Page 36 of Sidelined Love

But it only lasts for a second.

That's when I spot him. Of course, Levi is here. Why should I be surprised that he's here? The team is known for their hard-partying ways and he's not the exception. However, he is standing in a corner of the room all alone. He’s staring out the window like he’s lost in another world, far away from here. It's weird seeing him in this state. The confidence and charm that normally radiates from every pore of his body isn’t there. What’s in its place, I can’t fully describe.

Everything in me is yelling to let him be, but curiosity has me taking one step after the other toward him. We're not friends, even though he might beg to differ, but right now, he's the only familiar face I see. Not to mention, seeing Mr. Hockey Captain looking as thrilled to be here as I feel is kind of refreshing.

Misery really does love company.

“Levi?” I say softly.

When he turns to look at me, a small smile appears on his lips. “Hey, Hailey. Fancy seeing you here.”

The text message he sent me earlier today is now at the forefront of my mind.

Damn it. I hadn't been expecting to see him tonight and now this is awkward.

“I got your text message. I was going to respond but got distracted by all of this.” I gesture to my outfit for… whatever reason.

“I get it,” he says as he studies my body.

His reaction flusters me. I feel slightly guilty about not responding promptly, but there is nothing I can do about it now. The awkwardness I'm feeling is outshined by the look on his face. There is no doubt in my mind that there is something going on with him. “This isn't really your scene either, huh?”

Levi leans back against the wall and shakes his head. “Nah, not tonight. Sometimes all of this is too much.”

I nod because I understand where he is coming from. “The noise, the people pretending to have a great time… it gets overwhelming.”

He glances around before his gaze lands back on me. “I think they are having a good time, if I’m being honest. We’re just the two losers sitting in the corner watching them.”

I snort and Levi raises an eyebrow at me as if he’s confused by my reaction. I brush off his reaction and ask, “Do you ever get tired of it?”

“The party scene?”

I nod once, knowing that is more than enough to clarify what I mean. Awkwardness starts to rear its ugly head as I realize this is the longest I’ve been in Levi’s presence without exchanging any snappy comments with him.

“All the time,” he admits. I’m surprised he’s being honest. I open my mouth to speak, but he continues. “But it’s not just here. It’s on the ice, in class… I'm always on, if that makes sense? I’m always supposed to be Levi Jamison, the hockey captain of the Crestwood Red Wolves. But sometimes, I just want to be Levi, you know?”

“Yeah, I can see that,” I reply. It’s not something I experience on a regular basis because no one really knows who I am outsideof serving them at Brewed Beginnings and chess club. But there has to be a certain amount of pressure that is put on a person when they are living in the public eye, even if it is just at Crestwood University.

Levi chuckles, the sound is warm and genuine. “You know, that’s one of the things I like about you. You're real, no pretense.”

The compliment catches me off guard and I find myself staring up at him, wide-eyed. “Thanks?”

“Don’t look so horrified that I gave you a compliment.”

“I’m not horrified. I just didn’t think you had it in you to compliment anyone that isn’t yourself. Stop it.” There. The truce is over, and everything is back to normal.

“I will when you actually want me to stop paying you compliments.”

“I’ve told you I don’t want?—”

Levi leans into me, noting the shift in the air between us. “And we both know it's bullshit. You enjoy this little tug-of-war game that we play just as much as I do.”

My brain refuses to cooperate given the intensity of his stare. I can sense the change between us and I’m not sure how I feel about it. Our back-and-forth is something I look forward to when he stops into Brewed Beginnings even though I wouldn’t admit it out loud. But this here is something different. Completely different.

My comeback dies on my lips as my eyes meet his. There's a challenge there, a silent invitation to acknowledge the unspoken tension between us. I know it has always been there and I’ve ignored it because this can’t happen.

I swallow hard in an effort to regain my composure. Finally, I’m able to form words. “You think you've got me all figured out, right?”

“Maybe not all figured out. But I’m willing to take my time and learn.”

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