“Yeah, right.” Dan takes a long swig of his drink. “I completely believe you.”
“Dan!”
“What?” He plays nonchalance, grinning like an idiot. “I said I believe you.”
“If you don’t stop right now—”
“Wait.” He cuts me off, sliding his iced coffee in my direction.
“What?”
“Cool off a bit. All the talk about Captain has got you blushing.”
I hit him again, and I finish his iced coffee, too.
We spend the rest of the evening bowling. Zach, Dan’s older brother who’s studying at Imperial College, joins us near the end.
He’s a taller version of Dan with a toned body that he spends a lot of time perfecting at the gym.
Sometimes, when he’s not with his college friends, he joins us. He also helps us sneak out from the parents’ grasps since he knows all the ‘tricks’.
Dan goes to get us something to drink while Zach and I continue competing. He always gets a perfect score.
“That’s so unfair,” I huff, watching his hands. “You have some sort of trick to always knock them over, don’t you?”
He laughs, revealing pearly-white teeth. “Not a trick, just skill, babe. Let me.”
With me holding the ball, Zach comes behind me and snakes his arms on either side of me to help me grip the ball tighter.
“Keep your hands steady. Don’t push the shot and take your time.” He presses a hand on my back. “Bend slowly and let go.”
All the pins fall down in one go.
“Yes!” I jump up, hugging Zach. “I did it!”
“You did it.” His arms wrap around my waist.
A strong hand pulls me back by the arm, and I yelp as I trip and almost fall.
I come head to head with Levi’s destabilising pale eyes.
Only now, they’re completely black.
28
Astrid
You don’t own me, your majesty. No one does.
* * *
That part about being scared of the ‘black’ Levi?
I take it all back.
I’m not scared of him, I’m terrified. There’s this complete disregard for everyone around him when he’s in this mood and it seems impossible to carve a path into him.
He’s wearing simple jeans and a royal blue pullover, but his entire aura is as black as the look in his eyes.