The Burns We Carry by Marae Good

Author:Marae Good [Good, Marae]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-07-10T23:00:00+00:00

“Everything go okay?” Levi asked when I climbed into his Jeep, tossing his sketch pad into the back seat.

“Yeah.” I wiped at my cheeks, my eyes exhausted and sore. I needed a nap. “Everything looks really great. All ten fingers and toes.”

“So . . .” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel, his brow raised. “Did you find out?”

“Kind of,” I said with a light laugh. I pulled out an envelope, my fingers shaking with the urge to tear it open. “I asked her to write it down instead.”

“Oh no,” Levi groaned, dipping his head. “You’re gonna make us wait, aren’t you? Are you wanting one of those gender reveal parties?”

“No way.” I scrunched my nose. “I mean, I’m sure they could be fun for someone else.” Even if I had a family or a partner, I wouldn’t want one. That sort of attention had me squirming beneath my skin. “I just decided to wait, save it for when I’m alone.”

“Can I steal a peek? I promise I won’t tell you.”

“No.” I laughed and tucked the envelope away, not wanting to risk losing my nerve for what I’d decided during the appointment. “Did you get everything done that you needed to? I’m okay if we stay longer.”

“Nope. I’m all done.” He pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road, starting the hour-and-a-half drive home from Hillshire. “Besides—” He paused as his phone rang, the music pausing and the speakers playing: “Brooks calling.” “Again?” Levi muttered before he pressed a button, turning on the hands-free option. “Hello?”

There was static and rustling before Brooks asked, “Where are you at?”

Levi rolled his eyes. “We’re barely leaving.”

“That took a while . . .” I stared out the window, hoping the lapse in conversation meant the call had failed. “Everything okay?”

Levi shot me an apologetic glance, probably wishing Brooks had called me—not that he had my number. And even if he did, he wouldn’t have called. Brooks and I might be cordial, but we didn’t speak. “Yup.” Levi grinned, his wavy hair sharp at his chin. “Everything’s great with me, thanks for asking. How are you, Brooks?”

“That’s not what—” I smirked at Brooks’s deep breath through the line. “Whatever. Come straight to the diner after you drop Shay off at home, okay? Anika’s going to meet us there.”

I stared out the window and avoided Levi’s gaze, not wanting to see the pity there. It wasn’t the first, and likely not the last, time the three of them had gone out with Anika. I didn’t know if she and Brooks were dating—I’d only seen her at the house and then the shop that one time—but I wasn’t about to ask. None of my business.

“You alright?” Levi asked once they’d hung up. “Want me to grab you something from the diner? Maybe you can come with us—”

“I’m okay, thanks.” I cut him off, not because I didn’t wish I had been invited along—of course I wanted to be included. But I had more pressing issues to deal with when I got home.

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