49

I blinked once and twice. Am I seeing right or am I still dreaming? I pinched myself once, and immediately winced at the pain.

Definitely not dreaming.

Standing in front of me was Levi Carson, with a bouquet of flowers. I frowned and side glanced behind myself.

I was holding the same bouquet of flowers.

"I see you are hiding something, sweetheart.", Levi smirked.

Sweetheart. A simple word that still made my heart skip its beat.

I blinked again, trying to process the situation. Levi stood there in front of me, bouquet in hand, looking every bit as handsome as I expected him to be.

His smirk widened as his gaze flicked between me and the flowers I was still clutching tightly to my back.

"Care to explain, sweetheart?" he teased, stepping forward.

I scowled, stepping back. "There's nothing to explain."

Levi raised an eyebrow, casually setting his own bouquet on the table as he turned to face me. "Nothing to explain? So, you just happened to buy yourself flowers?"

I glanced away, my cheeks heating up. "They're not for me."

"No?" He crossed his arms, clearly enjoying himself. "Then who are they for?"

I sighed, defeated. "They're for you, okay?"

Levi's smirk faltered for just a moment, replaced by genuine surprise. "For me?"

"Yes, for you," I said, my voice nervous than I intended as I thrust the flowers toward him. "I thought it might be nice, alright?"

He took the bouquet from my hands carefully, like he wasn't quite sure what to do with it. 'You bought me flowers?" he repeated, his voice softer now, the teasing edge gone.

"Don't make it weird," I muttered, crossing my arms.

Levi looked down at the flowers, then back at me. His expression was unreadable, which only made my heart race faster. "I'm not making it weird," he said finally. "I just — wasn't expecting it."

"Well, you're always surprising me in some way or another, so I figured it was my turn," I said, avoiding his gaze. "But if you don't want them, I can—"

"Don't even think about taking them back." he interrupted, a small smile tugging at his lips. "They're mine now."

I risked a glance at him, and for once, his smirk wasn't laced with sarcasm or mischief. It was soft, almost... sincere.

"Thank you, sweetheart.", he said quietly, his voice carrying an unexpected warmth.

I shrugged, trying to play it cool despite the butterflies swirling in my chest. "Don't get used to it."

"Oh, I won't," he said, his grin returning, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "But I have to say, this is a first for me. Getting flowers from you, of all people."

"Don't make me regret it," I warned, though the edge in my voice was mostly for show.

Levi chuckled, stepping closer. "Regret it? Sweetheart, I'm tempted to frame them."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't hide the small smile that crept onto my face. He had a way of making even the simplest moments feel like something bigger.

"Alright you've got your flowers. Now, do you want to order your drink, or are you going to stand there admiring them all day?"

"Depends."

I shot him a glare as we sat, "On what?"

But deep down, I couldn't deny the warmth blooming in my chest, a feeling I wasn't ready to name just yet.

"Will I get a kiss too?", Levi asked leaning back in his chair.

I didn't reply.

"I asked something, Abel.", he said.

I stared at him, trying to keep my composure, but Levi wasn't making it easy. The way he leaned back in his chair, looking completely relaxed, was throwing me off.

That stupid white shirt, unbuttoned just enough to hint at his collarbone, wasn't helping either.

"Why would you get a kiss?" I shot back, my voice sharper. Well I hoped it was. But I knew it wasn't, it stammered.

Levi tilted his head, that infuriating smirk firmly in place. "For being me," he said casually, like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I tried to look unimpressed, crossing my arms. "You're really testing your luck today, Carson."

"And yet," he said, leaning forward now, his gaze locking with mine, "my girlfriend is sitting opposite of me, so maybe my luck is better than you think."

My heart betrayed me with a flutter, but I refused to let it show. "Or maybe I just haven't kicked you yet." I replied, though my tone lacked its usual bite.

Levi chuckled. "Whatever you need to tell yourself, sweetheart. But I know the truth."

"And what truth is that?" I challenged, narrowing my eyes.

"That you like having me around. You like my touch, my presence, everything about me." he said smoothly, his smirk softening into a knowing smile.

I looked away, heat creeping up my neck. "You're so full of yourself."

"Maybe but I'm not wrong.", he admitted.

The room felt too small, too warm. I hated how easily he could disarm me, how effortlessly he made my walls crumble.

"You're impossible." I muttered, shaking my head.

Levi leaned back again, the playful glint in his eyes replaced with something softer. "Impossible, maybe. But I'm yours, Cora."

That single sentence made my breath catch, and when I looked at him again, his smirk was gone, replaced by an expression so sincere it made my chest ache.

I swallowed hard, unable to come up with a response. Levi seemed to notice because he chuckled again, low and warm.

I looked away quickly, hoping he wouldn't notice the heat rising to my cheeks. "You're ridiculous.", I muttered, my voice far too weak to carry any conviction.

Levi chuckled, leaning closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "If by ridiculous you mean charming, then I'll take it."

Before I could respond, he nodded toward the plate of pasta between us, still untouched. "Eat, Cora. Can't have you passing out just because I'm that good at flustering you."

My head snapped up, battling with embarrassment. "You're not—"

"Sure I'm not." He winked, leaning back with a self-satisfied grin.

I huffed, picking up my fork and stabbing at the pasta, if only to avoid meeting his gaze. My cheeks burned with every bite, and I hated how much he noticed.

Levi leaned on his hand, watching me with a smirk that had returned full force. "You know, blushing suits you."

I swallowed hard, refusing to look at him, but his soft laugh told me I wasn't fooling anyone.