12. Levi
Levi closed his eyes, enjoying the filtered sunlight on his face. He was wearing SPF50+, but it was still pleasant having the sun on his face. The vitamin D was good for him.
‘How long are you staying this time?’ Chloe asked.
‘I haven’t decided,’ Theo replied.
They were spread out on a picnic rug at a park on the river. It was a refurbished precinct that used to be a busy wharf back in the day. Now it was a vibrant multipurpose space with restaurants, bars, and green space.
Levi opened one eye and looked at his friend. There was something in his voice Levi had never heard before.
‘You don’t have another job lined up?’ Levi asked, raising himself onto his elbows.
‘I’ve always got offers,’ Theo said with a smirk that didn’t reach his eyes. ‘I just haven’t decided what I want to do next. I was thinking about pivoting.’
‘Into acting?’ Chloe asked, grasping her hands together and gazing at him. ‘You would be an amazing actor.’
‘You think he’d be amazing at anything he did,’ Levi snorted.
‘Well, he would be.’
Theo smiled affectionately at Chloe and reached out to ruffle her hair.
She squealed and pulled away, her hands going to her hair to fix the mess Theo had made of it.
‘You seriously don’t know what you want to do next?’ Levi asked, sitting up and looking his friend in the eye. ‘That’s not like you. Did something happen?’
Theo leaned back on his hands and let his face relax into nonchalant expression. ‘Of course not. I’m just tired. I need a break.’
Levi frowned.
‘Don’t frown at me like that,’ Theo said. ‘You’ll need some of your own treatments if you’re not careful.’
‘Theo—’
‘What is that?’ Chloe asked, pointing.
Levi and Theo both looked in the direction she indicated. A person dressed in an over-sized chicken outfit was doing the chicken dance while someone else handed out flyers. Chloe laughed.
‘OMG. How embarrassing.’
Levi shook his head, and Theo snorted before sucking in a breath. ‘Wait. Is that…?’
Levi squinted at the chicken. The person’s face was visible under the beak. That wasn’t…
Seriously?
‘It’s Alexis,’ Theo said, getting to his feet.
‘No,’ Levi said, standing beside him. ‘It can’t be.’
‘She said she had to work,’ Theo replied and then looked at Levi. ‘Is this the work she was talking about?’
They both turned back to the chicken, who had finished the dance and was currently being harassed by a gaggle of children.
‘Who’s Alexis?’
Levi turned to Chloe. ‘My… ah… neighbour,’ he finished. He couldn’t exactly call her a friend, and they were barely acquaintances.
‘Let’s go say hi,’ Theo said.
‘No,’ Levi replied, shaking his head.
‘Come on,’ Theo said, striding toward the chicken.
Chloe crossed her arms and pouted. ‘Why is Uncle Theo so interested in her?’
‘I don’t know,’ Levi replied.
‘Is he dating her?’
‘No,’ Levi blurted out too loud and too fast.
Chloe eyed him. ‘Are you dating her?’
Levi choked. ‘Of course not.’
‘I want to meet her,’ Chloe said, skipping off after Theo.
Levi groaned inwardly before following his niece. The least he could do was some damage control. There was no way Alexis would want to see them, not dressed like that. Theo wouldn’t care how she felt, and Chloe was in jealous fan mode. He would be the peacemaker. He was always the peacemaker.
‘Come on, Lexi,’ Theo wheedled. ‘Take a photo with me. I’ll make you famous.’
Alexis made a rude gesture with her hand, or it would have been a rude gesture if the costume had fingers instead of feathers. Theo grinned.
‘You cannot have your photo taken with that,’ Chloe said, crossing her arms and looking at Chloe with disdain. ‘Your image would be ruined.’
Theo beamed at Chloe. ‘There is no way a photo of me would ruin my image.’
‘This was the work you were talking about?’ Levi asked.
‘I’m doing a favour for a friend,’ Alexis replied.
Her face was flushed and sweaty, and strands of hair clung to her cheeks. Levi started to reach out to brush them away but stopped just in time and instead smoothed his own hair.
‘They must be a good friend,’ Levi said.
‘It’s a new business,’ Alexis said. ‘I’m just trying to get some customers for them.’
‘Which is why you need a photo with me,’ Theo said, pulling his phone out. ‘Do you have any idea how many Instagram followers I have? One photo with me, and that place will go viral.’
Levi picked up a flyer that had fallen to the ground. ‘Fried chicken?’
‘Not just fried chicken,’ Alexis said, snatching the flyer out of his hand. ‘The best fried chicken in the city.’
‘Say chicken,’ Theo said, snuggling his head beside hers and holding up his thumb and forefinger in a finger heart.
Chloe snapped the photo before Alexis had time to react, and Levi was sure she did it on purpose. There was a definite possibility that the photo would not show Alexis in a very flattering light.
‘Let’s do a group shot,’ Theo insisted.
Alexis sighed but didn’t protest. Chloe nestled in beside Theo, and Levi reluctantly took his place on the other side of Alexis. The woman who’d been handing out the flyers took the photo. Levi didn’t smile.
‘You’ve had your fun,’ Alexis said, shooing them away. ‘Now let me get back to work.’
She turned to walk away but tripped over the enormous chicken feet. Arms pinwheeling, she fell backward, and Levi reached out to catch her just before she hit the ground. Her face was inches from his, and they looked at one another for a long moment, time stretching like taffy. His gaze dropped to her mouth.
Theo slapped him on the back, splintering the moment. Levi cleared his throat and helped Alexis to her feet.
‘Uh, thanks,’ she said, her face flaming.
‘Yeah. No… ah… no problem.’
Levi stuffed his hands in his pockets and started to walk away. He looked back over his shoulder. ‘You should probably be more careful,’ he said before striding away.