32

The bass thrummed through the floor, sending a rhythmic pulse up through my feet as I glanced around the packed club. Colored lights flashed in sync with the music, casting fleeting glows over faces and creating a hazy, electric atmosphere. Spencer nudged her shoulder, raising her drink in a silent toast, and I offered a small, tired smile in return.

I needed a night out, to forget, even just for a little while, the aching tangle of feelings I had unearthed with Spencer and Ethan earlier that week. Yet, despite my best efforts, my gaze kept drifting across the room to where Levi and Ethan were standing by the bar, deep in conversation. Levi's head tilted back in laughter, that familiar smirk tugging at his lips. I quickly looked away, but not before catching his eyes shift towards me, almost as if he'd felt my watching.

"Are you even here tonight?" Spencer teased, giving me a light shove.

"I'm here," I replied, but my voice lacked conviction.

The club buzzed with energy, the bass of the music pounding through my chest, lights flashing like stars in a dizzying night sky.

Spencer and I had carved out a little spot for ourselves at the edge of the dance floor, close enough to watch the crowd but still far enough to breathe. I took a sip of my drink, hoping the coolness would chase away the heat rising in my cheeks. But it wasn't the lights or the music setting me on edge tonight—it was Levi.

I tried not to look, but my gaze kept slipping toward him anyway. He stood by the bar with Ethan, his profile carved in that familiar, maddening way, his face mostly hidden in shadow. Just watching him laugh, seeing him so relaxed, did something to my heart that I wasn't prepared to admit yet. I tore my eyes away, scolding myself silently. I was here to have fun, not to obsess over Levi Carson.

"Earth to Cora," Spencer's voice broke through my thoughts, and I turned to find her smirking at me knowingly. "If you stare any harder, you're going to burn a hole right through his head."

"I'm not staring!" I protested, though the heat in my cheeks probably said otherwise. I forced myself to focus on my drink, determined not to glance in Levi's direction. But my willpower was short-lived. Out of nowhere, two unfamiliar voices sliced through the music, pulling our attention.

"Hey there, ladies," a smooth voice purred. I looked up to see two guys standing next to us. One of them—a tall, broad-shouldered guy with dark hair and an annoyingly confident smile—was eyeing me with a gleam of interest. His friend, who was a little softer-looking and quieter, seemed more interested in watching Spencer.

"Mind if we join you?" the dark-haired one asked, leaning in with a grin that was probably supposed to be charming.

Spencer gave me a quick, mischievous look before turning to him. "Only if you can keep up," she said with a grin, crossing her arms in mock challenge.

I stifled a laugh, nudging her. "Spence..."

The guy didn't seem fazed at all, in fact, his smirk just widened as he focused on me. "I'm Alex," he introduced himself, his voice dropping to that suave tone guys always thought was impressive. "And you are?"

"Cora," I replied politely, trying to keep things light. The last thing I needed tonight was a flirtation with a random guy—especially with Levi just a few feet away, probably watching every second. I could practically feel his gaze burning into me from across the room, and it sent a strange thrill through me.

"Cora," Alex repeated, the smile on his face growing even more self-assured. "Well, Cora, you're looking incredible tonight."

"Oh, thanks," I said, trying not to roll my eyes. I wasn't exactly interested, but I didn't want to be rude, either. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Spencer smirking, clearly enjoying every second of this.

"Hey, Alex," she interrupted, her voice filled with sass. "Didn't anyone tell you that cheesy pickup lines went out of style, like, five years ago?"

Alex let out a chuckle, flashing her a playful look. "I like a challenge," he replied, his attention shifting back to me, waiting for me to play along.

"Oh, if you're looking for a challenge, you might want to try, I don't know, climbing a mountain or learning quantum physics," I said, barely hiding my amusement. I caught Spencer's grin widening from the corner of my eye, her approval evident.

"Or," she added with a raised eyebrow, "memorizing all the digits of pi. That might take less time."

Alex laughed, hands raised in mock surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it—you ladies are a tough crowd."

I offered him a polite smile, hoping he'd take the hint, but he leaned in closer, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "But you know, Cora, something tells me you're not as tough as you seem."

Before I could respond, a flash of movement caught my eye. Across the room, Levi was still at the bar with Ethan, but his entire posture had shifted. His shoulders were tense, his hand gripping his glass in a way that looked almost... possessive? His jaw was set, his eyes trained on us with a darkness that was anything but friendly. A chill ran down my spine at the sight. Was he... annoyed?

My heart stumbled at the thought, and I quickly looked back at Alex, hoping he hadn't noticed my distraction. But the moment was impossible to shake. I couldn't understand the change I'd seen in Levi—his usual laid-back stance replaced by something fierce, protective even. The way he stood there, his jaw clenched, his whole body practically radiating tension, confused me. I had never seen him look like that before.

"Are you okay?" Alex's voice broke through my daze, and I realized he'd followed my gaze to where Levi was standing. "Do you... know those guys?"

I forced a casual shrug, hoping he wouldn't press any further. "Yeah, they're friends. We came together tonight."

Alex's eyebrows lifted, a faintly amused smile tugging at his lips. "Friends? Because your guy over there doesn't seem too thrilled to see me talking to you."

My pulse quickened, but I tried to keep my voice steady. "Oh, I think you are thinking too much."

Alex shrugged, but the smirk on his face lingered as he opened his mouth to say something else. I cut him off, my patience thinning.

"Listen, Alex," I said gently, softening the rejection as much as I could. "I'm flattered, really. But tonight, I'm just here to spend time with my friends."

For the first time, he seemed to actually get it. He nodded, taking a step back. "No hard feelings. Nice meeting you, Cora."

He and his friend moved back into the crowd, and as soon as they were out of earshot, Spencer turned to me with an exaggerated sigh of relief.

"Well, that was fun," she teased, her eyes sparkling. "But seriously, if I didn't know better, I'd say Levi looked ready to march over here and take Alex down himself."

I swallowed, feeling my heart pick up speed. I cast another quick glance toward Levi, who was still watching, his expression unreadable but intense. His gaze was softer now, but that simmering possessiveness hadn't faded entirely. I felt hot under his stare, and confusion swirled in my mind. Why did he care so much? What was he thinking, standing there like that, with that dark look in his eyes?

"Yeah, well..." I mumbled, trying to play it off even as my heart raced. "Maybe he's just... looking out?"

Spencer raised an eyebrow, giving me a knowing look. "Uh-huh. Right."

I bit my lip, glancing back at Levi as he turned his attention to Ethan, pretending to listen to whatever his friend was saying. But I could still feel his gaze like a magnetic pull. It was like he didn't want to look away any more than I did. And, God help me, a part of me wanted him to keep looking.

As the night wore on, I found myself catching Levi's gaze more often, our eyes meeting across the room in ways that made my pulse race. There was something charged between us, an unspoken tension simmering in every glance, every accidental brush of our shoulders as we passed by each other in the crowded club. My heart felt caught between everything I thought I knew about Levi and this strange, electric connection I couldn't explain, but didn't want to resist.

And for the first time, I wondered if maybe—just maybe—he felt it too.