Livia wished Corvin had yelled at her as she waited. It was torture imagining all the awful things he’d say to her. She was a screwup. She shouldn’t be living on her own. What if he hadn’t been around to help her? She’d be in real trouble then and maybe next time he wouldn’t come so he could teach her a lesson about being less stupid.

When Corvin pulled up to the curb all her muscles were in tight knots. Corvin was out of the car the second he parked.

“You okay?” he asked.

She nodded.

“You sure?”

She nodded again.

He stepped close and bent toward her. “You look scared,” he spoke softly. “Did something happen?”

Livia shook her head.

He met her eyes and said, sincerely. “I’m so glad you called.”

Corvin helped her put her groceries in the trunk then opened the door for her to get in the back seat. Livia slipped in. Corvin shut the door and walked around the back of the car.

Terrance was in the front seat. “Looks like a rough area around here, Liv. You have any problems?”

“No,” Livia said.

Corvin got in the car. “Let’s head home.”

Terrance made a silent gesture at him. Corvin nodded. Livia wondered about the interaction but was too concerned about getting yelled at to say anything.

Corvin broke the silence. “Liv, did you hear from Justin yet?”

“We texted.”

“What did he say?” Corvin said, casually.

“I’m supposed to call him.”

“Why haven’t you?” Corvin asked.

Livia flinched. This innocent-sounding interrogation would be the start of the verbal abuse. Livia answered as monotone as possible. “Hyrum arranged for friends to drive out one of his cars three weeks from now.”

To Livia’s confusion, Corvin’s voice didn’t sound scolding in the least. “Let Justin know that. He’s worried about you.”

“You shouldn’t have called him at midnight,” she snapped.

Livia gasped at her audacity and went rigid in her seat. This was the wrong time to bring that up. She closed her eyes and waited for him to scream at her.

“You...alright, Liv?” Corvin sounded puzzled.

She didn’t answer.

“Hey, are you in pain?” he asked. “Did someone hurt you?”

“No.”

“Did anything else happen?”

“No.”

Terrance looked back at her. “I know you’re scared, Liv,” he said, low, quiet.

Heat rushed to Livia's cheeks. That must have been what that silent conversation earlier was about.

“Talk to us, Liv,” Corvin encouraged. “Justin didn’t sound upset did he?”

“No,” she said.

“Hmm,” Corvin said. Then he went quiet. Livia didn’t say anything and he didn’t say anything until they reached her apartment.

Corvin and Terrance helped her carry her groceries inside in silence. Livia expected them to go away, but they lingered. Corvin studied her. He approached. He lifted a hand to touch her.

Livia flinched away.

Corvin looked surprised. “Is it me? Are you frightened of me?”

Livia didn’t answer. Corvin strode across the room and sat down. “I’d like to know why.”

Livia looked at Terrance who was looking confused.

Livia swallowed. “I made...a mistake…”

“And?” Corvin asked. “What usually happens when you make a mistake?”

“Depends on the person,” Livia whispered.

“Livia,” Corvin said. “I am not your mother. I am not your father. I am not Hyrum. I am Corvin. I have my hang-ups but I tend to let go of most things pretty easily.”

“Are you...mad...at me?” she asked, eyes lowered to the floor.

“No,” he shook his head. The look in his eyes was bewildered. “I was never mad at you. You did your best to be resourceful and independent. I wouldn’t call that a mistake.”

“But something might have happened,” Livia choked. “I was stupid.”

Corvin inhaled and his head tilted to the right, considering. “But you went out and got information and can make better decisions now based on that information. That’s how life works, Livia. You have to take risks or you never learn, and a life in which you never learn anything isn’t worth living.”

“So, you don’t think...I’m bad?” Livia asked.

“Bad? No. I’d rather you not take the bus out there again, but if you do, bring someone with you and do it in the morning. You’ll be fine.” His tone didn’t change but Livia trembled. She was afraid he’d rage at her the second she made the wrong move.

“Okay,” Livia whispered.

“Do you want to come grocery shopping with us next Sunday?”

Livia hesitated. “I don’t want to bother--”

“It’s not a bother,” he insisted. “Your safety matters to me, Livia. I’m more bothered that you felt unsafe for twenty minutes than I ever will be by you asking for my help.”

“Okay,” she whispered. “Thank you for picking me up Corvin.”

“Glad to be around to help, Livia,” he said. “Call us if you need anything else, alright?”

Livia blinked. He wasn’t going to yell at her. She took a deep breath and the knots in her stomach eased. She could feel her features smooth and the tension across her brow disappeared.

She nodded. “I will.”

Corvin dipped his head in response. “Good. Text me if you want to join us to get groceries next Sunday.”

“I will.”

Corvin stood up. “See you Saturday, right?”

Livia nodded again.

“Call me if you need a ride to Ratco.”

###

Livia called Justin that evening. He answered on the third ring. “Livia, I’ve been anxious to hear from you.”

“I’m sorry--”

“You must be overwhelmed,” he said. “I understand, but it is nice to finally communicate directly.

What can I do to help, Livia?”

“Hyrum arranged for one of Quin’s old cars to be sent out here--”

“Is he asking you to pay for it?” Justin asked.

“No, he’s giving it to me,” Livia said.

“That’s nice.”

“Yeah, but I don’t know what to do with my old car. It’s stuck in Corvin’s parking lot--”

“I know someone that might want it here. Will you let me get back to you on that?” Justin asked.

“Yes,” Livia said with relief. “That would help loads.”

“How is school?” Justin asked.

“It’s good.”

“Corvin reports that aside from the car breaking down you’ve been doing well.”

Livia asked, trying to ignore how much it hurt that Justin didn’t trust her. “Did you send him here to watch over me?”

“That’s only fifty percent of the reason,” Justin answered. “I did worry about you.”

“What’s the other fifty?” Livia asked, surprised by his honesty.

“I sent him there so you could watch over him.”

“What? Justin! I’m not--I can’t--” Livia exchanged verbal protest for a heavy sigh.

“You can’t what?” he asked.

“I’m not close to Corvin,” Livia answered. “I can’t watch over him for you.”

“Why not get closer to him then?”

“Justin!” Livia cried, scandalized.

He laughed. “What?”

“This is not funny,” she snapped.

“Tell me how he is, Livia,” Justin said. “Is he okay?”

“He seems fine,” Livia answered. “I only see him once a week. I don’t know.”

“Does he seem happy when you see him?” Justin asked.

Livia thought. “Not at first but he's been more relaxed recently. He said he likes it here once.”

“That’s good news. Is he dating?” Justin asked.

Livia started to feel guilty about this whole interrogation. “I don’t like this, Justin. You can’t expect me to be your little snitch. If Corvin is dating someone he can tell you himself.”

Justin laughed.

“I’m being serious. I’m not a gossip and I’m not going along with this stupid plan of yours.”

“I’m surprised but also pleased by this response,” Justin said. “I had no idea you’d react this way.”

“Well, stop being pleased because I’m a hair away from never speaking to you again.” Livia didn’t like feeling like Justin’s lab experiment.

“Alright, Livia, we won’t talk about Corvin unless you bring it up. If anything concerns you, please let me know.”

Livia groaned. “What have you been asking him about me?”

“You can ask him that,” Justin said.

“Right, 'cause it’d be too easy for you to answer the question while I have you on the phone,”

Livia said, sarcastically.

Justin laughed heartily again. “I have no pangs of conscience over obtaining information covertly,

Livia. If I did, I wouldn’t have lasted in this line of work. How’s Oliver, by the way?”

“He moved,” Livia growled. Why would Corvin tell him about that?

“Well, that doesn’t mean you can’t contact him,” Justin said.

“Why is this a big deal?” Livia demanded.

“It’s not a big deal,” Justin said. “It’s just interesting. You have people who are interested in what happens to you. Does that have to be a bad thing?”

Justin was starting to sound way too much like a parent now. Livia rolled her eyes. “I gotta go, Justin.”

“I’ll get back to you about the car by this evening,” he said.

Livia ended their conversation. She closed her eyes, exhausted. Why did everything have to get complicated? Because whether she liked it or not, she now felt obligated to keep an eye out for Corvin. She had to wonder did Justin calculate that? Did he know her psychology that well? Did he know that Livia liked Corvin? Was he matchmaking? Or was he trying to keep an eye on one of his agents? Justin said to let him know if anything concerned her? What did he think Corvin was going to get up to?