Page 63 of Ace of Spades

And he wants to get to know mine.

Brody definitely wins some points in my book.

Levi emerges from the shop with his jaw tight and sunglasses on even though it’s cloudy. He must’ve brought a change of clothes because he’s out of the work jeans and t-shirt and is now wearing a clean white shirt that hugs him in all the right places.

The pants he’s wearing are working extra hard to keep him in, as I work extra hard not to look too closely.

The man is muscle and mass, and my throat dries instantly at the sight of him.

Earlier, Theo swung by in his jeep to pick up Josie and take her back to their place.

The exchange between father and son was short and clipped. Josie oblivious to the tension surrounding her.

Levi looks over at the baby goat and mutters, “Fucking goat.”

I can’t help the smirk that stretches across my face.

Julian, ever the asshole, throws a grin over his shoulder as he bounces up to the car and shouts, “Shotgun.”

Which leaves the back seat to Levi and me. Alone.

Great.

Levi steps up to the back of the car and holds the door open, motioning for me to go first.

“Thanks,” I mutter.

I might be more resolved about staying here, but Levi is still on my shit list for the way he spoke to me earlier.

He slides in next to me without a word. Our thighs barely brush, but it’s enough to make my pulse throb.

The small space fills with his presence and the smell of him.

“So, how far are we from the Thunderhawk Arena?” Julian asks the driver.

“Just half an hour or so,” the man says. “We might catch some traffic just outside Savannah, but not to worry, I know my way around.”

He winks at us through the rearview mirror.

The ride is silent and tense in the back seat, but up front, Julian fills the silence with excited chatter, which helps until he dozes off against the window halfway through.

Maybe the excitement was too much for him.

I sneak a glance at Levi, who’s staring straight ahead like he can’t afford to look at me.

I guess this is what I can expect for the rest of this night. Awkward silence from him.

Then suddenly he says, “I’m sorry about earlier.”

My heart stutters.

“There’s just been a lot going on lately,” he adds, his voice rough. “And I took it out on you.”

“I was just trying to help,” I say, my voice barely above the hum.

“I know.” He finally looks at me. And for the first time since the fight, I see therealLevi

. Softened. Raw. Regret bleeding through the cracks.

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