Why does this scream Levi to me? He shows up. He takes over. He’s so damn charming that I don’t think he realizes he does it. When his TV show comes out, he’s about to be more popular than he already is.
“How are all of Micah’s teammates nice guys?” Jace asks.
“I know, right? You’d expect one of them to be a jackass or something.”
“And this is why I don’t have a girlfriend.”
I peer from Levi and Sunny to Jace, who’s staring at them. I gasp, and Jace’s gaze snaps to me, brows furrowed together.
“Jesus, don’t do that. I thought you were hurt.”
“You like Sunny!” I accuse.
He pales, and little red splotches appear on his cheeks. “What? No.”
“Don’t deny it. I see it now. You asked how football players were different from regular guys, i.e. how Levi is different from you.”
“It was a momentary lapse in judgment,” Jace says.
“Lapse again. You two would be so cute.”
“How can I?”
I shoot back the rest of my vodka and soda. “Alright, this is what we’re gonna do. We’re going over to that dance floor, and I’ll butt in with Levi so you can take over with Sunny.”
“I don’t think this is a good idea. Honestly, I shouldn’t have said anything. This won’t impact my work at Pet Threads. I?—”
“Are you kidding me?” I roll my eyes and stand up, tugging Jace behind me. As we move toward the dance floor, Levi sees me coming, almost like he can feel when I’m around. He smirks when he sees Jace, nods his head, and on a perfect beat to the music, he spins Sunny out so she lands right in Jace’s hands. She giggles, and the two of them start dancing, but I barely have time to register before strong hands tug me toward him. “You lasted a long time.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” I tell him.
“That was a while before you came to stake your claim.”
I peer into his eyes and it’s as if pieces of my body realign. “I don’t need to claim anything.”
“You’re damn right you don’t,” he growls into my ear.
We dance, Levi really hamming it up. How is he good at everything? The best part is, he makes me look good, too.
When a slow song comes on, he pulls me close. For a moment, I get lost in him. I forget that this is all supposed to be a secret, and I let myself take in the fact that we’re together. “Hey, how did you know where I was?” I ask. “I never told you I was going out tonight.”
He gives me a sly grin, spins me out, and then back in again. “Since our phones are linked, I used Find My Phone.”
Somehow, his admission doesn’t surprise me. “Naughty.”
“It worked in my favor tonight. I got to hang out with you, and we still kept our secret.”
“I think it’s fine in front of Jace and Sunny, but Raeann…”
“Yeah, Micah, too. They’re a little too observant. Now,” he says, pressing my hips to his. “How do I get you alone so you can ride me, darlin’?”
“I think I have just the excuse. Spin me again.”
Levi spins me, but when he tries to spin me back, I resist, clutching my head.
“Are you okay?” he asks, concern written all over him.
“Yes, dummy,” I whisper, but then louder, I say, “No, I think I’ve had too much excitement for the day.”
