01

I blinked, my eyes narrowing as I stared at the figure standing in front of me. Was I hallucinating? Was the exhaustion of the week catching up to me, causing me to see things that weren't really there? The possibility crossed my mind, and I couldn't help but wonder if my lack of sleep had finally started playing tricks on me. I glanced at my best friend, Spencer, hoping for some clarity, but the sight of her only added to my confusion. She was entirely too excited for my liking, practically bouncing on her feet like an over-caffeinated child.

Before I could ask her what in the world was going on, Spencer took matters into her own hands. Without any concern for the subtlety of the moment, she screamed and waved frantically, making it painfully clear that she wanted to grab the person's attention.

And of course, the person noticed. How could they not? Spencer wasn't exactly known for her restraint in public spaces.

Within seconds, the person- he -was standing right in front of us, looking annoyingly smug. My stomach twisted in an uncomfortable way, and I suddenly felt like the universe was playing a cruel joke on me. This couldn't be happening. Of all the people in the world, it had to be him.

Levi Carson.

He wasn't alone, either. Standing beside him was a guy I didn't recognize, someone who looked calm and laid-back, the complete opposite of Levi's relentless energy. But my attention was fixated on Levi, the person I had been trying to avoid ever since high school ended.

His voice cut through the din of the café like a knife, dripping with sarcasm. "Cora Abel. Aren't you supposed to be in your room because, as I recall, you were grounded?"

I clenched my teeth, forcing myself to remain calm. Levi had always known exactly how to push my buttons, and from the look on his face, he hadn't lost that talent. With a saccharine smile, I shot back, "We're past high school, Levi Carson. Unless you're still stuck there. If that's the case, I'd recommend admitting yourself into a hospital for some much-needed therapy."

Levi's smirk widened. I hated how his eyes twinkled with amusement, like he was having the time of his life. "Oh, very witty," he said with a mocking drawl. "But even though we're past high school, some things never change. Like your sharp tongue."

I rolled my eyes, already tired of the conversation, but unwilling to back down. "And some things never change, like your obnoxious personality," I shot back, my voice laced with irritation.

Levi let out a low, amused chuckle, his eyes glittering with mischief. He seemed to be enjoying himself far too much. "Oh, Cora. Your fiery attitude hasn't changed one bit, has it?"

I crossed my arms over my chest, shifting my weight to one foot. My posture was defensive, but I couldn't help it. Levi had always managed to stir something inside me, something that made me feel like I had to be on guard at all times. "And neither has your annoying presence," I retorted. "I thought I'd finally get a break from you after high school."

Levi took a step closer, and I instantly regretted engaging with him. His proximity made my pulse quicken, though I refused to acknowledge why. His dark eyes locked onto mine, and he raised a brow, his voice soft but still dripping with arrogance. "You know you love our little bantering sessions."

I scoffed, trying to ignore the way his words made my heart skip a beat. "The only thrill I get from our banter is the urge to punch you in the face."

Levi's laugh was low, almost intimate, and it made my skin prickle. "You can try, but we both know I'd be too quick for you."

My irritation flared, and I narrowed my eyes at him. "Oh please, you think you're some kind of untouchable?"

"Not untouchable," Levi replied, his smirk turning into something softer, yet still infuriating. "Just highly skilled at dodging punches from someone with a temper like yours."

I huffed, feeling the heat of frustration rise in my chest. "You're insufferable."

"And you love it," he teased, giving me a playful wink.

Before I could come up with a snarky retort, Spencer-who had been standing beside us like an exasperated referee-finally decided to intervene. She physically stepped between me and Levi, her arms outstretched as if she were stopping two children from a playground fight.

"Both of you, stop," she commanded, her voice leaving no room for argument. "You're both adults now. This isn't high school anymore."

I blinked, momentarily stunned by Spencer's sudden involvement. Normally, she let me handle Levi on my own, preferring to watch our exchanges from a safe distance. But now, she looked genuinely frustrated.

Spencer turned to me first, her expression a mix of amusement and annoyance. "Seriously, Cora. You're better than this." Then she turned to Levi, her voice taking on a scolding tone. "And you, Levi, aren't you tired of picking fights with her? It's been years."

Levi shrugged, completely unaffected by her words. "I don't pick fights. I just... provoke interesting conversations."

"Call it whatever you want," Spencer shot back, clearly unimpressed with his response. "But it's time to stop. We're here to enjoy ourselves, not rehash old drama."

I let out a slow breath, some of my tension ebbing away at her words. As much as I hated to admit it, Spencer was right. This was ridiculous. But standing in front of Levi again after all these years, all of my old feelings-frustration, anger, and something else I didn't want to name-came flooding back. I wasn't sure how to process it all.

Levi must have sensed my hesitation because his expression softened-just a little. "Hey," he said, his voice quieter, almost... sincere? "I'm just messing with you, Cora. No hard feelings, right?"

I hesitated, my fingers curling into fists at my sides. Part of me wanted to snap back with another biting comment, but Spencer's pleading look stopped me. I forced myself to take a deep breath, willing the tension in my shoulders to relax.

"Fine," I said, my voice tight. "No hard feelings. But only if you stop being such a jerk."

Levi grinned, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Deal."

I felt my shoulders relax slightly. Maybe this encounter wouldn't be as terrible as I had originally thought.

Levi gestured toward the guy standing next to him, who had been silently watching the whole exchange with a bemused smile on his face. "Anyway, this is Ethan," Levi said. "He's a friend of mine from college. Ethan, this is Cora and Spencer."

Spencer, ever the polite one, smiled at Ethan and gave him a small wave. "Nice to meet you."

Ethan returned her smile, his eyes kind and warm. "Nice to meet you too. I've heard... a lot about you," he said, his gaze flicking to Levi, who only grinned wider.

I raised an eyebrow, my skepticism clear. "All lies, I'm sure."

Levi cut in with a playful wink. "Not all of them."

Before I could respond, Spencer-ever the peacemaker-jumped in to steer the conversation in a new direction. "So, what brings you guys here?" she asked, her tone light and casual, clearly eager to diffuse the lingering tension between me and Levi.

Ethan answered for them, his voice was smooth. "We were just passing by. Levi mentioned this was a place that served good food, so we thought we'd check it out."

"Right," I said, trying to keep my tone neutral. "Well, it's a nice spot."

Levi, ever perceptive, raised an eyebrow at my forced politeness. "We don't have to stay if we're bothering you. We just thought it'd be fun to catch up when I saw you."

Catching up with Levi Carson? The idea made my stomach churn, but before I could say anything, Spencer jumped in again, her peacemaker instincts kicking in full force.

"Actually, why don't we all hang out? It's been a while, and who knows? Maybe we've all changed more than we think."

Levi shot me a look, his eyes gleaming with challenge. He was daring me to say no, daring me to walk away. But I couldn't. Not with Spencer standing there, looking so hopeful, and not with that strange, unresolved tension still hanging between me and Levi.

I sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Sure. Why not?"

"Great!" Spencer said, her relief obvious. "Let's grab a table then."

As we walked toward an empty table, I couldn't shake the feeling that this was going to be far from a simple hangout. The tension between Levi and me was palpable, simmering just beneath the surface.

Whether that was a good thing or not, I had no idea. But one thing was certain: Levi Carson still knew how to get under my skin. And the worst part? I wasn't entirely sure I hated it.

And the journey begins.....

Thank you so much to everyone who is giving this book a chance.

Once again, thank you so much for choosing my book to read!

- HAPPY READING EVERYONE <3