Page 56 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
“Wait what?No it wasn’t unprofessional at all.You’re allowed to date.”
“I mean that wasn’t really a date, more like a random hookup.Or maybe in your world that’s dating,” she said, avoiding his eyes.“Either way I can’t risk losing this job.You may think it’s fine, but I bet your brothers, who hired me to live here with your grandmother, won’t.”
“Missy, that was not just some hookup.Last night was the most intimate experience I’ve ever shared with someone, and we both know it was far more than just a physical connection.”
She could feel the pinprick of tears behind her eyes as she opened and closed her mouth.
“The thing is, Levi, I’m not ready to start anything serious, even if it was more.Not that you’re saying you are.But we both know you’re leaving Sandy Point as soon as you land a new contract.And you’re going to be very busy between work and family.”
She blended the silky navy-blue paint with a light-gray shade on her palette and took one long curved swipe down her canvas.She wanted him to leave.She didn’t want to hear any excuses or lines from him.
“So you saw the news and this is your response?Just shut me out?It’s all bullshit, rumors to sell tickets.”
She took another long swipe and kept her eyes on the canvas.
“It doesn’t change the fact that it could be true and you’re leaving town either way.”
“What if I stayed in Atlanta?Would that make a difference?We could see each other when I’m in town for my home games.”
“Don’t you think you’ll be too busy changing diapers?Shouldn’t you be focused on trying to make things work with her?”
“It’s not mine.”He sighed heavily.“I mean it technically could be, but I don’t think it is.I think my old team is getting even with me for not signing their crappy contract.”
Her hand hovered over her canvas, now with a bold deep black on her brush.
“Do you hear yourself?Your terrible former team might have made up a story about you, or you really are the father of her baby, but you’re more worried about whether or not I’ll be your hookup during your home games for a team you don’t play for.”
“I’m not asking you to be my hookup.I meant maybe I could play for them if it meant we could see each other more.And I know it looks bad, but I only slept with her one time, used protection, and that was four months ago.She and I were friends in college, and we were both single at the time, but it was a mistake.”
Missy gritted her teeth.She couldn’t believe she was hearing almost the same words from Levi, she’d heard from her ex, after he’d found out she was pregnant and dumped her for another woman he’d been seeing behind her back.Her ex told her she had to get rid of the baby.He said he wouldn’t help her raise their baby.He loved the other woman, and how could he even be sure it was his.His insults struck her like a slap to the face.But the worst part was when she said she wouldn’t end the pregnancy, and he’d gripped her arms so hard he’d left bruises and shook her.He’d said she was a conniving fool if she thought she could trap him.
“Why are men always so quick to sleep with women they don’t love and just as quick to deny a child might have been made from their actions?How could you assume it’s not your baby?You literally did exactly what’s required to make a baby, four months ago, with a woman who is now four months pregnant.”
“I just mean, she broke up with her longtime boyfriend, then told me she’d always had feelings for me.We hooked up, and then the next thing I know she’s back together with her ex.She used me to make him jealous.”
“You don’t know if it’s yours.You don’t know where you’ll be living in a week.But I know that this job, living here, is the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time.I’m not going to jeopardize everything so I can be one of the many notches on your bedpost.”
He stepped closer but didn’t touch her.“Once I know for sure whose baby it is, and where I’ll be playing ball, we’re going to revisit this conversation.I know this is messy and you’re scared, but what we have is far more than some basic attraction.I know you feel it.”
“Those are all really nice words to say after we hooked up, but I don’t need your platitudes.I’m not interested in getting embroiled in some drama.”
She turned her back to him to stare at her paints as if she needed another color, but she could feel him still standing just a few steps away.
“We’ll see,” he said, then finally walked out.
She could hear him moving up the steps and she let a tear fall before chastising herself for falling for the one man everyone knew was a terrible idea.Between her job, his reputation, and her history of choosing the wrong man, she really shouldn’t even be surprised.
The only thing that should shock her was why it hurt so much to read he might be having a child with another woman, and why she would ever wish it was her instead.When she had found out she was pregnant, she’d been terrified she would turn into her mother, and when her ex denied their child was his and wanted nothing to do with her, she was sure she had.Then a week later, she’d had some cramping and started to bleed.The doctor said it was very common for a woman to find out she was pregnant in the first trimester but then lose the baby if it wasn’t viable.She’d been ashamed to be relieved but the weeks after she’d been unable to focus on school.She still had to see her ex in several classes, and it got so bad her professors told her if she didn’t pull up her grades she’d fail.
She realized she’d let herself become her mom, by putting a relationship over her own dreams and choosing a horrible man to fall in love with.Now after spending time with Levi, she was already pining to be his.Her mother had really messed her up.It was like she was battling years of bad examples only to destroy her own life and chances for success.She’d dropped out of law school, moved home, and just as her new business was starting to take off, she’d almost sabotaged herself again.
Setting down her brush she pulled out her phone and responded to the message from the art gallery in Atlanta.She may not want to ever return to that city, but she wasn’t going to pass up any opportunities to pursue her dreams.She was going to do the opposite of what her mom always did, and that included not falling for any man who was built for breaking hearts.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Levi
Million-Dollar Baby
