Chapter Nine
LEVI
Em, Cam, and I are lined up near the mirrors, stretching and waiting for Kamila’s Zumba class to start, when she walks up to us.
“Thanks for coming, guys.” She smiles and looks up at Cameron adoringly, like always. He moves a hand to her back.
Kami yelps and hits Cam on the arm. “Not here.”
“If memory serves, you like a little PDA.” He winks and squeezes her ass again.
“For fuck’s sake, we can hear and see you,” Em yells, and I’m right there with her. “Please tell me you’re staying in his room tonight.”
Em’s face is one of complete disgust, and I can’t help but laugh at the poor woman. She has to deal with them more often than Jake or I ever do.
Kami smiles sheepishly. Cameron, however, wears a proud grin. “Yes, she’ll be staying over at mine.”
“Thank Christ,” Em groans.
“Sorry,” Kami whispers. “All right, I have less than five minutes to get my stuff ready. I’ll see you during one of the breaks.” Cam kisses the top of her head and lets her go.
“You guys are gross. Can you go back to hating each other, please?” Em waves her hand in the air.
“Hey, Kamila’s a lot more chill now, remember that,” I say. “And we do have Cam to thank for most of it.”
“The great sex helps ease her stress.” He grins at Em, knowing how much it’ll annoy her.
She pretends to gag, and Cam and I laugh, getting into position once Kami begins her speech. It’s similar to the one she gave last semester during her first class, except Jake isn’t here, and unlike last fall, she has students who became regulars. The girl is wicked talented, and if it weren’t for not wanting to ruin the friendship when we first met a while ago, I would’ve asked her out in a fuckin’ heartbeat.
In the middle of her explanation, which is full of logical and straightforward class rules, I catch a glimpse of the only person who’s come in late rushing to put their things into one of the cubbies near the door.
My eyes widen because there is no way that the universe is messing with me like this.
“Isn’t that Stevie?” Em points and waves.
We haven’t spoken for two days. I never confirmed or denied her request to help her write her song. And I felt like a complete dick about it afterward. We haven’t run into each other despite living in the same apartment until now, in front of all my friends.
“Stevie!” Em whisper-yells, and that catches her attention. She briefly looks at me awkwardly before tilting her chin and smiling at Em and Cam.
She makes her way to us in a couple of steps, swiveling her hips more than usual, catching my attention in her tight gym clothes.
Emma gives her a warm hug, and she and Cam wave at each other before she turns to me.
“Hey.” Her tone is neutral, not angry or happy, just polite.
“Hi,” I say in return, attempting to give her what I’m assuming is an awkward smile.
Fuck, I really didn’t want to ruin this.
Em not only heard but saw our exchange since she looks up at me with awhat the fucklook. The last time I mentioned Stevie to my friend, she had given me advice to talk to her about why she’d been avoiding me, and instead of doing that, I denied her when she did try to speak to me. It’s not her fault that I have issues when it comes to showing my music to other people.
So, yeah, I fucked up.
“I didn’t think this was your scene,” I whisper to her.
My roommate glances at me. “I have a list to complete, remember? Or did you not even bother to look at it when I held it up for thirty seconds right in front of your face?”
I wince at that. “Point made.”
