54

A week had passed since the lake trip, and somehow, life had settled into a strange, comfortable rhythm. Well, as comfortable as it could be when you had friends who thrived on chaos.

Tonight was supposed to be a quiet night—movie, snacks, and absolutely no drama. But, of course, that was never possible with this group.

"I'm just saying," Spencer announced, dramatically waving a handful of popcorn, "if you don't think I could survive a zombie apocalypse, you're all delusional."

Nathan scoffed. "Spencer, you screamed when a butterfly landed on you last week."

Mia choked on her drink, trying not to laugh, while Ethan nodded. "Yeah, I'd give you maybe two days, tops."

Spencer gasped, looking personally offended. "EXCUSE ME?"

I was already grinning, shaking my head as I leaned against the couch. "To be fair, I don't think I'd last much longer."

Levi, sitting next to me, turned slightly and smirked. "Nah, you'd be fine."

I raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And why is that?"

"Because you're stubborn," he said easily. "You'd probably argue a zombie into leaving you alone."

Spencer snorted. "Okay, that's fair."

Mia grinned. "Actually, no, Cora would definitely survive because Levi would make sure she did."

Levi didn't even blink. "Obviously."

The room went silent for a beat.

I felt my face heat up. "What—"

"OH," Spencer practically yelled, pointing at us. "OH, that was SMOOTH. Did you guys hear that?!"

Ethan leaned back, smirking. "Yeah, I think we all heard it."

Mia wiggled her eyebrows. "Levi, are you saying you'd fight zombies for Cora?"

Levi shrugged like it was obvious. "Well, yeah."

Nathan chuckled. "Man's not even denying it."

I groaned, covering my face. "You guys are the WORST."

Levi leaned in, his voice low enough for only me to hear. "You love it."

I peeked at him from behind my hands, only to find him grinning at me like he knew. Like he could see right through me.

And unfortunately, he probably could.

Before I could say anything, Spencer clapped her hands. "Okay, okay, we're getting distracted. The real question is, if we were in a zombie apocalypse, who's in charge?"

Ethan immediately pointed at Nathan. "Him."

Mia nodded. "Agreed."

Nathan looked at all of us, confused. "Wait, what? Why me?"

"Because you're the only responsible one," I said, laughing. "The rest of us would be useless."

Levi gasped, placing a hand on his chest. "I am offended."

"You pushed me into a lake last week," I deadpanned.

He grinned. "Yeah, and you survived, didn't you?"

I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling.

The conversation shifted after that, moving from survival plans to which of us would actually make it through a horror movie alive.

At some point, I got up to grab more snacks from the kitchen, but before I could even open the cabinet, I felt a presence behind me.

Levi.

"You're really gonna let them think you wouldn't survive?" he teased, leaning against the counter.

I turned to him, raising an eyebrow. "Are you saying I would?"

He tilted his head, considering. "If you had me with you, yeah."

I crossed my arms, trying to ignore the way my stomach flipped. "And why's that?"

"Because," he said, stepping closer, "I wouldn't let anything happen to you."

And there it was. That stupid, effortless way he always managed to catch me off guard.

I tried to come up with a response—something smart, something to wipe that smug look off his face—but my brain wasn't cooperating.

Levi smirked, clearly enjoying my struggle. Then, as if to make it worse, he reached out and tugged lightly at the sleeve of my hoodie.

"You're thinking too hard," he murmured.

Before I could even process what was happening, he leaned down and pressed a quick, playful kiss to my cheek.

My brain short-circuited, again.

Levi pulled back, looking way too pleased with himself. "See? You'd be fine. No zombies could handle you."

I gaped at him, trying to form a coherent thought. "You just—what—"

He winked and walked away. "Don't look so surprised."

I followed Levi and saw the Uno cards on the table, with everyone sitting around. Taking a seat beside Levi, I waited for my cards.

"Alright," Mia announced, dramatically cracking her knuckles. "We are playing Uno. No mercy, no friendships, no regrets."

"Bold of you to assume we were ever friends," Spencer quipped, shuffling the deck with unnecessary aggression.

Ethan leaned back on the couch, smirking. "This is about to get violent, isn't it?"

"Absolutely," Nathan replied. "And I, for one, am here for it."

Levi draped an arm over my shoulders, lazily watching as Spencer passed out the cards. "You nervous?" he murmured, his breath warm against my ear.

I turned to glare at him. "Why would I be nervous?"

His smirk deepened. "Because I always win."

I scoffed. "You cheat, that's why."

Mia gasped. "Levi? A cheater? Say it isn't so!"

Levi simply shrugged. "It's not my fault I'm strategic."

"You hid cards under the table last time," Spencer deadpanned.

Levi waved a hand dismissively. "Details."

Spencer rolled her eyes and placed the deck down. "Alright, game on. Let's see who really deserves to win."

The first few rounds were relatively calm—some minor betrayals, a couple of smug looks, and Ethan laughing way too hard whenever he dropped a +4 card on someone. But then, things got personal.

"I swear to everything, if you reverse this back to Levi one more time—" I started, narrowing my eyes at Spencer.

Spencer grinned. "Oh, I absolutely will."

She slammed down a Reverse card, sending the turn straight back to Levi.

Levi, looking entirely too pleased with himself, placed another Reverse.

Back to me.

I exhaled sharply. "You jerk."

Levi chuckled, leaning in closer. "You love me."

"I did." I muttered, staring at my terrible hand. "Not sure anymore."

Nathan smirked. "This is better than TV."

Mia nodded. "The romantic tension is palpable."

Rolling my eyes, I slapped down a +4 card. "Take that."

Levi looked at his cards, then smirked.

Oh no.

He placed down his own +4 card.

I gasped. "YOU CAN'T STACK THOSE!"

Levi grinned. "I just did."

The table erupted into chaos.

Mia threw her hands up. "THIS IS ANARCHY."

Ethan shook his head. "I knew this was going to happen."

Spencer buried her face in her hands. "I hate all of you."

Nathan simply nodded, sipping his drink. "Good game, good game."

Levi turned back to me, amusement dancing in his eyes. "So. Do I get a victory kiss?"

I stared at him. Then, with a slow smile, I leaned in—just enough to make him think I'd actually reward him—before whispering, "Not a chance."

And then I dropped my last card.

"UNO."

The room went wild.

Levi groaned, running a hand down his face. "I hate you."

I smirked. "No, you don't."

He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. Then, out of nowhere, he grabbed my face and kissed me—quick, playful, and entirely too distracting.

Mia screamed. Spencer threw a pillow. Ethan laughed.

And in the middle of all the chaos, Levi pulled away, grinning down at me.

"Still don't get a victory kiss?"

I sighed dramatically. "Fine. One."

And just like that, the game was forgotten.