. Bending to pick it up, he shook away the shattered glass and carefully took out the remaining piece of the picture from the charred frame. The edges were burned, but the central image was still relatively intact. He blew the soot and ash gently away from it and stared at the photo of Leslie, Katherine and Eddie that their father