Chapter 11 #2
Kirstin leans her elbows on the bar top, staring intently at Nico as he moves around the bar, but keeps his eyes on her. “Maybe I just wanted something a little stronger.”
“Are you sure you can handle it?”
My eyebrows shoot up as my eyes dart between the two of them, the tension palpable. My eyes widen more when she says, “The real question is, can you?”
“Okay,” I say louder than I intend to, taking a step away from the bar. “I’m going to go check on Cole.”
“Oh, doll,” Nico practically growls as he leans on the counter, now mere inches apart as they both ignore me. “Try me.”
“Don’t mind if I do.”
I turn on my heel and walk away, mumbling to myself, “I guess that’s a thing now.”
“They’ve been flirting for the past twenty minutes,” I hear Cole say from my left. I turn to see him leaning against the ledge of the rooftop, staring at my boss and the bartender. “It’s gross.”
I laugh and shake my head as I walk up to him, turning around to mimic his posture as I watch Kirstin and Nico.
They’re still leaning into each other, their voices now hushed as they whisper to one another.
“There is definitely something there. I just can’t pinpoint if it’s romantic or, well, you know. ”
“Or if they just want to jump each other’s bones?” He fills in, causing me to laugh through my nose. “I think it’s the latter.”
“I should probably start mingling and introducing our matches,” I say as a group of five people emerge onto the rooftop. “I’ll come find you in a little bit.”
Cole reaches out as I take a step away, grabbing my purse off my shoulder. “I’ll store this behind my booth.”
Giving him a grateful smile, I turn and head up to the group of four people that were mingling when I arrived and introduce myself.
Spending the next twenty minutes, I greet and welcome our new matches, make sure they’re with who they are here for, and answer some of the random questions that come up.
Kirstin is still lingering at the bar talking to Nico, and I make a mental note to ask—or harass—her about it later. Spinning on my heel, I walk over to the buffet and grab myself a small plate of chips and salsa before I weave through the crowd and head back over to Cole.
He’s currently at his station, so I lean on the wall nearby as I munch on my snack and people watch. A few people are already on the small makeshift dance floor that Nico created us, their laughter infectious as they spin each other around.
“Want to dance?” Cole asks, causing me to jump slightly at his approach. “You look lonely over here.”
I lift my plate slightly. “I have the best company ever, thank you very much.”
“Wow, I’m beat by some cheap chips and salsa.” He holds a hand over his heart, attempting to look wounded. “What did I ever do to deserve this?”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” I tut with a roll of my eyes. “I’d pick food every time.”
Cole shrugs before he grabs the plate from my hand and sets it on the small wooden beam that wraps around the ledge. He then grabs my hands and walks backwards to the dancefloor, dragging me with him.
Stepping onto the dancefloor I say, “Don’t you have a job to do?”
“The next ten songs are already programmed,” he informs me before twirling me in a circle. “My only job now is to make sure you have fun.”
“Ever the gentlemen.”
Cole spins me twice more, causing me to laugh loudly before I fall into him, my hands landing on his shoulders. We end up dancing around like no one is watching, just enjoying each other’s company and getting sucked in by a few of the other couples who are dancing near us.
A slow song suddenly comes over the loudspeakers and the couples who weren’t already dancing make their way over. I smile as I see Nico walk out from behind the bar and hold a hand out to Kirstin, pulling her into him and swaying to the music.
Turning, I see Cole bending slightly at the waist with his hand extended in my direction when he says, “May I have this dance?”
Slipping my hand into his, I let him pull me into him, his hands landing at a respectable place on my waist as my hands rest on his shoulders.
“You’re not a terrible dancer,” I say as we move around in beat with the music.
“Oh, yes,” Cole begins, his mouth tugging up at the corners. “Because swaying is so hard to do.”
“Can’t you just take a compliment?” I ask with a laugh as I look up at him. “I’m trying to be nice.”
He just shrugs in response, causing me to shake my head. Cole reaches for my hand and spins me in a circle again before pulling me back to him. “Maybe I’m not used to taking a compliment.”
My face falls slightly at that, but before I have the chance to comment, I hear a throat clearing behind us. Turning, I smile as I see Levi standing behind me. He’s wearing a plain grey tee underneath a black leather jacket with a pair of jeans.
“I don’t think I’ll ever get used to seeing you out of a suit,” I say before I can stop myself, my eyes trailing up to his. “But I like it.”
“Thanks, beautiful.” He glances over my shoulder and his smile grows into a sly one. “Trying to steal my girl, man?”
Cole laughs. “Nah, bro. If you wanted to dance with her, all you had to do was ask. But just so you don’t get your heartbroken, she’s seeing someone.”
“Oh,” I rush out, gesturing to Cole as I say to Levi, “this is a friend of mine—”
“Cole,” Levi states, beating me to it. My eyebrows shoot up as I glance back at Cole to see him shrug, giving me that small smile.
He brushes past me and walks up to Levi, and I watch in confusion as they grab each other’s hands and pat one another on the back with the other. Cole whispers something into Levi’s ear that I don’t hear, but Levi laughs.
“Am I missing something here?”
Levi walks up to me once Cole steps back and slings an arm over my shoulders. “We’re good friends.”
“Wait, hang on,” Cole says with a wave of his hands as he stares at the arm Levi has wrapped around me. “Marlowe, this is the guy you were matched with? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“How was I supposed to know you two knew each other?”
“Does this mean this is the girl you wanted to set me up with?” Levi asks, tilting his head to the side.
I’m still slightly in shock as I point at Levi and say to Cole, “So this is the friend of yours you were telling me about, then.”
Cole studies the two of us with a furrow between his brows before a large smile erupts on his face. He closes the space between us, wrapping his arms around Levi and me, laughing loudly as he squeezes us tight.
“My two best friends are getting together,” he says, causing me to laugh along. “What a small world. It’s like the universe wants you two to be together. Or just wants to tell me I need to get into the matchmaking business.”
“I don’t know how I didn’t put it together,” Levi says once Cole releases us. “She looks exactly like you described her.”
I raise a brow at Cole and fight a smile as a light blush comes to his cheeks. “I’d say don’t tell JJ, but she gushes about how beautiful you are all the time.”
“She’s the sweetest,” I say as I loop my arm around Levi’s waist and his falls back over my shoulders. “That is also very sweet of you, so thank you, Cole.”
“Honesty is the best policy and all that, right?”
I tilt my head. “I wonder what an amazing, thoughtful, and generous person told you that.”
“All right, now. Don’t push your luck.” Cole claps Levi on the back and flashes me a smile. “I’m going to get back to work. If you have any song requests, just come on up.”
He turns and heads back to his mixer board, hitting a few keys on the laptop he has resting nearby. Turning to glance up at Levi, I see that he’s already smiling down at me. He tilts his head, angling toward the buffet in the corner.
“Hungry?”
“Starved.”
Levi leads me over to the table, my hand wrapped firmly in his as he approaches the table.
Grabbing a plate, he extends it in my direction, and I gratefully accept.
I fill my plate with some Alfredo and salad, making sure to not forget a napkin and fork as I reach the end of the table.
I turn and watch Levi as he finishes grabbing his own food before following him to a free table.
“How was your day?” He asks once I set my plate down.
“It was good,” I answer, stabbing a piece of lettuce with my fork. “How was yours?”
Levi shrugs with his mouth full before swallowing. “It was all right. Slowest day ever, though. I may have been just a little excited to see you tonight.”
I smile before taking a bite of my salad.
This is something I’m still adjusting to, even though it makes me blush every single time: his bluntness.
I’m not used to someone being so straightforward and honest right out the gate.
There is no mystery or wonder with him, there is only sincerity and surety.
It’s nice not having to question whether or not he is interested in me. Of course, there is that small voice in the back of my head telling me he might be like this with everyone, but I ignore it. I’m not about to sabotage myself when it feels so right.
“So, how do you know Cole?” He asks, setting down his fork and watching me.
“Oh, Kirstin and I set him up with JJ,” I inform him, tilting my head slightly. “Did he not tell you that?”
“He didn’t tell me he went to Kirstin, no,” he says with a slight chuckle. “Had I known that’s where he went, I might’ve gone to her myself sooner. They’re good together.”
I smile at that. “They really are, aren’t they?”
“Does this mean the few times he ditched me it was to hang out with you?”
He says it with a laugh, but my mind immediately drifts to that night that Neve had called him when Travis showed up at the apartment. Had Cole been spending time with Levi that night? Did he tell him what was going on?
“Probably,” I say simply, forcing a smile onto my face. “I mean, I am a joy to hang out with.”
“I can’t argue that one bit,” he replies, leaning in slightly closer to me.