Page 58 of Just Between Us

I open my eyes and he’s looking at me, drawing circles on my back. It’s soothing and I almost forget. Almost.

“Tell me three things you like doing.”

“Huh?”

“Tell me,” he says gently.

I try to think. “Um, reading,” I say. “Hanging out with my sisters and my friends.” I swallow down the lump in my throat. “Being with you and Levi.”

Cole smiles and kisses me again. “Well done,” he tells me, and I feel warm, a hint of pride appearing in a fleeting burst.

Usually, after sex, I’m in a rush to leave but recently I’ve been sleeping over and it’s dangerous. I like the way Levi holds me, and the way Cole is impressively aware of what both Levi and I need.

“Do you want me to run you a bath?” he asks.

I shouldn’t want more from either of them, but I do. Oh, God, I do.

But I should leave. This only makes it harder. “No,” I say, my voice more resolute. “I should probably go.”

Cole holds my chin again, his eyes dark. “You’re not going anywhere like this.”

I swallow, tears threatening but I blink them away. “Sorry, I don’t know why I’m being like this.”

His eyes flash with something and my stomach twists. Maybe he wishes Levi was here to deal with this. I wish Levi was here too but only because I want them both. How greedy is that?

“You don’t ever have to apologise for anything, Kai. We can stay like this for as long as you like.”

I nod against him and close my eyes. Cole asks me questions, probably to distract me, but the fear does not go away because the realisation hits me so suddenly it’s unsettling—I’m falling for him and Levi, and they don’t want that.

We agreed on the rules.

And I’m going to ruin everything.

Chapter Fifteen: Kai

“Who knew getting this project approved would lead to more work?” Connor mutters, clicking through the screens in front of him.

We’ve been trying to gather the necessary data since early morning. Marie is in charge of stakeholders with Yaz, and Connor and I are on the data gathering. It’s a slog, my eyes hurt and it’s not even lunchtime yet.

I’ve barely had a moment to think about everything that happened with Cole. It feels too overwhelming to process but the mountain of work in front of me means I’ll be distracted enough, at least for the day.

Only, when the clock hits noon, Levi appears at my desk, like my subconscious conjured him up. I haven’t seen him in a week and my heart does a little flip when my eyes land on him.

He’s not in his glasses today, instead in a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up, showing a hint of his tattoos. And as hard as I try to stamp the thought down, it rears its head anyway.

I missed him.

“Hi Levi,” Yaz sings across from me, not bothering to hide the fact that she’s checking him out.

I don’t blame her.

Levi shoots her a warm smile. “Hey, Yaz. How is little Salem doing?”

Her eyes widen and sparkle. “You remembered!” she says happily. “He’s much better now. All healed. Thank you.”

During one of the times Levi had lunch down here, she joined and almost shed tears because her kitten had fallen ill. Levi remembering has her grinning wide.

“Hi,” I say, sounding breathless. I clear my throat. “You’re back.”

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