44

The moment I walked into the restaurant, I had one goal—act normal.

Not like I had spent way too long picking an outfit. Not like I had googled "first date conversation starters" and then immediately regretted it. Not like my heart was racing at the thought of spending an entire evening with Levi Carson — without a competition or an argument as an excuse.

I could totally do this.

Then I saw him.

Levi was already at a corner booth, his long legs stretched out, a coffee cup in front of him. He looked up the second I stepped inside, and when his eyes met mine, that stupid smirk of his appeared.

"Abel," he greeted, his voice smooth as ever. "You made it."

I rolled my eyes, determined to keep this casual. "Was there a chance I wouldn't?"

He shrugged. "Well, considering you took seven whole minutes longer than the time we agreed on, I was starting to think you'd stood me up."

"Seven minutes is not late."

"It is in my book," he teased, taking a slow sip of his coffee. "But don't worry, I forgive you."

I scoffed, sliding into the seat across from him. "How generous of you."

He grinned but didn't say anything else, and for a moment, we just... sat there.

A date. This was a date.

I wasn't sure why it was hitting me now, maybe it was the way his gaze lingered a little longer than usual, or how his smirk wasn't as cocky as before but softer. Or maybe it was just the way my stomach flipped when he absentmindedly ran his fingers over the rim of his cup, like he was just as aware of the shift between us as I was.

"You look nice," he said suddenly, breaking the silence.

I blinked. Levi Carson—Mr. Endless Sarcasm—was giving me an actual compliment?

Suspicious.

I narrowed my eyes. "Is this a setup for a joke?"

He chuckled. "No joke. Just stating a fact."

I studied him for a second, trying to figure out if he was messing with me. But he wasn't smirking, wasn't trying to bait me into a fight.

He meant it.

My stomach flipped again.

"Well," I muttered, suddenly very focused on my coffee cup, "you don't look terrible yourself."

Levi laughed, shaking his head. "I'll take it."

If someone had told my younger self that I'd be on an actual date with Levi Carson—one that didn't involve a heated argument or an impromptu competition—I would have laughed in their face.

And yet, here I was.

Sitting across from him in a dimly lit rooftop restaurant, my fingers curled around a glass of water, my pulse far too aware of the boy in front of me.

Levi, for his part, looked completely at ease. He leaned back in his seat, his fingers absentmindedly spinning his glass, his gaze flicking toward me every few seconds with a smirk that definitely meant trouble.

"This is nice," he said, breaking the comfortable silence.

I raised an eyebrow. "What is?"

"Spending time together without trying to outsmart each other."

I scoffed. "Speak for yourself. I'm still considering ways to outmatch you in literally everything."

Levi chuckled, his gaze flickering with amusement. "Of course you are."

I took a sip of my water, my stomach fluttering at the way he was looking at me. It wasn't just his usual teasing gaze—there was something softer beneath it, something I wasn't entirely sure how to handle.

The waiter arrived with our food, and for a while, we fell into easy conversation—Levi complaining about a coworker who always stole his favorite snacks from the break room, me telling him about the ridiculous amount of books I'd added to my reading list.

It was... comfortable.

Too comfortable.

And that's when it hit me.

Levi and I had always existed in a world of tension—arguments, challenges, that electric push and pull that neither of us could ever seem to let go of.

But this?

This was new.

Scary.

And maybe, just maybe, something I wanted to hold onto.

Levi must have noticed the way I got lost in thought, because he set down his fork and leaned forward slightly.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

I shook my head, offering a small smile. "Just thinking about how weird this is."

His lips quirked. "Weird in a bad way or a good way?"

I hesitated. "I don't know yet."

He studied me for a second, then smirked. "I can help you figure it out."

Before I could question him, he pushed his chair back and stood.

"Uh, what are you doing?" I asked warily.

But instead of answering, he took a step closer—to my side of the table.

My pulse stuttered.

"Levi," I said slowly, "if you do something dramatic, I will throw my drink at you."

He grinned. "Noted."

Then, before I could process what was happening, he knelt down.

I choked. "What the—are you proposing?"

Several heads turned in our direction, and I wanted to die.

Levi just laughed. "Relax, Abel. I'm not that crazy."

"Debatable."

But my heart was hammering in my chest as he looked up at me, his expression shifting from playful to something that made my stomach twist in a completely different way.

"I am asking you something, though," he said, his voice softer now.

I swallowed. "Oh?"

His gaze held mine. "Be my girl, Cora."

The words were simple. No grand speech. No unnecessary theatrics.

Just Levi, looking at me like I was the only person in the world.

And just like that, my breath caught.

He wasn't smirking anymore. He wasn't teasing.

He meant it.

I stared at him, my heart pounding so loudly I was sure he could hear it.

Was I ready for this?

Was I ready to officially be Levi Carson's girlfriend?

The answer came quicker than I expected.

I took a deep breath, then smirked. "Only if you promise not to be insufferable about it."

Levi grinned. "No promises."

I rolled my eyes, but before I could say anything else, he reached for my hand.

"Cora," he murmured, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. "I'm serious."

My breath hitched.

And suddenly, I realized—so was I.

I exhaled, then nodded. "Okay."

His grin widened. "Okay?"

"Yes, Levi." I huffed. "Yes."

Before I could prepare myself, he shot up from his kneeling position and pulled me into a kiss—quick, soft, and completely undeniable.

By the time he pulled away, I was certain my face was bright red.

"You really had to do that in public, huh?" I muttered.

Levi shrugged, looking entirely too pleased with himself. "What can I say? Gotta make sure everyone knows you're mine now."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the small smile that tugged at my lips.

Because as ridiculous as he was...

I was his.

And he was mine, too.