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Levi says nothing for a long time. I wish the floor would swallow me whole.
“You’re not dating,” he says firmly. “That’s not happening.”
The possessiveness in his voice should probably warm me. Instead, he looks away and adds, “You’ve got a divorce going on. You should be careful. Take your time.”
Something inside me shrivels.
Take your time.
I force a small smile, even as my chest aches. “Right.”
His gaze snaps back to me. “Carmen—”
“No, you’re right.” I keep the smile firmly in place, refusing to let him see how much it hurts. “It’s probably a good idea.”
His eyes narrow, like he can hear the lie in my voice, but he doesn’t call me on it.
“I might have an early night,” I say, already pulling away.
Levi catches my waist before I can move far. “Don’t do that.”
“Do what?”
“Act fine when you’re not.”
“I am fine.”
He gives me a flat look.
Wonderful. The man is emotionally unavailable but inconveniently observant.
“It’s just…” I gesture vaguely at myself, already regretting every choice that led me to this conversation. “My period started. So I need to…rest.”
Levi goes completely still. His eyes widen slightly, like I’ve announced internal bleeding. I don’t know why I said that. I don’t have my period, I just want him to go and not ask questions.
“Oh,” he says. “Right.”
“It’s not fatal.”
“I know that.”
“You look like you don’t.”
“I know what a period is.”
Despite everything, a laugh almost slips out of me. It catches somewhere too close to a sob instead, so I look away quickly.
“You got everything you need?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Painkillers?”
“Yes.”
“Those…things?”
I stare at him.
