“Avril,” Levi says, and clears his throat. “It’s been some time.”
He shifts awkwardly and looks incredibly uncomfortable.
There’s clearly something that happened between the two of them.
She’s absolutely stunning with long red hair and warm smile, though it seems fake as hell. Her blue eyes sparkle in the sunlight as she leans down and gives him air kisses on both cheeks. I swear I hate this woman already.
“Not as long as you’d think.” She smiles at Amelia but doesn’t so much as meet my stare. “Your mommy must be very lucky to snag a billionaire.”
I want to rip her throat right out for saying that to a child.
Who is this woman other than a jealous ex? It’s obvious they slept together, by the way she rests her arm on Levi’s shoulder, her fingers possessively caressing his skin.
His hand lands firmly on hers, but it’s not in any endearing way. He’s trying to stop her from touching him or maybe embarrassing him.
“You need to leave, Avril,” he seethes.
She smiles and waves at Amelia.
Amelia smiles and waves back, not understanding that this woman is the very definition of trouble. She also is likely well-versed in creating scandals. I can feel the drama brewing between Levi and Avril.
The tension is thick, but it’s not sexual in nature, at least not from Levi. His other hand is bunched into a fist in his lap.
I reach out, taking his hand in mine. “It was so lovely to meet you, but this is a family lunch, and you’re not invited.”
Avril’s mouth opens, slightly parted, and she exhales a puff of air, a half-laugh. She’s surprised. Whether it’s my boldness or the fact I didn’t cower, it doesn’t matter. I won. Not her.
“You didn’t tell me you were in town,” Avril says, her fingers moving into Levi’s hair. She runs her fingers through the thick, dark locks, and I swear I want to lunge across the table and tackle her to the ground. My inner beast has awakened.
Feral.
Primal.
I’m ready to fight for Levi.
“Why would I?” Levi asks.
“For old time’s sake?” Avril says with a shrug, pretending that Amelia and I aren’t right at the table. “You don’t seem much like the daddy type. Why are you dating a woman with a kid?”
Levi stands, growling as he grabs Avril by the wrist and drags her away from Amelia and me. I can’t hear what’s being said, and I’m trying really hard to listen to their conversation.
“I don’t like that lady,” Amelia chimes, loud enough for the entire restaurant to overhear.
“Yeah, me either,” I say.
“Do you think Daddy is going to date her, Clare Bear?”
I don’t think he’s stupid enough to fall down that rabbit hole, at least not again. “No, she’s not his type.” At least I hope she’s not his type anymore, because Avril and I are nothing alike. And I don’t want to tell the kid I’m sleeping with her father.
But are we dating?
No one said anything about being exclusive.
I shift uncomfortably on the hard wooden chair. What am I going to do if he decides to go out on a date with her?
What if he wants to bring her back to the apartment?
I grimace. Will he make me sleep on the couch? No, he’ll probably just insist that he go back to her place to avoid Amelia and me.