Page 19 of Havoc

“Is everything okay?” Levi steps closer, reading my face. “I didn’t think I’d see you tonight.”

“Yes, sorry.” My heart thunders when he brushes his thumb on my hand again. “I wanted you to be the first to know…”

“Know what?”

“I got into the photography program.”

The most breathtaking grin stretches his face. “No shit? Damn, I knew you could do it, Aimee.”

He did. He’s the only one who believed or cared. My father thinks I’m wasting my time on a summer photography program, and I can tell he’s only supporting me to use it as leverage when I decide on a college because he wants me to stay close. But Levi is genuinely happy about it.

“Congratulations.” He squeezes my hand, and his gaze falls to my mouth.

My cheeks burn, and I wonder if he’s thinking what I am.

I’m desperate to know what Levi’s lips feel like. What his hands would feel like if he pulled me close. I know he’s not a virgin, but I am. And I can’t help wondering how good it would feel to finally cross that line with him.

But as quickly as the moment is there, it fades. Levi steps back, tucking his hands into his pockets.

“Do you need to get back to the club?” I break his gaze.

“Eventually.” He moves beside me, leaning against the car so our shoulders brush. “But not yet.”

Another firework spits into the night sky. Then another. We watch as embers rain, and I wonder if we’ll ever finally burst ourselves someday.

Maybe that’s the problem because I’m starting to think we wouldn’t survive it.

7

Havoc

Aimee’s eyes widen asshe lowers the gun. Any lingering rage or annoyance washes from her expression, and for the first time since I saw her a few weeks ago, she resembles the girl I remember.

“I thought—” Aimee takes a step forward and freezes. “Oh my god. I shot you.”

“You barely grazed me.” I lift off the wall, still holding my arm. “I’ll be fine.”

My arm stings, and it hurts like hell, but the pain is nothing like actually taking a bullet. This one ripped off a layer of skin at most. Thankfully, Aimee has shit aim in the dark because it could have been worse.

I take another step toward her, and she rolls her shoulders back, gathering her composure. I’m getting used to the walls she has erected around herself, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t frustrate me when they return so quickly in this moment.

“You should have announced yourself before bursting up the staircase.” She lifts her chin when I stop in front of her.

Such a little firecracker.

I can’t help but grin.

“Are you blaming me for getting myself shot?”

She shrugs. “You can’t just barge into someone’s house in the middle of the night and expect nothing to happen.”

“Technically, it’s my house.”

Aimee’s eyes narrow, and her lips form a firm line. But she doesn’t argue because I’m right.

“Are you okay?” I take another step, and it puts us closer than we’ve been in years.

Aimee must notice it too because she drops her gaze and steps back. “I’m fine. They left before you got here. I’m guessing the club was notified when the alarm went off?”