Page 53 of Sidelined Love

LEVI

The harsh beeping of my phone's alarm forces me awake. I groan and fumble to hit the stop button, wishing I had a chance to hit the snooze button instead to get a few more minutes of sleep. Not getting much rest the evening before will do that to you. The chances of me feeling like a zombie today are high.

Pushing the covers off my body, I sit up and run a hand through my hair. The first thing I think of is Hailey and how I royally fucked up last night. How could I have been so stupid? I let my desire to have her in any way I could, get the best of me, and I acted without thinking properly.

Seeing her in that red dress had done something to my brain. More accurately, it had done something to my dick. I'd wanted to rip that dress off her but knew better than to do it in public.

However, I didn't know enough to keep myself from making out with her in the back hallway of Sapphire Tavern. It was as exhilarating as being out on the ice, and for a brief moment, I pushed all thoughts of potential consequences to the side.

Which is something I shouldn't have done.

I'd wanted to go after her, to talk about what I did and apologize, but Wilder thought it was best that I leave everything alone for the time being.

As much as it hurt, I knew he was right. So I followed his lead, and soon after Jade and Hailey left the bar, I did too.

Regret is all I feel as I realize I ruined her night. From what I know about her, it's rare for her to venture out and do that type of thing. Her life consists of the work she needs to do for her college courses, her job, and chess club.

Fuck.

I hadn’t even begun to think about whether she'll want to continue the chess lessons we've been doing together. They are the most fun I’ve had in a long time and now they might be ruined by my impulsive actions.

But for now, I have to put that on the backburner. My focus is on the day ahead and repairing what little relationship Hailey and I had started to build.

Dragging myself out of bed, I shake off the nagging thoughts of Hailey, trying to focus on what I need to complete today. My feet hit the rug my mother insisted I needed in my bedroom, and I stand up, stretching my arms high above my head.

I walk to the bathroom, splashing cold water on my face to help myself wake up more before throwing on the clothes I need to wear to practice and grabbing a quick breakfast. This is part of my routine since I started at Crestwood and usually it’s an opportunity for me to get into the zone and focus on what I need to do on the ice.

However, the only thing I can think of is Hailey.

That continues as I finish eating, leave my apartment, and head down to the rink. The urge to text her is there, but I need to take my time with this and not jump into it, which is how I got into this situation to begin with.

Once I'm at the rink, I put on my gear and lace up my skates, then step out onto the freshly smoothed ice. I need to keep my mind on this and not on Hailey.

As practice kicks off, Coach Johnson puts us through drills that come one after another. I try to let muscle memory take over, but my focus isn’t there and I know it.

A puck slips past me that shouldn't have. A rookie could have easily made the play I just missed.

“Jamison! Eyes on the puck!” Coach Johnson yells, and I feel the sting from his words.

I glance at Asher who shoots me a look across the ice. He waits for us to talk about it until Coach calls for a break. “Dude, what's going on with you today?”

“Wish I knew,” I reply with a shrug, trying to deflect his perceptiveness. “Not feeling it, I guess.”

Asher gives me a look that says he doesn't believe my shit. “Does it have anything to do with Hailey? Wilder mentioned what happened last night.”

It's not shocking that word has gotten to him even though he wasn't there. Wilder has no issue talking, and I didn't ask him not to say anything. I'm also not surprised that Asher is able to put two and two together.

“Yeah, it's Hailey,” I confess, taking a swig from my water bottle. “I screwed up last night and I can't think of anything but that. It's messing with me.”

“You're not going to be able to stop thinking about the situation or her until you solve it.”

He taps his stick against the rubber matting under our feet as I think about what he said.

“I know that too,” I finally say.

“You've said before that you need to 'Leave it all on the ice.' Maybe it's time you do that off the ice too. Man, go talk to her after practice. Clear the air.”

Wilder strolls up to us, but his trademark smile isn't on his face. “So, are we talking about Hailey?”

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