KOOK'S BET ☼ outerbanks

Part 13

Lev's POV

John B reached out, placing a steady hand on my shoulder. "Hey, Lev... it's gonna be okay," he said softly. Honestly, unsure of what was going on and what kind of conversation he walked up to. 

My vision blurred around the edges, and I felt like I might break right there. My throat was dry, and I had to swallow hard to keep the tears from spilling over. I kept my eyes fixed on the floor, trying to breathe through the rush of emotion.

I shook my head slightly, like if I moved just enough the feeling would pass, like I could outrun it somehow. It didn't. It sat heavy in my chest, pressing tighter with every breath.

"I'm fine," I muttered, though it came out uneven, barely convincing even to me.

John B didn't move his hand. He just stood there, steady, like he was trying to anchor me without saying too much. That almost made it worse.

Footsteps approached—quick, familiar. I didn't have to look up to know it was JJ.

"Hey—what's going on?" he asked, his voice sharper at first, then softening the second he saw my face. "Lev?"

I stiffened. 

JJ stepped closer, trying to catch my eye. "Hey, hey... don't do that," he said gently, crouching a little so he could see me. "Talk to me."

I turned my head away, wiping at my cheek quickly before anything could fall. "I said I'm fine."

"You're not," he shot back, quieter now, careful. "You don't look fine."

His hand hovered near my arm before resting there lightly, like he was testing whether I'd pull away.

"Don't," I said, a little too quickly, taking a small step back. My chest tightened again, frustration mixing with everything else. "I'm good. I just—need a second."

JJ blinked, caught off guard, but he didn't push forward again. Not physically, at least. "Lev..." he started, softer this time, like he was trying a different approach. "You don't have to shut me out."

"I'm not shutting you out," I snapped, even though that's exactly what it felt like I was doing. I crossed my arms, more to hold myself together than anything else. "I just don't want to do this right now."

There was a pause.

John B finally let his hand fall away, staring at my interaction with JJ, but he didn't leave. Neither of them did.

Trouble in paradise. 

JJ ran a hand through his hair, exhaling slowly. "Okay," he said after a moment, nodding like he was convincing himself. "Okay... we don't have to do this.'"

I risked a glance up, just for a second.

His expression had changed—still worried, still intense—but softer now, less push, more patience.

"But I'm not going anywhere," he added quietly. "So... you can stand there and pretend you're fine all you want. I'll just be right here when you're ready."

That made my throat tighten even more.

And somehow, that made it harder to keep pretending I was okay and not like this was going to fall apart very soon.