Page 8 of Levi

It’s funny to me that my sister and my uncle are both annoying me about this, but when I told my parents we were moving back to Nashville, they didn’t question where I was staying once. I mean, in all fairness, they probably assumed I was going to move back with Ally because we’ve lived together for years at this point, but they also don’t know the history between Ally and me…we’ve always played nice around our parents. I guess that’s what happens when your parents are only around in very small doses. You want all the time you have with them to be “good” and not spend time on the negative. Besides, it was easier to keep the peace with everyone by not dropping the bomb that Ally is a liar.

Don’t exactly want to break my parents’ hearts.

My parents are great. They worked really hard when my sister and I were younger to provide a life better than we could’ve ever dreamed of. But they also worked hard so they could play harder once my sister and I were out of the house, and now they’re getting to enjoy the fruits of their labor—or whatever they always tell us. But that just means that they are never in one place for very long, and I guess I kind of hate it because it’s just been my aunt and uncle that we have consistently. Half the time I go to pick up the phone to call my parents and they either send me to voicemail or I have to do the math to make sure I’m not calling them in the middle of the night. They’ve traveled everywhere, and it seems like they’re usually in Australia or Europe if I need to call them for something.

I guess I’m just bitter and wish they were here in Nashville so I’d have somewhere to go. Instead, I’m stuck in this hotel room, completely alone, with all my things packed away in storage, waiting for work to start on Monday.

A knock on my hotel door snaps me out of my spiral, reminding me that I ordered room service. It’s my favorite part about staying in a hotel. Well, that and the complimentary robe and slippers, but that’s just a given.

I hate cooking, so if I can get away with not doing it, that's definitely my plan. When I get married—hell, if I ever do—I hope my husband loves to cook because that is one area that I’m not very strong in.

Standing up, I go to the door and grab my food, tipping the staff member before bringing the platter back to the bed. Curling up in the middle, I look down at my two vodka sodas and plate of nachos. This is the life. Grabbing the remote, I throw on an episode ofTell Me Liesbefore diving into my meal.

Two episodes later, I’ve devoured my nachos, drained my vodka sodas, and I’m feeling good. A little tipsy, but just enough to be able to enjoy my show and relax. I knew I was going to need to be distracted tonight because my uncle told me that today was when the Firebirds’ owners were going to be communicating with the team that there would be a change in their coaching staff.

I know it’s not going to go over well, and honestly, I’m halfway expecting a rude-ass text message from Levi. We haven’t talked since the other night when I told him my idea, and after that went over about as well as a turd in a punch bowl, I haven’t really wanted to talk to him again.

I was honestly just trying to help him. I know him better than he realizes, so I understand why he wants to stay in Nashville. Only, he doesn’t know I know, and after hearing the way he talked to Ally about it, I’ve never exactly wanted to bring it up.

But right now, I feel like I should help him because there’s the real possibility that my uncle has him on a plane by the end of the week. I may not be Levi Crosby’s biggest fan, but that doesn’t mean I want to see him hurt.

A good punch or two to his ridiculously handsome face during a game always makes me smile, but that’s not the point. I probably shouldn’t even admit that now that I’m working for his team.

There’s also my situation with my uncle that I’m trying to figure out. I’ve been trying to prove myself to him for years, but it never feels like it’s enough. I’m not sure what it is, but he never seems proud, impressed, or even pleased with anything I do, and it’s honestly frustrating. My sister answers the phone once, and it’s like he wants to throw a celebration. But when I help a star player work through an injury and get him back on the ice, I’m still unimportant.

At least that’s how it feels. Plus, since I’m freshly certified, having just finished schooling and my internships, I’m lucky to have the opportunity to work with the Firebirds. But if I want to keep the position for next year, my uncle says I need to prove I’m committed. Regardless of the fact that I think it’s bullshit, I don’t want to lose the opportunity to work with this team.

So now, I’m just trying to figure out another way to show my uncle that I’m fully invested, without involving a boyfriend.

Although I’m not sure dating Levi would be much better, at least not in the beginning, it could be entertaining to piss my family off while simultaneously proving to my uncle that I can take a relationship seriously.

Even if it is with one of the only people he hates.

But hey, my sister is my uncle’s favorite, so he obviously doesn’t have the best taste.

Of course, Levi said no, so I’ll never get to see the look on his face when I would’ve told him who my boyfriend was.

It sucks, but I’m trying not to let myself dwell on it or get upset. All it did was make me wonder what it was about me that he didn’t like. Why am I not enough? I’m good enough to fuck, but not good enough to be considered his girlfriend, even if it is fake.

I guess at least I get him coming back for more, considering all I’ve ever heard about Levi is that he’s a one-and-done kind of guy.

Which, I mean, is great and all. Makes me want to pop champagne and give my hoo-hah a high five, but it still doesn’t fix this situation or how I feel about it.

It's hard not to take it personally because, well, it feels really personal.

But I won’t beg. I’m not going to force someone to want me, even if I really wish he did. It’s not my style. If Levi wanted me, he’d be with me. He’s bold. He takes what he wants, and I’m just not it.

We’re so fucking compatible…but only in the bedroom.

There, where we don’t have to talk, we get along perfectly. I still think about the night, just a year ago, when I met up with Levi while I was in Nashville for a weekend. It’s usually just the two of us, but that time, he had two friends with him—his friend, Miles, and a girl named Stella.

I was annoyed that it wasn’t just the two of us, so I’ll be honest, I flirted with his friend. A lot.

It was meant to be harmless. I could tell Miles was a flirt—it was obvious—so I flirted back and got a little snuggly, all while feeling the burn of Levi’s eyes on me.

But then he pulled the Uno Reverse, started flirting and getting close with Stella, and I saw red. Except, when they started fooling around right in front of us, it wasn’t me that snapped and stopped them, it was Miles.

The second they stopped, Levi’s dark blue eyes were back on me, and they were hungry. With the crook of his finger, he gestured me over, and I wish I could say I fought him on it, but I didn’t have it in me. I was turned on and wanted him, two emotions I couldn’t explain after what just happened. Mix that with the fact that I also wanted to murder him for kissing her in front of me, and I was a clusterfuck of confusion.

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