“Dude, what was that?” The words tumbled out before Levi could stop them.
A muscle in Jasper’s jaw twitched. “What are you talking about?”
Levi planted his feet wide and linked his arms across his chest. “You confronted Savannah and put us both in an awkward position. Not cool, man.”
Irritation flashed in Jasper’s eyes. “Awkward, huh? Who’s fault is that?”
Levi checked to make sure Wren hadn’t popped up off the sofa to listen in on their conversation. Then he stepped closer to his twin and lowered his voice. “What is the matter with you? Why do you care if Savannah is back in town and if we’re hanging out?”
“Because I don’t want to see you get hurt,” Jasper said.
“How is she going to hurt me?”
Jasper scrubbed a hand over his face. “You and Tori didn’t break up all that long ago. And—”
“Thanks for the reminder.” Levi didn’t even try to keep the snark from his voice. “You’ve already mentioned she’s here with someone new as well. Did you give her the same speech about the perils of rebound relationships?”
“I don’t really care who Tori’s here with. I’m not even sure who invited her, but that’s not the point,” Jasper said. “You’re my brother, and it’s not like you to be so impulsive.”
“So you’re willing to admit that impulsive choices aren’t a good idea?”
Jasper’s gaze narrowed. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
Levi shook his head and tried to walk around him. “Never mind.”
Jasper stepped into his path. “No way. You don’t get to walk out after making a comment like that. What are you not saying?”
Levi hesitated. “Your proposal to Miranda was kind of sudden. Some might even call it impulsive.”
“Is it, now? Or maybe you’re jealous because things didn’t work out for you and Tori.”
Anger flared in his chest, molten hot and looking for an outlet. This was the second time Jasper had accused him of wanting others to share in his misery. Frankly, he was getting a little sick of it.
Thankfully, the back door opened again, and Savannah tried to come in, but the door bumped against Jasper’s heel.
“Sorry,” she mouthed through the window at Levi.
“Let her in, Jasper,” Levi said quietly.
Jasper reluctantly moved out of the way.
Levi motioned for her to enter.
“I’m sorry to interrupt.” Her gaze skittered between the two.
“Not a problem. I’m here to grab a sweatshirt for Miranda.” Jasper shot Levi another long look before brushing past him and moving toward the stairs.
“I was just on my way back out to get some food and find you,” Levi said. “Is everything okay?”
She hesitated. “I’m going to catch a ride home with my sister Juliet. Is Wren all right?”
“Wren’s fine.” Levi gripped the door with his hand. “But you don’t need to leave.”
“Oh, I think I do.”
He stepped closer. “If this is about what Jasper said, I—”
“It’s fine, Levi. Everything’s fine. This isn’t really my scene.” She tried for a smile, but he spotted the hurt swimming in her eyes. Man, he did not like that his family had made her feel unwelcome.
“I’ll catch up with you tomorrow.”
“Yeah, let’s talk soon,” he said, but she’d already turned and walked away. He stood in the doorway, watching as she joined her sister, then disappeared around the corner of the house. He sensed the weight of someone watching and surveyed the people standing close by. His gaze collided with Tori’s. The edge of her mouth tipped up in a hesitant smile. Levi didn’t smile back. Instead, he stepped into the yard and quickly filled a plate of food for himself and Wren to share. He didn’t want to give Jasper the satisfaction of being right, but he couldn’t quite snuff out his twin’s words.
It’s not like you to be so impulsive.
Yeah, well, Jasper might call Levi and Savannah spending time together impulsive. Levi would rather label it as kindness. Savannah hadn’t given him any reason to be suspicious. To be honest, he was glad to have her help and her companionship. Especially with Tori still hanging around town. He’d show Jasper and all of Opportunity that Savannah had only the best of intentions.
The next day, Savannah sat at a table beside the window in Riverside Café. What a gorgeous view, she mused. Sure, Colorado had rivers and trees and plenty of mountains, but nothing quite like this. People stood on the banks of the King River, the lush green poplar trees forming a canopy over them. In the distance, a swirl of white clouds blanketed the top of Denali like a generous dollop of whipped cream on an ice-cream sundae.
Savannah tapped the end of her colored pencil against her blank sketch pad. Her fingers itched to capture the beauty of her surroundings on the page. Except she needed to focus on her assignment—drawing out her plan for the Carters’ parade float. Too bad her thoughts kept wandering to the party last night, her hasty exit with her sister and the tenderness that had lingered in Levi’s gaze. He’d been so concerned that he’d even followed up with a late-night text to make sure she was all right. The truth was, Jasper had gotten to her.
Maybe she should just confess to Levi. Tell him why she’d lost her job in Colorado and come home to Opportunity. But that tragic event didn’t have anything to do with their current arrangement. Besides, she’d never let anything happen to Wren. And no charges had ever been brought against her, though she’d been tried and shamed in the court of public opinion.
She shook off the negative thoughts before she spiraled into despair and started drawing a pirate ship, complete with an ominous plank that had to be walked. Ever since she’d taken Wren to the park and they’d climbed on the play structure shaped like a boat, she’d toyed with the idea of building a similar float. The café’s front door opened, but she refused to look up. Instead, she selected a brown pencil from the array of options in her box and shaded in the stern of the ship. Wow, it felt good to be drawing again, to see what flowed from her fingertips.
“Mind if I join you?”
Levi’s familiar voice surprised her. The tip of her pencil broke, and she glanced up at him.
