Page 37 of Fallen Stars

The car slows and I peek at Levi from the corner of my eye. He downshifts and slows further. Before I get the chance to ask why, he turns left onto a road somewhat obscured by overgrowth. I stare up at the tree canopy and take in the narrow lanes as we continue forward. After less than a quarter mile, the road opens to a small gravel lot with a park bathroom, an elevated view of the Pacific, and not a soul for miles.

He parks the car, cuts the engine, and drops his hands in his lap. Silence swallows us as we sit unspeaking. But it isn’t the same kind of silence we shared weeks ago. It isn’toursilence.

“Ollie, I…” He takes a deep breath as he searches for what to say.

I turn my head his way, but don’t look at him head on. I’m not prepared for the possible rejection on his face.

“About the other night.”

Here it comes. My heart bangs viciously in my rib cage.

“About the… kiss.”

Fuck.Why is this so damn hard for us? If you’re done with me, just rip the bandage off already.

“I don’t regret it.”

My brows tug together as I narrow my eyes and twist to face him better. “What?”

His luminous blue eyes riveted to my greens, he worries his bottom lip. With a simple shake of his head, he repeats himself. “I don’t regret it.” His gaze roams my face and studies the skeptical lines in my expression. “Do you?” Those two simple words are shadowed by tangible fear.

“No,” I say immediately. “Never.”

“Are you sure?”

Does Levi not know me at all? If he’s picked up on how I feel for him—even if only a fraction—he already knows the answer. Although I’ve done my best to keep my attraction and emotions toward him in check, it’d be impossible for him to not sense any of it.

Pulse whooshing in my ears, I hold his radiant blue gaze. “No regrets.”

It’s funny how saying two straightforward words changes your entire life.

“No matter what happens, no matter what you see or hear, I promise you the whole thing with Abi is fake.”

Relief and alarm punch me in the solar plexus simultaneously. The way he says the shortened version of her name… as though they’ve been chummy all their lives. I hate it.

“What I see or hear?”

His gaze shifts to look out the windshield. He rolls his lips between his teeth then swallows.

I stare at his profile, the sharp line of his jaw, the slope of his nose, the pout of his lips. I visually trail down his neck, roam over his Adam’s apple, past the collar of his shirt.

He’s so damn still, I swear he isn’t breathing.

“Her parents asked if we were going to the festival together.”

Of course, they did.

Head against the seat, he rotates until our eyes meet again. “I hate organized events as it is. Attending with someone I have no interest in is ten times worse.”

“So don’t go,” I blurt.

“Wish it was that easy.” His brows bend inward. “I started this whole fiasco. I need to figure out how to end it too.”

Gaze unfocused, I nod. “Yeah. Okay.”

Warmth grazes my cheek and snaps everything back into focus. My eyes widen and jaw slackens as I stare at Levi. I stare awestruck as his eyes follow his caress of my cheek. Slow and soft and curious. His fascination and tenderness are a shot of adrenaline in my bloodstream.

His fingers drift to the angle of my jaw and down the length of my neck. “Are you nervous?” The words are barely a whisper.

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