Page 122 of Between Never and Forever
“Stay here,” he commands, like Levi is some sort of crazy stalker.
I roll my eyes and try to open my car door again, but he hit the fucking child locks. Like I’m a child.
Well, if he wants to treat me like a child, I’ll act like one. Gracelessly, I crawl over the center console and climb out the driver side door.
“Just let me fucking talk to her,” Levi says, and he sounds drunk.
I hurry around the car and back toward the gate.
“Go home, or I will call the cops,” Red says as I step up behind them.
“No one is calling the cops,” I say, and Levi’s eyes land on mine. “What are you doing here, Cooper? Are you wasted?”
Levi acts like he’s reaching into his pocket, and in a flash, Red grabs Levi’s hand and twists it behind his back. Levi hisses in pain and I gasp.
“I’m getting my fucking phone,” Levi says.
Red does something that makes Levi grunt again, and a small smile curves my lips when a flash of memory reminds me of Levi, Bobby, Red, and the Perv Pen at my old dance club.
“Let him go, Red.” I grab my security guard’s wrist and tug on it. He drops Levi’s arm immediately and steps back. “It’s fine. Let me talk to him.”
“That’s not a good idea.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake, Red, this is Levi. He’s not going to hurt me. Just give me a minute with him.”
The whole time I speak with Red, I can feel Levi watching me silently. I heard it in his voice that he’s been drinking, but in my peripheral, he stands as tall and steady as ever. Arms crossed on his chest, eyes hard and focused on me. It’s annoying, actually. Even drunk, he’s still buttoned-up and straightlaced. Composed as ever.
“I’m staying right here.”
Red is insistent. He won’t leave me alone with this drunk idiot, no matter if said idiot is just this weenie from my childhood.
“Fine,” I say on a sigh, then push past him, and face Levi. “What do you want, Cooper? It’s two in the morning and you smell like a distillery.”
That was a lie. He actually smells good. Like wood shavings and sea salt. He runs his fingers through his hair coolly, then shoves his hands in his pockets. He never takes his eyes off me.
“How was L.A., Rockstar? D’you have a good time with your band?”
I cock my head to the side. His question is unassuming enough. Friendly, even. It feels like a trap.
“I had a great time. We won two awards.”
Levi nods. “Yeah, I saw. Brynn watched the whole thing. Real kind of you to give her a shout out.”
“Is that what this is about?” I ask with a roll of my eyes. “I didn’t say her name. You don’t have to worry. There’s noassociationwith my infamy.”
He doesn’t comment. Not on my infamous reputation with the tabloids. Not on how important it is that he and Brynn aren’t mixed up in it. He just stares, then takes a step toward me, dragging his eyes down my body slowly.
“How’s your fiancé?”
My head jerks back at his sudden change of subject, but he continues, unfazed.
“Did you give him my message? Was my taste still on your lips when he kissed you?’
I flick my eyes to Red. He’s acting like he’s not listening, but I know he is. He’s so nosy. I focus back on Levi and narrow my eyes. He’s acting like a jealous idiot.
“I told you already, Levi, Torren isn’t my fiancé.”
He laughs a dark, humorless laugh.
