Page 87 of Dirty Player

Her hand lifts, and she places it on my cheek.

“Your dad knows you love him, Kaylee. The moment you were born, you were the apple of his eye.” Mom’s eyes leak.

No.

No, that’s not it.

“He’s so proud of you working for his team.” She smiles through her own fear and grief. “Getting a doctorate and becoming a physio.”

Oh god.

“He told me just last week he wanted to live longer to watch you do more great things.”

A guttural noise escapes me, and I drop my head into my hands as Levi’s words return.

Both of us have kept this from the other people in our lives. But now we’ll ease them into it. Showing them how much we are in love.

“Mom.” I sob, dropping my face into my hands. “I lied. I lied to Dad.”

Silence.

She’s going to hate me, too.

I sit up and face her. She’s waiting for me to speak. “I lied about Levi.”

She frowns in confusion. Aside from being on the TV, she’s not heard his name from me in a long time.

“I don’t understand.” I watch her eyes lift over my head and I spin around, expecting to see the doctor.

“Kaylee.” Levi’s deep voice is low as he stands a few feet away looking a mix of furious and concerned. “How is your dad?

“What’s he doing here?” Mom asks. “And what is going on?”

Shit.

I stand abruptly and glance between them.

“Ah.”

“Mrs. Rose. Sorry to hear about your husband,” Levi says. “Kaylee and I were at the Hawkes Christmas party...”

“Not together,” I say too fast.

Levi slides his hands into his black dress pants and locks his eyes with mine.

I turn to Mom and she’s working it out, I can see that.

Fuck.

“Is this the man you’ve been seeing for the past few months?” she asks, unimpressed.

“Yes. I am,” Levi replies. “The man who loves her.”

Mom’s brows lift.

Shit.

“Wait. Stop.” I hold up my hands. “Let’s focus on Dad.”

---