25

Levi and I walked side by side, the air between us lighter than it had been in days, but still charged with an undercurrent of something more—something unspoken. The afternoon sun was beginning to dip below the horizon, casting long shadows on the quiet streets. I couldn't help but glance at Levi out of the corner of my eye. He was walking casually, his hands in his pockets, his face relaxed, but there was a subtle tension in the way his shoulders were set, like he was still figuring out what to say next.

As we approached the coffee shop, I felt that familiar knot of nerves twist in my stomach again. I knew we had made progress, but I couldn't shake the feeling that this was far from over. Whatever was happening between us was just beginning to unfold, and as much as I wanted clarity, part of me was terrified of what would happen once everything was out in the open.

We stepped into the warm, cozy café, the smell of coffee and cinnamon hitting me instantly. Levi headed straight for the counter, glancing back at me with a playful smirk. "What are you having? And don't even think about ordering something complicated."

I rolled my eyes, but the grin tugging at my lips betrayed me. "I'll just have a caramel latte. Keep it simple, since you're buying."

He shook his head, muttering something under his breath about my expensive taste, but he placed the order without protest. As he waited for the drinks, I found a small table by the window and sat down, the warmth of the café slowly easing the chill that had settled in my bones during our walk.

I watched Levi as he stood by the counter, his posture relaxed, but his eyes were distant—like he was lost in thought. What was going through his mind? Was he as confused about all of this as I was?

Before I could dwell too much on it, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, expecting another check-in from Spencer, but instead, it was a message from Ethan. I frowned, not used to hearing from him directly. Ethan was Levi's best friend, and while we got along fine, we didn't exactly chat outside of group settings.

Hey, Cora. Do you know what's up with Spencer? She's been kinda distant lately.

My heart sank a little as I read the message. I hadn't noticed anything unusual with Spencer, but then again, she had been pretty focused on helping me navigate the mess with Levi. Now that I thought about it, she had been a bit quieter around Ethan lately—less playful, more reserved. Something was definitely going on.

I glanced up at Levi, who was walking over with our drinks in hand, a slight frown on his face as he saw me staring at my phone. "Everything okay?" he asked, setting my latte down in front of me.

"Yeah, just..." I hesitated, unsure if I should bring it up, but then again, Levi was Ethan's best friend. "It's Ethan. He's asking about Spencer. Says she's been distant lately."

Levi raised an eyebrow, sliding into the seat across from me. "Distant? Spencer? That doesn't sound like her."

I shrugged, taking a sip of my latte, the warm caramel sweetness soothing my nerves. "I don't know. I haven't noticed anything off, but maybe she's dealing with something I don't know about." I paused, chewing on my lip. "Have you noticed anything with Ethan? Like, is he being weird with her?"

Levi leaned back in his chair, looking thoughtful for a moment. "Not really. I mean, he's been acting normal around me, but then again, Ethan's not exactly the type to talk about feelings. If something's up between them, he's probably just bottling it up."

I nodded, my thoughts drifting back to Spencer. She was usually the one giving advice, the one who kept things light and fun, especially when things got complicated between me and Levi. But now... if she was pulling back from Ethan, maybe she was struggling with something she hadn't shared yet.

"I'll talk to her," I said finally, setting my phone down. "She's probably just overwhelmed with everything going on, but if there's something more, she'll tell me."

Levi watched me for a moment, his gaze unreadable. Then he nodded, taking a sip of his coffee. "Yeah. I think you should."

There was a brief silence between us, and for a moment, I wondered if that was all we were going to talk about. But then Levi set his cup down, his fingers tracing the edge of the table as he leaned forward slightly, his eyes meeting mine.

"About earlier..." he began, his voice quieter now, more serious. "I meant what I said. I've noticed things. I just—"

I cut him off, holding up a hand. "Levi, you don't have to explain—"

My heart thudded in my chest, my pulse quickening as I stared at him.

Levi ran a hand through his hair, looking almost... nervous. "I don't know where this thing between us is going, but I know it's more than just the rivalry or whatever we've been doing for the past few years."

I swallowed hard, my mind racing.

"I understand." I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

We sat there for a moment, the weight of everything that had been building between us finally starting to lift. It wasn't perfect, and there were still so many things left unsaid, but this felt like the first step toward something real. Something that scared me and excited me all at once.

But before either of us could say anything else, my phone buzzed again, interrupting the moment. It was a message from Spencer.

"Can we talk later? I think I messed things up with Ethan, and I don't know how to fix it."

I frowned, the knot of worry tightening in my chest. So it wasn't just Ethan who was feeling off—something was definitely going on between them. I glanced up at Levi, who was watching me closely.

"It's Spencer," I said, showing him the message. "I think things are worse than I thought."

Levi nodded, his expression serious. "Then you better talk to her. I'll check in with Ethan."

I nodded, feeling a mix of concern and determination settle over me. Whatever was happening with Spencer and Ethan, it was clear they both cared about each other more than they were willing to admit.