Page 52 of Sidelined Love

I can't believe he said that. “You've got some fucking nerve,” I say back at him. “Move out of my way.”

Without waiting for a response or for him to move because I don’t trust what he might say to that, I brush past him and head down a hallway straight for the bathroom, my heart beating a mile a minute and cheeks on fire.

When I lock myself in a bathroom stall, I lean my head against the cool wall, trying to breathe. What the hell had just happened?

I’m irritated at Levi for throwing me off balance like that but also irritated with myself for reacting so strongly. Not only did he piss me off, but he also made me want to tear his clothes off, all in one short statement. I let him get under my skin and then I ran to the bathroom of all places.

Smooth, Hailey. Really smooth.

Once I calm myself down, I unlock the bathroom stall and wash my hands. The desire to throw water on my face to cool my heated skin is there, but I'd mess up my makeup if I did so. Instead, I'm left hoping the water on my hands will help settle the chaos in my stomach. It doesn't.

With my hands dried off, I reapply my lipstick and take a look at myself in the mirror. I still look the same, although my cheeks are looking slightly more flushed. After spending a fewmore seconds attempting to regain my composure, I leave the bathroom.

I step out into the dark-blue-tinted hallway feeling calm, but that is short-lived. I freeze in place when I see Levi standing just a few feet away with his back leaning against the wall. He's watching me like a hawk. Before I can move away, he closes the gap between us and firmly places one hand on my arm, pushing me against the wall. Before I can blink, his other arm is situated above my head, caging me in with his body.

“What do you want?” I ask, not sure if I really want to know the answer.

“I can answer that question in many different ways.”

“Why are you standing so fucking close to me?”

“Because I need to fucking kiss you,” he says in a way that I can't quite describe. His blue eyes are locked onto mine, as if he's trying to decipher every thought running through my mind. “Tell me that I can kiss you.”

I try to come up with a snarky remark to hide my nerves, to hide the way I'm loving being in his arms. But I'm at a loss for words for the first time in what feels like forever. I allow my body to take over instead of my mind and give him a single nod. I'd be lying to myself if I denied I wanted the opportunity presented in front of me. I nod my head quickly and before I can utter a word, his lips are on mine.

As his lips press against mine, all coherent thoughts vanish from my brain. Hell, I swear I forget my own name temporarily. I gasp at the feel of his warm lips, and for a moment, I can't breathe. It's like he's stealing my air, but there's nothing I want more than this. His hand moves from my arm and slides to the back of my head, cradling it gently as he deepens the kiss.

Our connection goes from gently exploring this new feeling to being hungry for one another in a split second. My hands land on his chest and grip the fabric laying across it. His shirt isnothing but a thin layer standing between us that I'm tempted to rip apart so that my fingertips can touch him, skin to skin.

It's then that I become more aware of where his other hand has gone. It dances along my collarbone before drifting lower to my waist where he pulls our bodies closer to each other. His touch is featherlight, yet it ignites a fire within me I can't ignore.

I melt into him as he removes the space between us. His hand inches upward, and at this point, I don't care if he's bringing the dress with him, exposing my panties along the way. When his hand reaches its final destination, my breast, my back arches into his touch, wishing that this would never end.

It feels so natural being with him like this, yet wrong at the same time. When his thumb runs across my nipple through the fabric of the dress, it's as if I'm being thrown into a pool filled with ice water. This little bubble that we are in bursts, and in my mind, everything crashes down around me. I'm slightly disoriented when we break apart. “No,” I shake my head. “This—" I hesitate, my voice thick with emotion. "This can't happen."

Anyone could have walked up and seen what we were doing. They still can for that matter. The fight or flight instinct within me ramps up again, and I need to get out of here.

Although it's somewhat dark in this hallway, I can see my smeared lipstick all over his face. I can only guess what the state of my face is, but none of it matters.

I wipe at my mouth, my hands shaking, and push past him as I stumble toward the main area of the bar. I don't look back because I don't want to know if Levi is following me.

When I finally reach Jade and Wilder, who are staring at me as if I've grown another head, Jade takes one look at my face and her eyes widen. “Whoa, what happened to you?”

“Nothing. I need to go,” I manage to say.

“Hailey? Are you okay?”

“I'm fine,” I say, allowing the lie to fall from my lips. “I just want to go home.”

Jade looks between me and Wilder before responding. “Okay let's head back home,” she insists quickly.

I look over at Wilder momentarily and see Levi over his shoulder, walking toward us, but Wilder's next words force me to focus on him again. “I'll pay for your drinks. Just go.”

Without another word, Jade and I leave together. From where we were standing to the front door, I can feel Levi's gaze burning a hole into my back.

But I never look back.

21

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