Page 37 of Sidelined Love

His words hang in the air, mostly because I’m not sure how to react and Levi is waiting to see what I will do with that information. Before either of us can say anything else, a loud voice interrupts us.

“Levi! There you are!”

We both jump away from each other as if we were caught doing something wrong. I turn toward the source of the voice and see Asher, one of Levi’s teammates. He stands there with a beer in his hand and a smirk on his face that says he thinks he knows what he interrupted.

Levi and I step back from one another, pretending like nothing happened. Levi stands up straight and crosses his arms over his chest while I take a few more steps back, creating even more space between us.

Asher doesn't seem fazed at all and continues talking as if nothing is wrong, “Hey, dude, where have you been? Come on, let's go play some pool in the basement.”

Levi glances at Asher before his attention is shifted back to me. “Yeah sure, let’s go.”

But he doesn’t move. It’s like he is waiting for me to say or do something first, and I am eager to get out of this situation as soon as possible.

“I need to head back to Jade.”

With a small dip of his head, Levi walks away without another word or glance in my direction and I do the same.

I find myself weaving through the crowd as soon as I reach the hallway. There are more people here than when I came in, but I can’t focus on what is happening before me. All my mind wants to do is replay my conversation with Levi.

I snatch my phone out of my pocket and quickly send a text to Levi with my schedule. After seeing him in person, I figurethere’s no point in waiting any longer. When I make a promise, I intend to keep it.

Once I’ve pocketed my phone, I continue on my mission to find my best friend. I’m so caught up in thinking about Levi that I almost miss Jade who isn’t in the living room anymore and is instead standing near the front door.

“There you are!” she exclaims. “Ready to go? I’m not really feeling this party like I thought it would be.”

“Yeah,” I say as I look over my shoulder and glance at the kitchen once more. “More than ready.”

I zip up the jacket I never got a chance to take off as we leave the party and step out into the cool night. I can’t deny leaving the noise and chaos behind me is a relief. But I also can’t stop thinking about Levi.

15

HAILEY

He's late.

I don't know why I'm surprised that he is. Being late for our first chess session isn't the best way to make a good impression. Unfortunately, my initial thoughts about him seem to be correct.

If he has an issue, texting me about it would be the right thing to do. Communication is key and he's now wasting my time.

During the time I've been waiting for him, I set up the chessboard, ordered a decaf coffee and a brownie, and I've been reading.

There are a few reasons why I'm not completely annoyed by this. First, I have my homework assignment that is due at the end of the week done already. If I didn't have it done, I would have just gotten up and left and probably never spoken to him again.

Second, he's lucky I've been keeping myself preoccupied with a book that has been on my TBR for way too long. I began reading the book today and now I'm halfway through chapter thirteen, where one of the heroine's love interests has alreadyasked her out on a date. The cute cover on this book is hiding a multitude of dirty things and no one is the wiser unless they are reading over my shoulder.

Third, I have one of the best brownies on the planet keeping me somewhat happy. Emphasis on somewhat.

Just as I'm sticking another piece of the chocolatey goodness into my mouth, the bell above the front door of Brewed Beginnings jingles. I shift my gaze, taking me out of the fictional world I'd been in, forcing me back to the present day where I still have to deal with someone who didn't have the common decency to tell me something came up and he would be delayed.

And it is him.

Levi rushes in and spots me almost immediately. He runs a hand through his hair as he walks over to me quickly.

“Hailey, I'm so sorry,” Levi says, breathlessly, as he reaches the table where I'm still seated. “Practice ran over, and Coach wouldn't let us off the ice until we got the drill right.”

How can someone who looks as if he ran all the way here still look hot and put together? It is another talent he has, I'm sure.

I roll my eyes but close my book with a soft thud, marking my spot with a bookmark I'd thrown in my bookbag a week ago. “It's fine.”

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