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"This is a big house for one person," Levi agrees

"It’s an investment And I love the view from the west side"

"Killer view," Levi says as he followsroom He’s casual today, in jeans and a T-shirt His hair is cut short, and he’s greying at the terey

"What’s your schedule over the next week?" I ask "I could use so conversation"

"I have Sunday and Monday free this week," he says, then narrows his eyes on me "You look tired"

"I’ it"

"My job’s in jeopardy," I re life So, yeah, I’ve had sohts"

He purses his lips "Nope, that’s not it"

I drop my notebook on the couch and pace to the s that look out past the city to the water then cross my arms over my chest

"It’s not supposed to be this way," I say at last "She’s been h h the death of her h in life It’s Joy for Christ’s sake"

I turn to Levi He’s sitting on the couch, one ankle crossed over the opposite leg, and he’s watchingabout Levi, he listens without judging

"Over the past few years, we only see each other when one of us needs a date for an event She’s always my plus one"

"I know"

"But the last couple of months?" I shake my head and turn back to the view "It’s different I see her more often, and we connect even deeper than we did before"

"You’ve been in love with her for years"

I whirl at his words and stare at him, dumbstruck

"You’re not stupid, Jace No other woman has stuck around because you always run them off They’re not Joy"

"Or, I just didn’t want a relationship"

"Ree "She couldn’t cook worth shit Her lasagna ful Joy puts" My words trail off when Levi giveslook "Point made"

"You’ve compared every woh huht And no woman ever compared to Joy

I think back over the past fifteen years and sigh I’ve been in love with her since the minute she sat next to htest smile I’d ever seen Her brown hair was a mess Her skin was perfect and sh me

I was shy and dorky, and she didn’t care

"I don’t want to lose the friendship"

"Who says you have to?"

"When I fuck this up, she won’t want to be my friend anymore"

"So, don’t fuck it up," he says as if it’s the easiest thing in the world I turn to hirins "If it’s that important, you work for it You don’t fuck it up"

"I think it o, I would have told you that position belonged to surgery"

"Surgery doesn’t love you back," my brother says soberly "And it never will"

I nod, shove o for it," he continues "Joy’s awesome We all adore her There’s no one better for you than her"