“No… forehead tapping?” I ask, bewildered, ignoring the fact that he’sallowingme to have a drink.
Bastard.
His lips curl playfully, and his hand wanders from my cheek to my forehead, tapping gently. “There.”
It’s as if a weight lifts off my chest as relief washes over me, the effect almost dizzying.
Thank God.
I grab a glass from Levi, downing it in one go, my throat burning as the bubbles rush down. But it’s a good burn. So much so that it almost makes me tear up, finally being able to dull the edges again.
Three days without a drink, yet it may as well have been years. I missed the numbness more than it’s healthy to admit.
I reach for the other glass from Kati, who hands it over without question. “Thank you.”
The second glass goes down just as fast. The warmth starts to spread, coating the raw parts of me, and I feel my muscles slowly unclench, my heartbeat steadying. It’s like coming up for air after being underwater for too long.
Levi chuckles, clearly amused, while Koen stares at me, probably unsure whether to be impressed or worried.
Both would be appropriate.
Levi lifts his glass, grinning as he clinks it against my empty one. “Let’s get this party started!”
He immediately disappears into the racks with Kati, his eyes wide with excitement like a kid in a candy store. Kati holds up a beautiful, sparkly silver dress, and Levi eyes it critically, then shakes his head, diving deeper into the sea of dresses.
Koen, however, stays close to me, his eyes scanning the racks as we walk. He pauses, pulling out a dress. “How about this?” he asks, handing me a long, emerald-green gown with intricate lace sleeves. “It matches your eyes.”
Why would he care about such details?
I take it, running my fingers over the delicate material, but when I come across the price, I almost choke on air.
Fifteen thousand dollars?
“Koen, I can’t wear this.”
Before he can respond, Levi reappears, his face twisted in disapproval. “She’s right. No way she’s wearing this.” He shakes his head. “That’s not sexy enough. That body needs to be shown off.” He takes the green dress from my hands and puts it back on the rack, then grins as he hands me another dress. A long black one with no sleeves and a high slit up the thigh. “This. This will turn heads.”
I swallow and, almost subconsciously, rub circles on the silk between my fingertips.
It’s beautiful, daring…just my taste.
“You like this better?” Koen asks, searching my gaze.
“I like both of them. They’re so… expensive.”
Levi huffs a laugh. “Girl, you have no idea what expensive even means.”
Koen takes the dress from me and touches my elbow again to guide me toward the fitting area.
I look between the two of them, curiosity getting the better of me. “How rich are you guys, anyway?” I ask, trying to keep my tone casual. “Millionaires?”
“We are very rich,” Koen shares, tilting his head with a smirk. “… inlove. And that is the most important thing.”
“Yes, that,” Levi adds, rolling his eyes dramatically, then reaching out and tapping my nose. “And Little Bird, your guess is way off.”
So even more than millionaires.
Fuck.
