Walking side by side with Levi through the park is refreshing. It’s a change of pace from my normal everyday routine. With Van, everything was about making sure we were getting the attention we deserved. I think some of that stemmed from Laura and her desire to have her clients the center of attention. That works for Van, but not me. I’ve always been the reserved one, the one to hide in the shadows or wear a disguise, which makes being out here with Levi so different. I knew the second that he pulled his hat down that he likes it this way too. That he, like me, prefers anonymity while trying to be normal.

Reporters have often commented on me being an introvert, asking why I shy away from the spotlight. I’ve never considered myself to be anything other than outgoing. Just because I want some normalcy in my life outside of my job doesn’t mean I suffer from any form of social anxiety. There are days when I like to shut everything down and be “off.” To not have to worry if my make-up is perfect or if my hair is out of place.

Levi stops and tilts his head back, letting the sun beat down on his face. There was a time when I used to lay out in my backyard and tan, but those days are long gone. It’s not that I’m afraid of the sun, it’s because the label wants me to keep a certain image. They like the porcelain skin look, and it’s my job to make sure I bathe in sunblock daily. Of course, I’ll reap the benefits when I’m sixty and still look like I’m twenty, but I do miss the tan lines I used to have.

Every so often Levi’s hand will brush against my arm, or I’ll find a reason to place my hand on his forearm to show him something rather ridiculous along the trail. I pretend to be taken by a bird or flower, hoping he can’t see through my bullshit because I haven’t a clue as to what I’m talking about. I’ve always lived in the city and am probably making a fool out of myself by pointing out naturist things that he likely already knows about. I can’t even explain why I’m doing this because I am nowhere near interested in anything with him other than friendship, but everything with him seems natural and touching him seems like the right thing to do.

The fact that he’s offered to take me to Nashville is monumental not only because he’s helping me out, but also because he’s taking time away from his children. When he told me that he made a promise to his girls, my heart swelled. My dad used to do that; he’d make promises and follow through with them until one day he decided I was no longer worth his words.

When I was little, I thought I had the best dad in the world. One of my favorite things was to build the most elaborate sand castle we could think of, or he’d have me ride on his shoulders when we went to the county fair. There was a certain joy in being taller than everyone else; being able to see what was ahead without having to look through the gaps between bodies. Or knowing that because my dad was an architect, I would always have the most outlandish castle on the beach.

I don’t remember exactly when everything changed and he went from being the best to just being someone that came home late every night or sometimes not at all. I do remember the nights that my mom would pace in front of the window, waiting for the headlights from his car to shine through. She would weep silently but mask her emotions the second he walked in the door. My parents would never fight in front of Darian and me; they’d never raise their voices either. I think now that I look back on it and try to compare what my father did to what Van did, there were signs that I should’ve known something had changed with my dad, but I was too young to understand what they meant. Sometimes he tried too hard, forcing Darian and me to hang out with him. With Van, there was nothing.

Levi is putting his daughters before everything else, and that is what stands out to me the most. My father didn’t. He chose his mistress over his own family. He walked out and never turned around to say goodbye even with Darian and I crying at the window. If it weren’t for our mother, I don’t think we’d be where we are today. She guided us, believed in us. She’s our number one fan.

There aren’t too many parents in the industry that put their children first. They depend on nannies to take care of their children. It’s refreshing to see that Levi does, which makes me what to tell him that he should stay with his girls and I’ll be fine, but there’s a part of me that wants him to show me around Nashville, and that part makes me seem selfish.

When Levi stops to take a picture of a shrub that is in full bloom with various flowers I can’t help but giggle.

“What’s so funny?” he asks as he pockets his phone.

“That’s like the tenth photo you’ve taken since we started walking. Why do you keep taking so many?”

He shrugs and looks away. I immediately feel like crap for embarrassing him. “I’m sorry,” I say to him. “I was only curious.”

“It’s probably stupid, but I thought if I could plant some of these around my house, the girls will feel more at home and not pressure me to move to Los Angeles.”

I think I am officially feeling emotions that I shouldn’t right now. Not only am I mesmerized by his accent, but the fact that he’s willing to try to make his home more like this park, for his girls, really has my heart racing a bit faster than it should be.

“That’s probably the nicest thing I have ever heard someone say.”

Levi smiles. It’s not one of those ear-to-ear ones, but the cock-eyed grin that is meant to knock a woman’s socks off. I quickly look down at my red painted toes and laugh. It’s probably a good thing I’m wearing flip-flops because my normal combat boot attire probably wouldn’t feel very good on my bare feet.

“You’re a good man, Levi Austin,” I add to curb the pregnant pause that is happening between us.

“You don’t know me that well. You may change your mind after we get to Nashville,” he says as he steps closer. If I were the right frame of mind I would move toward him and maybe reach up and kiss him, but that isn’t me nor do I see myself doing that anytime soon. What Van has done… it’s going to live with me a long time. Having someone break your trust like that isn’t going to be easy to overcome.

To anyone walking by we probably look like a couple about to fall in love. To me, I see two people who met by chance with one of us trying to pick up the shattered pieces of his children’s hearts and the other completely broken. I guess that is the beauty of perception.

“I should go,” he says, breaking the warming tension between us. I automatically step back even though I hadn’t moved an inch. “I want to talk to my ma about the girls.”

“If it’s too much trouble, Cabo will accept me,” I tell him, wanting him to know that I have other alternatives, which honestly is what I should do. I shouldn’t be asking a man I just met to whisk me away from his family in their time of need when I’m perfectly capable of hiding out on my own.

“If I didn’t want to take you to my ranch, I would’ve told you no,” he says, closing the gap between us. My reflexes take over, and I launch myself into his arms. It takes him a moment before he’s cocooned me to his chest. It feels nice, but a bit overwhelming, to be hugging a man other than Darian or Van. But the difference is good. It’s welcoming.

“Thank you, Levi.”

“You’re welcome, Zara.”

We both pull away and shyly straighten our clothes. Not that they’re rumpled, but more out of awkwardness.

“I’ll call you in a bit,” he tells me. “I’ll have my publicist charter a flight, so no one knows you’re leaving.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I do,” he says with a grin. “Wait for my call.” He turns, leaving me standing on the edge of the pathway as I watch him walk away. Not once or twice, but three times I catch him looking over his shoulder at me until he disappears out of sight.

I find the nearest bench and sit, pulling my knees up to my chest and wrapping my arms around my legs. Joggers run by. Mom groups with strollers power walk by, chatting animatedly among themselves, unaware and not caring, that I’m sitting on the bench here. That is why I like this park. No one cares who you are. To them you’re just another person, enjoying the beauty of nature.

My eyes focus on the ground, as I get lost in my thoughts. My mind drifts to the day that I caught Van and the assistant going at it. The scene plays out like a techni-color dream, followed by him and Laura, even though those are completely made-up. I can’t help but picture him with every female I know after that. My stomach lurches and tears fall down my cheeks, but my heart doesn’t ache. The burn I had before is gone. I am angry though. I’m so pissed at Laura and her assistant for putting me through this. It’s not like they didn’t know he was married. Even if he came onto them, they should’ve said no.

But they wouldn’t. That doesn’t happen here. Everyone is out for themselves. Anything they can do to advance their career or social status. They don’t care who gets hurt in the process. I bury my head in the gap between my legs and chest and let the tears flow. Crying is supposed to be therapeutic, and maybe it is. This could be my way of purging Van from my system so I can move on.

I hadn’t thought about moving on until now. There are things I want out my life and children is one of them. I’ve always seen myself as a mother, and if it’s not going to be Van creating a family with me, there will be a man out there worthy enough of my love.

Is there a predetermined grace period that I have to wait before seeking out love? It’s not like I’m going to sign up for a dating app or start posting on social media that I’m an eager beaver looking for love. But I’m not going to hide either. If someone wants to take me on a date, I’m going to do it. And if I find someone I like, I’m going to ask him out. Van is doing it, so why can’t I?

Pulling my phone out, I take a picture of the scene across the pathway from me. The way the sun is beaming through the trees and hitting the flowery shrub that caught Levi’s attention earlier shows how beautiful life can be. With the image uploaded to my social media accounts with the caption of “Life is good,” I sit there and watch the comments roll in. Most of from fans telling me that they love me. Some call Van a jerk, which makes me laugh. They truly have no idea, but will soon. Others are negative, telling me that Van is the best man out there.

My reading is interrupted by a phone call. Levi’s name is in black and white, and lacking a picture, which I must remedy as soon as possible.

“Hello?”

“Hey Zara,” he says.

“Hi.” I interrupt him before he can say anything else. I’m smiling, and I don’t know why. Levi and I are complete opposites and would never work outside of a friendship, yet I’m excited that he’s called me even though I knew that he would.