Page 164 of Broken Vows

I know what he is. I know what he did. I know loving him will never be simple. But I can’t help it.

“You should come and see Fifi,” I say. “She misses you.”

His throat works. For a second, I think he might say something painfully Levi. Instead, he just nods.

We walk back to the room together.

“What’s going to happen to Theo if you’re arrested for what you did to Maverick? Did you even think about that?”

Levi shrugs, completely unbothered. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. I was at the snooker club with Drew and the guys. Plenty of witnesses.”

I shake my head, but it does make me feel a bit better.

We step back inside the motel room. Theo eyes us both with open suspicion, like he’s trying to figure out whether we’ve fixed everything or made it worse.

Fifi trots straight over to Levi. He crouches and picks her up without hesitation. She settles against his chest, tail giving one slow wag, tongue lolling out the side of her mouth.

Levi looks down at her. “Still alive out of pure spite, huh?”

Her cloudy eyes blink up at him. His mouth softens.

Then a warm wet patch slowly spreads across the front of his shirt.

For a second, nobody moves.

Theo’s eyes go wide. I press my lips together.

Levi looks down at his shirt, then at Fifi. “Right.”

Fifi wags her tail once.

“Missed you too,” he mutters.

Something in my chest gives.

He doesn’t put her down or swear. He doesn’t even look particularly surprised. He just shifts her higher against him.

Theo starts laughing first. Then I do. Levi looks between us, deeply unimpressed, with urine soaking into his shirt and Fifi tucked carefully against his side.

“Glad everyone’s enjoying themselves,” he says.

“Can I keep coming over?” Theo asks.

The laughter fades out of me. There’s a pleading look on his face he is trying very hard to hide. Like he has already prepared himself for the answer to be no.

I look at him. Then at Levi. Then down at Fifi, tucked contentedly against his chest.

Fifi licks his chin. His eyes close for half a second.

This isn’t simple. It probably never will be.

“I think I’m ready to come home.”

45

CARMEN

It’s almost nine when a knock sounds at my door.