Dane didn’t back down. His hands came up, gripping my arms hard enough to bruise.
For a second it looked like we were about to tear into each other. The forest went silent around us. Then Dane exhaled slowly through his nose and shoved me back.
I released him at the same time. We both stepped away, breathing hard. Neither of us wanted to be the first to throw a punch, but it had been close.
“Just be careful,” Dane said finally.
My jaw tightened. “You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I told him.
He studied me for a long moment. Then he shook his head slightly.
“Just don’t say I didn’t warn you,” he said.
I didn’t answer. Instead I turned sharply and stalked back toward the trail, anger still burning hot in my chest. Behind me, Dane didn’t follow.
Chapter 13
Mason
I stood in front of the narrow closet in Nico and Tony’s guest room, staring at my options. I had taken out a couple of shirts, two pairs of jeans.
There was also one jacket that actually fit me well enough, but it originally belonged to Nico. I didn’t want Levi smelling Nico’s scent on me.
My fingers hovered over a dark green button-down. Too much?
I pulled it out anyway, holding it up against myself in the mirror. The reflection staring back at me looked almost normal, which was ridiculous. There was nothing normal about any of this.
I had an actual date with Levi this afternoon, and part of me still had a hard time believing it. It felt wrong to be enjoying myself so much, enjoying my time with Levi when Kai was…
I swallowed and dragged a hand through my hair.
“Get it together,” I muttered under my breath.
I set the green shirt aside and grabbed a plain black one instead, then immediately frowned. It seemed too plain and safe. My mind went to the morning I woke up in Levi’s bed.
Was that only three days ago? Still, I couldn’t forget the way Levi had smiled at me, like I was something worth looking at.
Like I belonged there in his kitchen, barefoot and wearing his shirt, eating breakfast like it was the most natural thing in the world.
My throat tightened at the memory. I’d almost believed it. That I could have that. Something simple and good. I exhaled slowly and picked the green shirt back up.
“Fine,” I muttered. “We’ll try this.”
I was halfway through unbuttoning the shirt I was wearing when my phone rang.
The sound cut through the room like a blade. For a split second, something warm flickered in my chest. It must be Levi.
I grabbed the phone without checking the screen.
“Hey—” The word died in my throat.
“Someone sounds cheerful today.”
My blood ran cold. Daniel. Every muscle in my body locked up. I closed my eyes briefly, silently cursing myself.Idiot.
I always checked the number first, and always gave myself a few seconds to prepare. To put the mask on. And this time I’d simply answered, because I’d hoped, and wanted it to be Levi.
I forced my expression to go blank even though Daniel couldn’t see me.
