The fair is buzzing with life, lanterns casting warm light over the crowds, laughter mingling with the hum of rides and the sweet scent of cotton candy. We've been wandering through the booths, Spencer and Ethan joking around, Levi lingering close as always, that familiar tension thick between us. I try to focus on the games, but I keep catching Levi's glances, each one loaded with something unspoken.
It had been a week since that visit, since he told me he is going nowhere.
As I'm watching Spencer toss rings at the bottle stand, someone steps into my line of sightâa tall guy with dark hair and a charming smile. He's holding a prize, a plush bear that he must've won at one of the booths. I notice the confident way he carries himself, his gaze focused squarely on me.
"Hey," he says smoothly, flashing a grin. "I couldn't help but notice you from across the fair." He holds the bear out toward me. "Thought you might like a little something to remember tonight by."
"Oh," I stammer, caught off guard. "Thanks, I guess?"
"Name's Dan," he adds, stepping a bit closer. "I don't usually just walk up to someone like this, but... you seemed worth the exception."
I laugh a little, glancing over his shoulder toward my friends. Spencer and Ethan are watching with amused curiosity, while Levi is pointedly looking away, jaw clenched. I turn back to Dan, still trying to wrap my head around the unexpected attention.
"So, are you here with anyone?" he asks, his tone a little lower, his gaze lingering in a way that feels deliberate. "Because if not, I'd love to steal you away for a bitâmaybe check out the Ferris wheel?"
Before I can think of a polite way to decline, he leans in slightly, his voice dropping to a murmur. "Or we could skip the rides and find somewhere quieter. Somewhere I can get to know you better." His eyes glint with a boldness that's impossible to miss.
"Uh, I'm actuallyâ" I start to say, my voice faltering as I glance over at Spencer.
And then, as if on cue, I feel a hand wrap around my wrist. I look up to see Levi beside me, his expression hard, eyes flashing with something dark and possessive. He's barely sparing Dan a glance as he tugs me toward him.
"She's with me," Levi says, his tone cold and unwavering, leaving no room for argument.
Dan raises his eyebrows, chuckling under his breath. "Didn't mean to step on any toes," he says, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "Didn't see a sign."
Levi's grip on my wrist tightens slightly. "Well, now you know," he replies flatly. "So back off."
Dan looks me over one last time, giving a little smirk before backing away. "Alright, alright. Enjoy your night," he says with a casual shrug, and then he disappears back into the crowd.
Before I can even process what just happened, Levi is pulling me away from the crowd, his steps quick and determined. Spencer and Ethan call out in confusion as he leads me to the parking lot, but Levi doesn't look back.
"Levi, what are you doing?" I ask, breathless as he opens the passenger door to his car and gestures for me to get in.
"Just get in the car, Cora," he says, his voice low and tense.
I hesitate, crossing my arms in defiance. "You can't just drag me away from people. I'm not your property, Levi."
His jaw clenches, his gaze softening just a fraction. "Please, Cora. Just get in the car."
Reluctantly, I slide into the passenger seat, my mind racing. Once he's in the driver's seat, he pulls out of the lot, his face unreadable as he drives in silence. The tension in the car is suffocating, every second that passes only making my heart pound harder.
Finally, I break the silence. "What was that about?" I demand, crossing my arms tightly. "You don't get to play the jealous card, Levi. Not with me."
He doesn't look at me, his jaw set. "I didn't like the way he was looking at you. The way he talked to you, like he had some kind of right to you."
I scoff, trying to mask the way his words send a shiver down my spine. "And you do?"
He's silent for a moment, his hands gripping the wheel tightly. When he finally speaks, his voice is quiet, almost vulnerable. "Maybe I want to."
The confession stuns me into silence. I turn to look at him, his expression softened, conflicted, as if he's fighting some internal battle.
I remain quiet for the rest of the journey.
When we finally reach Levi's apartment, the tension is thick enough to cut with a knife. As soon as we step inside, Levi closes the door behind us, leaning back against it for a moment, his eyes locked on me. The dim light in the entryway casts shadows across his face, making his expression unreadable, intense. His gaze travels over me, lingering, and the silence between us feels electric, charged with everything left unsaid.
I stand there, feeling the weight of his stare, my pulse quickening. There's something different in the air, something that wasn't there back at the fair. Here, alone with him, I feel vulnerable, exposed in a way that makes my heart race. He takes a step forward, then another, until he's close enough that I can feel the warmth radiating off him.
He reaches out, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "Do you have any idea what you do to me, Cora?" he murmurs, his voice low, almost like a confession.
I swallow, barely able to hold his gaze.
"Levi... you can't do this," I say, my voice shaking slightly. "You can't just show up when someone else is interested and act like you care. You push me away, then act likeâlike you're jealous. It's not fair. You are confusing me."
"It's not that simple, Cora."
"Then make it simple," I whisper, my voice barely audible. "Stop playing games with me, Levi. Because if you feel something, I need to know. Otherwise..." I trail off, not even sure how to finish the sentence.
He doesn't say anything, just reaches over, his hand brushing against my cheek, his fingers hesitating for a moment before settling there, his touch warm and grounding. "I do care. More than you know."