Levi smiles and hugs me so tightly, lifting me off the ground and spinning me.
“You got it, Bambi!”
We both laugh, and once we stop spinning, I grab his face. Without a second thought, I kiss him—really kiss him in front of all these people—and he barely hesitates before reciprocating. It feels different than our coat closet kiss, more intimate, but it turns me on all the same.
The spontaneous moment is broken when I feel him getting hard. It’s when I realize that he never asked for anything in return.
I grin against his lips, and he does the same, then frowns. “What is this, Stevie?”
Shrugging, I reply, “I have no clue.” It’s the truth.
He tips my chin and looks me in the eye for several seconds. Butterflies build in my stomach as I try to control my anxiety.
Levi doesn’t say another word, leaving everything for a later conversation.
“I have so many questions about what happened in there.” I point behind me toward the closet.
He shushes me with a hug. “Later. It’s time to celebrate.” He kisses the top of my head. “I knew you had this in the bag. Dinner’s on me.”
“Well, I’m not going to say no to that.” His chest moves with a chuckle. I turn my head to the side. “Invite your friends too.”
“Ourfriends,” he corrects. “I’m pretty sure Kami and Em like you more than me.”
I snort, and we continue hugging. From the corner of my eye, I swear I see a girl with a pink hoodie looking directly at us through the front glass doors. When I turn, I see her staring atme, but I can’t make out her face. After a couple of blinks, she’s gone.
Chapter Twenty-One
STEVIE
“And I need to write an article about ducks.” Em slams her hand on the table. “Duckssss.” She drags the word out as if we can’t hear her. “I’m supposed to write about ducks mating on campus to get a spot in one of the best college newspapers in the country.” She dramatically drops her head onto her forearm and lets out a deep breath.
Kamila taps her back. “Okay, no more vodka sodas for you. Four is your limit.”
“Yeah,” Jake agrees. “You’re not the fun drunk tonight.”
Em sits up and narrows her eyes on Jake, shooting him a death glare. “First of all, I’ve only had three. And secondly,Jacob, I’m only tipsy, and if I don’t get on that newspaper by the end of the semester, all of those articles about the new parking lot and the menu from the dining hall will have been for nothing. Do not test me.”
I nudge Levi. “For such a small person, she has a really high tolerance with alcohol.”
He shrugs. “She’s been that way since I met her, but whenever she doesn’t eat beforehand, it’s bad.”
“Anyway,” Kamila starts, “I’m going to get another drink, so move.”
She motions to Jake and Em, but I give Levi a slight push instead. “I’ll go with you. I wouldn’t mind trying a mocktail.”
Kami smiles and tells Levi to move his ass.
“I’ll come with. I want another beer.” Levi shimmies out of the booth.
Once we’re standing, I gently shove him down into his seat. “It’s on me. I still owe you for the water and all the rides.”And for also making me come.
He must understand what I’m implying since he doesn’t object and gives me a lopsided smile.
Rolling my eyes at the flutter in my stomach, I move toward the bar with Kami. She orders me a mocktail she’s already tried. Kami quickly shows me a picture she took of it for the website and explains the marketing strategy for the place, as she has an internship here.
She turns her back to the bar and leans on it with both elbows, her perfect red lipstick in place. “So, what’s going on between you and Levi?”
My eyes widen for a second before I put my most impassive face on. “What do you mean?”
