Control

fifteen

The hall I stand in is enormous, much larger than the McKenna Hall.

But with everything set up and in position, it looks smaller.

The Soccer Banquet has begun, everything finally in its place as my hard work comes to fruition. There is an expansive floor of round tables where guests will sit to eat the three-course-meal we have organised, along with a dance floor to its right that occupies the space in front of a tall stage.

Everything looks right and my checklist is filled with ticks, but that does nothing to calm my nerves.

Is everything perfect?

I let a shaky breath escape me, my foot tapping as I survey the guests lingering on the dance floor.

I talked to the caterer, right? Do I need to speak with the photographer? It's not Nora, I'm not used to not knowing them.

My eyes dart to the clipboard that I hold, every task having been ticked off in confirmation.

Wait ... did I leave through the kitchen when I left the house? What if the stove was on?

A familiar voice at my side interrupts the irrational thought.

"Careful. You stay that anxious and Levi may just stress enough for you."

I turn to my right, my eyes meeting Haris Jabal's stunning grey ones. His dark hair is neatly styled, complimenting his smart suit. His slight stubble is trimmed to perfection.

Whoever scoops this man up is one lucky person.

I blink at his mention of Levi.

"What?"

Haris smiles, straight white teeth being exposed. A light chuckle escapes him.

"Your stress is stressing him out. Look."

Haris' arm lifts, pointing to the corner where Levi stands next to Samuel, the former brooding with his hands in his pants pockets.

God, he looks gorgeous.

I return my gaze to Haris, scrutinising his presence.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him, wondering how he is at this event.

"I'm Levi's date. He wanted a certain blonde, but he thinks he's fucked up with her," he says, words casual as he sticks his hands into the pockets of his suit jacket, thumbs poking out.

"He hasn't," I tell him.

"Go tell him that."

At his words, I glance back at Levi, who has already caught my eyes.

Now or never.

My feet start moving towards Levi before I even make my decision, leaving Haris to approach the green-eyed boy, whose gaze stays trained on me.

My heels click against the hardwood floor, their existence apparent when I stop opposite Levi and almost reach his height.

"Hi," he says when I approach, his eyes finally leaving mine to roam my attire.

"Hi," I greet, checking him out in reciprocation.

He looks incredible in a black suit with a white shirt underneath, its top button undone in a way that fills my stomach with all kinds of warmth.

I glance back up to his vibrant eyes.

A throat is cleared to Levi's left. My gaze flickers to Samuel, who looks just as smart in a suit, his blond hair ruffled in a boyish fashion.