19

Levi’s voice cut through the gentle hum of the restaurant, stopping me in my tracks.

"Cora, wait!"

I froze, hand gripping the door handle as my heart pounded. The weight of his voice—urgent, laced with something I couldn't quite place—held me there. Spencer’s hand landed gently on my shoulder, grounding me, but my thoughts were already spiraling.

I turned back slowly, keeping my expression neutral. "Had to take a call," I said, waving my phone in the air, though my voice wavered. "Looks like I missed it."

Levi’s gaze flickered over me, searching, but before he could say anything, Spencer spoke. "Let’s join them."

Her tone was light, but her eyes—sharp, knowing—told me she wasn’t buying my excuse. Neither was Levi.

Still, I followed her, the warmth of the restaurant suddenly feeling suffocating as we approached the table. Levi had already stood, a mixture of relief and uncertainty flashing across his face. Beside him, a woman sat with effortless poise, her smile bright, her eyes appraising.

"This is Mia," Levi said, motioning toward her. "She’s a coworker. I invited her to join us."

Mia turned her attention to me, offering a warm smile that felt just a little too polished. "Hi, Cora. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too." My voice was steady, but inside, something twisted.

We sat, and as the evening unfolded, it became painfully clear that Mia was more than just a casual colleague. She was engaging, lively, her laughter bubbling over as she leaned into Levi, fingers grazing his arm in effortless, practiced gestures. Every touch, every glance felt deliberate, intentional.

I told myself it was nothing. Just friendly conversation. Just a normal dinner.

And yet, the knot in my stomach refused to loosen.

Levi, for his part, seemed at ease. Too at ease. He met Mia’s playful banter head-on, his lips curving into that familiar smirk—the one I knew all too well. But every so often, he’d glance at me, his gaze unreadable, like he was waiting for something.

Spencer, sensing the shift in my mood, tried to keep things balanced. "So, Mia, tell us more about this project you’re working on with Levi. It sounds interesting."

Mia’s smile widened. "Oh, it’s been great. Levi and I have had some… let’s just say *eventful* moments at work, haven’t we?"

Levi chuckled, a low, knowing sound, and something sharp twisted inside me.

I reached for my water, taking a slow sip to mask the bitterness creeping up my throat.

Mia turned to me suddenly, her expression all polite curiosity. "I heard you’re quite the competitor, Cora. What’s it like working in that environment?"

There was something about the way she said it—like she already knew the answer.

I met her gaze, my smile practiced. "It has its challenges, but it keeps things interesting."

Mia hummed, studying me. "I bet. Levi likes a challenge."

She said it so casually, but the weight of it settled between us. A single sentence, loaded with implications.

Levi said nothing.

I didn't look at him.

Instead, I forced a light laugh. "Yeah, well. Some people thrive on competition."

Mia’s lips curved, amused. "Exactly."

And just like that, the conversation moved on, but something between us had shifted—something I couldn’t quite put my finger on.

The rest of the evening blurred together. Spencer did her best to keep things from feeling too strained, but I could barely focus on the words being exchanged. Every glance, every lingering touch between Levi and Mia felt like a small crack forming in something I hadn’t even realized I was holding onto.

By the time dessert arrived, I was exhausted.

Finally, the night came to an end. As we stood to leave, Levi walked us to the door, his demeanor easy, but there was something guarded in his expression.

"It was nice meeting you, Cora," Mia said, offering me one last warm smile. "Hopefully we’ll see each other again soon."

I nodded, my response automatic. "Yeah. Nice to meet you too."

Levi’s gaze lingered on me as I turned toward the exit, his expression unreadable.

I didn’t stop.

Stepping into the cool night air, I inhaled deeply, the crisp air a stark contrast to the heat burning beneath my skin. Spencer walked beside me, silent for once.

It wasn’t until we reached her car that she finally spoke. "You okay?"

I let out a breath, forcing a small smile. "Yeah. Just tired."

She didn't look convinced, but she didn’t push.

When I got home, the quiet of my apartment felt deafening.

I sank onto my bed, staring at the ceiling as the night replayed in my head—Mia’s laughter, Levi’s easy charm, the way he looked at her, the way he looked at me.

I had gone into that dinner expecting clarity. Instead, I’d walked away with even more questions.

And the worst part?

I wasn’t sure I wanted to know the answers.