Page 101 of Scattered Glitter

“As you know, it’s my birthday tomorrow—” Levi starts.

“Our birthday,” Koen mutters.

“Technicalities.” Levi waves him off, and I have to suppress another laugh. “Anyway, I want my girl,Glitter,here to be the star of the show. Give me your most beautiful and sexy dress. Something that fits this vision of a woman.”

Her eyes shift to me, and she smiles, her expression kind. “It’s nice to meet you, Glitter. I’m Kati. And I’m sure everything will look amazing on you, so I guess we have a big selection to choose from.”

She didn’t even bat an eye at my sweatpants.

“Ah! I think this screams for champagne, don’t you?” Levi exclaims, and Kati nods, disappearing to the back and leaving us standing by the counter. When she returns, she starts to hand us each a glass, but Koen shakes his head, holding up a hand. “None for me, thank you. I’m driving.”

Levi, however, takes two glasses and looks at me expectantly. “You won’t make me drink alone, right?”

I clench my teeth, shaking my head while I glare at Koen. “I can’t.”

“Why not?” Levi’s eyes flick to Koen, then back to me.

“Koen wants me sober.Always.” The words are clipped, my gaze still on the man in question, who’s watching me carefully.

Levi grins, his gaze bouncing between us again. “Right.Ko, brother, please, get that stick out of your ass so she can have a glass of champagne with me?”

Koen sighs, but there’s a hint of amusement playing on his lips. He steps closer, his eyes locking onto mine as his hand comes to cup my cheek. “All right,” he says softly. “You’re allowed to drink champagne with Levi.”

“No… forehead tapping?” I ask, bewildered, ignoring the fact that he’sallowingme to have a drink.

Bastard.

His lips curl playfully, and his hand wanders from my cheek to my forehead, tapping gently. “There.”

It’s as if a weight lifts off my chest as relief washes over me, the effect almost dizzying.

Thank God.

Igrab a glass from Levi, downing it in one go, my throat burning as the bubbles rush down. But it’s a good burn. So much so that it almost makes me tear up, finally being able to dull the edges again.

Three days without a drink, yet it may as well have been years. I missed the numbness more than it’s healthy to admit.

I reach for the other glass from Kati, who hands it over without question. “Thank you.”

The second glass goes down just as fast. The warmth starts to spread, coating the raw parts of me, and I feel my muscles slowly unclench, my heartbeat steadying. It’s like coming up for air after being underwater for too long.

Levi chuckles, clearly amused, while Koen stares at me, probably unsure whether to be impressed or worried.

Both would be appropriate.

Levi lifts his glass, grinning as he clinks it against my empty one. “Let’s get this party started!”

He immediately disappears into the racks with Kati, his eyes wide with excitement like a kid in a candy store. Kati holds up a beautiful, sparkly silver dress, and Levi eyes it critically, then shakes his head, diving deeper into the sea of dresses.

Koen, however, stays close to me, his eyes scanning the racks as we walk. He pauses, pulling out a dress. “How about this?” he asks, handing me a long, emerald-green gown with intricate lace sleeves. “It matches your eyes.”

Why would he care about such details?

I take it, running my fingers over the delicate material, but when I come across the price, I almost choke on air.

Fifteen thousand dollars?

“Koen, I can’t wear this.”

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