Page 79 of On the Rocks

A teddy bear? That wassonot Cora’s taste. The guy was with her for fifteen years, and a cheesy bear was the best he could do? If he really wanted to get her attention, he should have bought her tickets toThe Great Gatsbymusical now that it was on Broadway. It was based on her favorite book by her favorite author. The same one she’d read religiously in high school, which Levi should have known.

“Anyway, he’s insisting I let him into the apartment so he can set it up for her. I told him I’d have to get permission from the apartment resident before I could let him in. He thinks I’m calling Jennifer right now.”

“Okay,” I said, climbing out of bed and looking for my pants. “That’s good. Tell him you’re on hold with the restaurant, waiting for her to finish up in the kitchen. Just do whatever you have to do to stall him for a little while longer. I’ll be right there.”

“You got it.”

I hung up, got dressed, and peeled out of the parking garage in no time. When I arrived at Cora’s building, I spotted Levi sitting in one of the lobby chairs, clutching that idiotic teddy and that pathetic sign. “Didn’t I tell you to leave Cora the hell alone?”

Levi jumped to his feet, his eyes widening at the sight of me. “How did you?—”

“What right do you have to be here?” I snapped.

He shoved the bear and the sign onto the chair behind him. “I, uh…I?—”

“Please tell me you’re going to do more than stammer.”

Levi’s mouth snapped closed.

I gestured to the bear. “Why are you harassing her like this?”

“I’m not harassing her.”

“She told you to leave her alone, and this is the exact opposite of that. And in what world did you actually think the doorman was going to let you into her apartment?”

Levi glanced at Carlos, his expression shifting from shock to something else. When he caught my eye again, I could see the accusation written all over his face. “You had the doorman report back to you? Jesus, man, don’t you think that’s a bit controlling? What are you doing keeping tabs on Cora like that?”

“It’s none of your business what I’m doing,” I said. “Cora isn’t your concern anymore.”

“Of course she is! I love her. And I think she deserves to know she’s gotten herself tangled up with a controlling creep,” Levi spat.

“I’mthe creep?” I took a step forward. Levi stumbled back, almost tripping into the chair. “You’re the one who can’t take a hint.”

Even he wasn’t dumb enough to think he was any match for me physically, but it appeared hewastoo dumb to know when to back the hell down. “I…I think Cora should have the chance to decide for herself if she wants me around.”

“Which shedid,at the reunion,” I said. “She wants nothing to do with you.”

“So what she wants is some caveman who comes storming in to beat the crap out of any guy who tries to show her that she has other options?” he sneered.

I knew Cora wanted nothing to do with this scumbag, but his words hit their mark anyway.WasI being creepy? Too hotheaded, too possessive? I took a beat, wondering if there was any truth to Levi’s accusations.

My emotions were obviously all over the place when it came to Cora and Levi, and that was a problem. I didn’t like who I turned into when I let my emotions take over. My thoughts flashed back to memories I’d hidden away—like my shameful, irrational behavior with my college girlfriend, Steph, when I’d gotten into an actual no-holds-barred fistfight with some guys she’d been flirting with. Or what happened back in high school, when I’d nearly gotten in a fight over Cora that could have blown my chances at a college scholarship. It was the reason I’d pulled back from my relationship with her in the first place. Being too caught up in her had nearly been disastrous.

But I was better than that now. I was in control…wasn’t I?

I flicked my head toward the door. “Get the hell out of here, man. I’m not going to tell you again.”

Levi finally gave in, grabbing that bear and darting for the door as I unclenched my fists. A shaky breath escaped me. I tried totell myself everything was fine, nothing had gotten out of hand—but I couldn’t shake my uneasiness. Maybe what I needed was to take a step back before I got in over my head again.

22

CORA

“Oh!”

I turned around on my stool at the sound, my eyes widening. Aiden stood in the doorway of the lab, looking sheepish, like he’d stumbled in somewhere he shouldn’t be. His hand was on the door frame, like he might use it to propel himself in the complete opposite direction.

“I was just coming in to see why the lights were still on in the lab,” he explained.

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