Page 5 of Playing the Neutral Zone

There, by the door, surrounded by a pile of bags at his feet, stood Levi.

And in his arms was a baby.

ChapterTwo

Levi – Six Years Later

The sun shone through the floor-to-ceiling windows of my condo’s living room.I took a sip of my coffee, quickly checking the time on my phone.It was five thirty; I had to be at the arena in an hour, which meant if we didn’t get a move on, I’d be late for practice for the second time in the past week.

“Come on, Mia, get your things.We’re going to be late,” I called.

I scrolled through the email Lucas sent me from Pamela, our head of PR, as I took another mouthful of coffee, and then shoved the last of my hard-boiled egg into my mouth.Tonight, after the game, we were going to be interviewed by Scarlett Green, or I should say the team.

I’d been in a state of shock ever since the night of the barbeque when Lucas asked the guys if they’d heard of her.I knew I’d probably let it slip when my head shot up, but I was certain I’d done a good job of recovery.While I still kept in touch with her brother Scott on a weekly basis, he’d done a good job of not mentioning her to me ever again, just like I’d asked.

“Mia, let’s go,” I called again, annoyance in my voice.

I was just about to shove my phone in my pocket when it vibrated.I looked at the screen to see new messages from the guys.

Lucas: You dicks ready for tonight’s interview with Ice Insiders….

Knox: Sure am, Lorelai has been grilling me with potential questions asked at other interviews.I should be golden.

Lucas: Why are you this way?

Knox: What?Prepared?Because I don’t want to look like an idiot on camera…

Clay: You don’t need to worry, you always look like an idiot.

Dylan: Whoa, those are some big words coming from a guy who’s probably lying in bed with his sister right now.

Clay: Nope, in the car getting coffee.She’s home laying in post coital bliss and those were her words, by the way.

Knox: I need to bleach my eyes now and you must need your teeth rearranged, again.

Dylan: Okay, this had better end before we get to practice.Can’t have you two all bloody and bruised for pictures afterward.We’ll talk more at practice, but we’d better be on game tonight.

Colton: Don’t worry Dylan, Levi and I will help hold them back from one another should need be.

Levi: Speak for yourself…I’m not on the interview list for tonight

I tapped the edge of my phone and shut my screen off before shoving it into my pocket.I didn’t want to face questions from the guys about why I wouldn’t be there.The moment I heard that Scarlett was the one interviewing, I’d set up a private meeting with Pamela and requested I be excluded from tonight’s interview.

I had my reasons for the request, which I was told would be better if I disclosed, but I kept them private.Pamela didn’t need to know about my past, or about the fact that Scarlett had been the first and last person to break my heart into a million pieces, with zero chance of putting it back together the day she walked away from us because Mia had been dropped at my door.That was why, to this day, I remained single, only having an occasional date here and there.I couldn’t allow Mia to get hurt, and allowing women in and out of my life and hers would lead to exactly that.

Scarlett also didn’t know I was playing for the Dominators.At least, I hoped she didn’t.I’d told her brother not to mention it, but I was certain, with her being in the sports circles, she got notifications of every trade out there.I could only hope she missed the news about mine.

I grabbed my mug and plate and carried it to the kitchen where I was just about to yell down the hall again, when Mia came out of her room carrying her hairbrush.

“Can you brush my hair?”she questioned, shoving her messy hair out of her face.“Gramma did all summer.”

“Mia, honey, we don’t have a lot of time,” I said, feeling my frustration levels rising.

I’d been in Vancouver for almost eight months.During that time, Mom and Dad had taken Mia for me, which made it easier for me to find a place, a nanny, and get settled in with the team.I’d gone to pick her up last weekend right before the season started, and while we’d had to get used to a new routine again, I was glad to have her back with me, even if it meant being a few minutes late for practice.This morning I’d planned to introduce my little nugget to the guys on the team for the first time.

“I can’t go out like this!”she cried while I picked her up and placed her on the stool at the breakfast bar.

“Okay, okay.Let me have the brush.”

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