His voice dips lower. “Your brother’s going to kick my ass for getting this close to you, but I’m starting to not care.”
The spell breaks when Sterling finally pulls back, his gaze moving beyond me. I turn, finding Levi standing stiff near the skate rental booth with a blonde woman straight out of a ski-bunny calendar—designer cropped jacket, blown-out hair, and lips that look freshly injected. Levi’s hands are balled into fists, and the way his eyes shift between me and Sterling makes my stomach drop.
“How long has he been standing there?” I murmur.
“I noticed him around when I got out of the car,” Sterling says casually, his palm reclaiming mine.
Levi’s gaze drops pointedly to our hands as we walk up, tension crackling in the air.
“Sorry we’re late,” I say quickly, hoping to smooth things over. “I had to wait for the shower water to heat up after Sterling’s hour-long shower.”
Levi doesn’t answer, still locked in some silent battle of wills with Sterling. I turn to the blonde, desperate for relief, but instead of helping, she’s staring at Sterling like he’s her dessert. My stomach sours instantly. She’s supposed to be on a date with my brother, not drooling over mine.
Before I can think better of it, I drop Sterling’s hand and wrap my arms around his waist instead. His arm circles me without hesitation, pulling me tight against his side, and I lean into him deliberately.
The blonde’s eyes cut to me, narrowing as if she’s been caught. She clutches Levi’s arm with nails sharp enough to draw blood.
“Babe,” she whines in a singsong Australian accent. “You haven’t introduced me.”
Levi clears his throat, shooting me a stern look when he realizes I’ve wrapped myself around Sterling.
“Right. This is my sister, Maisy,” he says, waving in my direction. “Maisy, this is…”
His eyes go round, and I realize he’s forgotten her name.
Typical Levi.
“Bri—”
Her head whips in his direction, eyes narrowed. It’s definitely not whatever the hell he was just about to say. He clears his throat and puts on his most flirtatious grin before wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her into his side.
“Thisis my beautiful date.”
Wow.Somehow, that actually works and she melts into him. I roll my eyes, slowly stepping out of Sterling’s hold and straightening when he offers his hand out to her.
“I’m Sterling,” he says as she wraps her talons around his hand, giving him a suggestive smile. “I don’t think I caught your name.”
“Oh.” She giggles, her gaze still sticky on him. “I’m Courtney.”
Levi shoots Sterling a thankful look, like he didn’t just look ready to murder him a minute ago.
We make our way over to the skate rental booth, each of us getting a pair before heading to the benches outside the rink. Everyone laces up quickly except me, my fingers fumbling.
“Jeez, Maisy,” Levi groans. “You’re slower than the five-year-olds here.”
I look up and glare at him, biting my tongue so I don’t embarrass him in front of Courtney. Not that it matters because she’s back to ogling Sterling right in front of me.
“You know I hate skating,” I mutter.
He rolls his eyes. “Grow up.”
Before I can explode, Sterling steps between us. “How about you and Courtney hit the ice first,” Sterling suggests. “I’ll help get Maisy’s skates on.”
Levi doesn’t think twice as he takes hold of Courtney’s hand and drags her onto the ice. I watch as they effortlessly skate off just like everybody else on the rink, and I feel anxiety building in my chest.
“I don’t think I can do this,” I whisper.
“Yes, you can.” Sterling crouches in front of me, steady hands on my ankle as he props my skate on his thigh and tightens the laces for me. His head is bent, but his voice is low and sure. “You’re the bravest person I know, Mais.”
