Page 8 of Just Between Us
“Disconcerting, huh?” He looks completely unaffected by the alcohol despite this being his third glass.
I open my mouth to speak, but before I can say anything, a familiar figure appears behind Levi. Cole Armas is walking towards our table, and I feel my heart stutter and begin to race in my chest.
He’s wearing a leather jacket; his black hair slightly damp from the rain. He’s made of solid muscle and cut glass. He must be at least 6”4 and where Levi is attractive in a rebellious way, Cole looks like he was sculpted, perfect in every aspect.
As if Levi senses him, he turns to watch his boyfriend who appears beside him and without a word, slides a hand to the nape of his neck, just where his hair stops and grips it slightly, forcing Levi to look up at him.
Levi smiles softly. “Hello,” he whispers.
My cheeks heat as I avert my gaze, looking past them to Connor and Marie who are now collecting the drinks. Thank God.
“Cole,” I hear Levi say. “Kai here thinks I smile like I’m in on a joke no one else knows about. You think so?”
My heart shoots up to my throat. It wants to leap out and run. I dare myself to look at Cole who is watching me with eyes I cannot read. I can’t tell if he likes me or despises me for speaking to his boyfriend. Maybe it’s written all over my face that I think Levi is hot.
But then he does something I am not expecting—he smiles, it’s friendly, twisting into an almost smirk. “I think you’re onto something there, Kai.” His voice is deep, and smoky, like a hug when he says my name.
Jesus, Kai. Maybe Jenna is right. I need to get laid because what am I even thinking right now?
Just then, Marie and Connor appear, drinks in hand and I deflate in relief. I see Marie’s eyes widen slightly when she notices Cole, immediately sobering.
Levi looks slightly apologetic. “I hope you don’t mind; Cole was in the area, and I asked him to join.”
Connor waves a hand. “Not a problem at all, boss. What’s your poison?” he asks Cole easily like he can’t have us fired with the wave of a hand, but Connor is like that, and I wish I was a little more like him at this moment.
“I don’t really drink,” Cole says.
Marie’s eyebrows shoot up, losing her initial nervousness. “How? That’s all anyone does in this city?”
Cole laughs. “Never got it into it,” is all he offers. “I don’t mind the occasional glass of red wine though.”
“Oh my God,” she squeals. “I went to this wine tasting near Bicester the other day. It was divine. You might enjoy it.”
Meet Marie, she can make friends with lamp posts.
Cole’s smile is friendly and warm, “Really? You’ll have to tell me more about it.”
Just like that, Marie is enchanted, and they fall into conversation about wine and good restaurants in the city. He pays close attention to what she is saying, his eyes matching her excitement which only encourages Marie more.
Conner and Levi start on Formula One and this year’s drivers, and I try to join but I’m only half paying attention. My eyes keep drifting to Levi and Cole. I eye their matching bracelets made of sparkling diamonds set in white gold wrapped around Cole’s right wrist and Levi’s left.
Through the conversation, Cole keeps his arm around Levi’s barstool and Levi leans into him. They move together, in perfect harmony. It just fits. I wonder what that must be like, to have someone who moves with you. After my date with James, I feel a little hopeless. It’s probably for the best anyway. I don’t know how good a boyfriend I could be right now.
A little later, Marie yawns and goes home around nine, leaving Connor, Levi, Cole, and me. Connor launches into more sports talk with Levi but I’m not following, my eyes drift to Cole across me again. I study the lines of his face, long dark eyelashes brushing against his skin when he blinks, perfectly plump lips and hands that have veins running up his arm.
Like he feels me staring, his eyes meet mine and he holds my gaze for a second. His eyes flash with something I can’t read. I know I should look away, but I can’t. It’s like he’s holding me in place and won’t let me go. He breaks the staring competition first and leans into Levi whispering something I can’t hear over the music. Levi nods with a smile, then sighs.
“We should get home,” he says.
My stomach falls. Did Cole catch me staring and decide he’s had enough of me ogling him and his boyfriend?
“Do you need a lift?” Levi asks, “We could drive you wherever you need to go.”
Before I can speak, Connor says, “Nah, thanks. I have a date.”
I give him a conspiratorial smile. It’s Thursday and it’s late, but I’ll ask him about it tomorrow. He’s probably meeting Katie, the girl who has a flat in Green Park and allows him to come over at all hours of the night. Maybe I need someone like that but then I think of guys like James and the idea of it has me cringing.
Cole turns back to me and tilts his head slightly. “Kai?”