"You two are not fighting but holding hands.", Spencer stated slowly staring at Levi's and mine interlocked hands.
We glanced at each other and just smiled.
"And they are smiling at each other, not trying to sabotage each other.", Ethan said.
I turned my gaze back at them, my amused face greeting them.
"We might have confessed to each other.", I replied.
"There is no might, it's either you do it or you just keep it inside yourself.", Spencer answered her eyes narrowing at me.
I bit my lip and shrug in return. Immediately she grabbed my hand and dragged me away, cornering me.
"You did it?", she asked her eyes were full of anticipation.
"After he dragged me to his apartment, yes."
"Hold up - his apartment. Shut up. Just shut up."
"I am not saying anything."
She glared at me. I just widened my eyes at her, and shrug again.
"You kissed." She blurted. I just looked at her, didn't say anything. Because I know the person standing in front of me would squeal so hard â which will grab the unnecessary attention of the people around us. She'll be a hyperactive kid and that's something I would try to avoid, as much as I could.
"You are not replying.", she gasped.
I just blinked in response.
"You fucked him.", she whispered.
This time I gasped.
"What the heck? No."
"You didn't deny kissing though.", she stared with a disinterested look.
"Yes, because kissing and fucking are two different thing. Spencer.", I stated.
"So you did kissed him but didn't fucked him. May I know the reason why you didn't proceed with the act?", she asked with a disinterested look again, but now her hands were on her hips as if she was disappointed in me for not sleeping with Levi.
"You are weird, no scratch that. You are insane for asking me that.", I stated glancing at Levi and Ethan who were now sitting at a table and it seemed like they were looking at the menu.
"Call me insane, I don't care. You should have slept with him, like look at him. How did he resist himself and not fucked you?", she said glancing between each other.
I sighed.
"Aren't you happy that we have made progress and might be seeing each other now?"
"I would have preferred you fucked too."
"Spencer.", I whispered yelled.
Spencer just shrugged at me and went towards the table. I took a deep breath and followed her.
Levi and Ethan looked up as we approached the table, Spencer still wearing that mischievous smirk she always had when she thought she'd gotten the upper hand in a conversation. I, on the other hand, was trying to act as if she hadn't just grilled me about my private life.
Levi's eyes immediately found mine. There was something in his gazeâa softness I wasn't used to, like he was letting his guard down.
"You okay?" he asked as I took the seat next to him.
"Perfect," I replied, my tone casual, though my cheeks were still burning from Spencer's earlier interrogation.
Ethan looked between us, his lips twitching in amusement. "So, should we expect a formal announcement anytime soon, or are you two going to keep us guessing?"
Levi leaned back in his chair, one arm draped over the back of mine. "Guessing is half the fun, don't you think?"
"Not really," Spencer shot back. "Some of us have been waiting for this for years."
My eyes narrowed at her. "Years? You barely tolerated him until a few months ago."
"Correction: I barely tolerated the constant bickering. But deep down, I knew there was... tension."
"Spencer?" I scolded, raising an eyebrow.
Spencer grinned. "Oh, come on, Cora. The kind that makes romance novels sell like hotcakes."
I groaned, but Levi was thoroughly enjoying this. His smirk widened as he turned to me. "Hear that? We're novel material."
"More like comedy material." I muttered, refusing to meet his gaze.
Levi chuckled, his fingers lightly brushing mine on the table. The simple gesture sent a shiver down my spine, and I hated how much control he seemed to have over me with the smallest touch.
Ethan, clearly amused, decided to jump in. "Okay, let's focus on something productive. Like, what's the plan now? Dinner? Dessert? Awkward conversations about feelings?"
Spencer snapped her fingers. "Ooh, awkward conversations. My favorite."
"Mine too," Levi chimed in, winking at me.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't fight the smile tugging at my lips. "You're all impossible."
"And yet, you love us," Spencer said, batting her lashes dramatically.
"Debatable," I shot back, though the warmth in my voice betrayed me.
Levi's hand slid into mine under the table, his thumb brushing lightly over my knuckles. It was such a small, intimate gesture, but it grounded me in the chaos of the moment. I glanced at him, and the way he was looking at meâlike I was the only person in the roomâmade my heart skip a beat.
"Fine," I said, pulling my hand from his and standing up. "If we're done with the awkwardness, I'm going to order dessert."
Spencer gave me a knowing look. "Don't take too long. I'm sure Levi will miss you."
"Spencer," I warned, but she just grinned innocently.
As I walked toward the counter to place the order, I could hear them laughing behind me. It was strangeâhow natural it felt to have all of us together like this. Not long ago, Levi and I couldn't even be in the same room without trying to one-up each other. Now, I couldn't imagine my life without him.
When I returned to the table with a tray of desserts, Levi reached out to grab a plate, his fingers brushing against mine deliberately. I shot him a look, but he just smiled.
"Thanks, sweetheart," he said, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
The term again caught me off guard, and I nearly dropped the plate. "sweetheart?" I repeated, arching an eyebrow.
"Still not used too?" he asked, his grin teasing.
I set the plate down with a huff. "Yeah."
Spencer, of course, caught onto the exchange immediately. "What?" she asked, her eyes darting between us.
"Nothing," I said quickly, sitting down.
Levi leaned back in his chair, clearly enjoying himself. "Cora's just adjusting to terms of endearment."
Spencer's jaw dropped. "You called her something cute? Oh my God, what was it? Babe? Honey? Love?"
"None of those," I said firmly, glaring at Levi.
"But she liked it," he added, smirking at me.
"I did not."
"You so did."
Ethan, who had been silently enjoying his dessert, finally spoke up. "I'm just glad you two aren't at each other's throats anymore. This is progress."
Spencer snorted. "Progress would be Cora and Levi â "
I choked on my drink. "Spencer."
"What?", she asked sweetly. I wished the ground would swallow me whole.
Levi, to his credit, didn't push. He just looked at me with that same soft expression, like he was giving me space to process whatever this was between us.
Ethan stood up, stretching. "Well, I think we've caused enough chaos for one evening. Spencer, want to grab some coffee?"
Spencer perked up. "Coffee sounds amazing."
They left together, leaving Levi and me alone at the table. The silence that followed was surprisingly comfortable, and for once, I didn't feel the need to fill it with sarcastic remarks or witty comebacks.
Levi reached across the table, his hand covering mine. "You know," he said, his voice quiet, "I don't mind waiting."
My chest tightened at his words. It was terrifyingâletting someone in, especially someone who knew how to push all my buttons. But with Levi, it didn't feel like a risk. It felt like a leap worth taking.
"I'm working on it," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.
His smile was gentle, genuine. "That's all I need to hear."