“Hmm.” I rest a hand on his forearm and give him a sly smile. “Good thing I’ve always liked older men.”
Levi’s laugh escapes him, louder than the music and briefly drawing everyone’s eyes over to us. I glance around and notice Cole leaning against the wall, watching us with a gentle smile on his face. Turning back to Levi as his laughter dies down, he gestures to the dance floor.
“Want to dance?”
I nod and Levi extends his arm out in front of his body, signaling me to lead the way. Wandering over to the dance floor, I turn around and walk backwards through the crowd, my eyes never leaving his.
Mr. Brightside plays over the speakers, and I watch as Levi looks over to the corner where Cole must be standing before shaking his head with a light laugh.
“I’m not much for dancing, at least in front of people,” Levi informs me as I stop in the center of the dancing bodies. “But Cole knows this is the one song that’ll get me there.”
“I’ll file away that piece of information for later.”
We dance together, bouncing in beat with the music as we act out the lyrics, laughing as those around us do the same. Together, we stay out there for what seems like hours. Swaying together in one another’s arms to the slow songs, getting up close and personal for the sultrier ones, and laughing as we spun around to the upbeat songs.
Once people leave for the night, Kirstin goes over to Cole and lets him know he can start packing up. Levi stands slightly behind me as she approaches, a smile on her face.
“It’s nice to see you having fun at one of these things,” she says before pulling me into a brief hug. “Normally you’re too busy making sure everything is going okay instead of getting involved.”
Levi’s right hand falls on my right shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. “What can I say? I had good company.”
“Why don’t you head home,” she tells me before she gestures over to the bar where Nico is cleaning. “I’ll get everything cleaned up here.”
I give her a knowing smile and nod, watching as she slinks off to the bar and strikes up a conversation with Nico. Walking over to Cole, I grin as I see him wearing my purse over his shoulder as he strikes a pose as if he’s modeling with it.
“I think this style really suits me, no?”
I snort and shake my head. “I think you’re more of a clutch kind of guy. You know, one with sparkles and a large buckle.”
“I’ll come raid your closet sometime, then,” he teases back before handing it to me. “Do you need a ride? I can drop you off on my way home.”
“I got it,” Levi says from behind me, entering our conversation.
“How do you know where she lives?” Cole asks, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he were an overprotective brother.
I roll my eyes, but a faint blush forms on the apples of my cheeks. It’s Levi who replies, “It’s a long story.”
Cole glances between the two of us and shrugs before opening his arms to me. I smile and step into them, giving him a brief hug before he pulls me back. His brows are furrowed slightly before he glances up at Levi for a moment. To my surprise, he pulls me back in for another hug.
“Does Blue have Claire tonight?” He whispers in my ear, and I stiffen. “I take it he doesn’t know yet?”
“I haven’t said anything yet, no,” I tell him. “Did you say anything when you were talking about me?”
Cole continues to hold on to me, silent for a moment before he replies, “I honestly can’t remember if I did or not. But if you’re worried about how he might react, he loves kids. I don’t think it’d bother him or scare him off one bit.”
“All right, I think that’s enough,” Levi suddenly says from behind me, causing Cole to chuckle as he finally releases me. “Let me take the poor girl home.”
“You two behave, now,” Cole says with a wink in my direction as Levi drops his hands to my shoulders from his spot behind me. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”
Levi snorts. “That’s an extremely short list, brother.”
“I’m aware.”
I allow Levi to spin me around and step out from his grasp to walk towards the door. He reaches around me to pull it open, allowing me to walk in front of him down the stairs. As we exitthe restaurant and step onto the sidewalk, I turn around to face him.
“Are you parked in the ramp?” I ask, waving down the street where a parking ramp is located.
Levi shakes his head and gestures to his left. “I was lucky enough to get a spot right out front.”
