Page 38 of Levi

“I think you and I have different definitions of the word friend because I definitely don’t do the things you two do together with my friends.”

“Fuck off.” I laugh. “While you’re not wrong…that’s not our situation anymore, and you know that.” I half-lie, not wanting to bring up the other night. I mean, I probably shouldn’t talk about it with anyone else before I’ve had a chance to talk to Levi about it.

“Jeeze, he mentioned that you two had put a pause on the fooling around, but none of us could understand why. No offense, Quinn, but you two have been dancing around this shit for years—why would you stop now, especially when you’re finally, technically, allowed to do those things? Not that you were ever really not allowed, but now you’re actually dating, so people just assume,” he rambles, and I laugh. I don’t think he’s actually trying to give me a hard time; I think he’s just way more perceptive than I realized because it seems he’s picked up on the fact that I’ve always had a little crush on Levi.

“Whoa, Jax, take a breath!” I laugh.

“I couldn’t! I didn’t want you to think I was saying you guys were doing anything wrong.”

“I didn’t take it that way, and I do get what you mean, it’s just…complicated,” I tell him, setting his foot back down. “You’re all done here. You can put your shoe on if you’d like.”

“How is it complicated, if you don’t mind me asking?” Jax asks as he slides his foot into his sock before slipping his shoe back on.

I think for a second, trying to figure out how to word this without making it sound like I’m a lovesick puppy who’s just been waiting for Levi to give me attention.

Even if that’s the truth.

“I think it’s pretty obvious. I mean, we’re a good match when it comes to sex, but let’s think about who he almost married. That alone makes it pretty fucking complicated, and it’s a big reason we aren’t compatible.”

Jax finishes getting his stuff back on before standing up and looking at me. This time, though, the smiley golden retriever boy is gone, and he almost looks sad. “Levi has been through a lot in his life, a lot that makes him really jaded when it comes to trusting people. Especially when it comes to love. I saw the way he was when he was with Ally, and I’ve seen how he’s been since he’s started hanging out with you—even more so in these last few weeks.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean…sometimes actions speak louder than words. He can say whatever he wants, but his actions and the way he has changed for the better tell me all I need to know about how he’s always felt about you. I guess the only question is if you feel the same.”

“I—”

“Nope, I like information as much as the next girl, but I draw the line at learning these important things before he does,” Jax says. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Quinn.”

With that, he leaves, letting the door shut behind him as I sit back in my chair.

What does Jax mean? Does Levi really act differently with me?

I thought I was the only one with a crush, but maybe it was mutual…

If I play my cards right and don’t piss any ancient spirits off, I might just have a shot with the man I’ve dreamed about calling mine for years.

CHAPTER16

LEVI

“All I know isthat I need a shower and to nap for at least the next two to three business days,” Cooper says as he slumps down on the bench in the locker room.

“Fucking same,” I groan. “I don’t think I’ve had my ass kicked like this since I was a damn rookie down in the AHL.”

We’re covered in sweat after Coach had us running drills for most of practice then ended it with bag skating until the whole lot of us were practically dying for water and the need to pass out. Needless to say, we are fucking exhausted. Apparently, Coach isn’t impressed with the way we’ve been playing, saying we haven’t been “playing as a team,” even though we have been doing pretty much everything right. I mean, we’ve beendoingthe damn thing. I’ve already scored a hat trick, and Cooper has been killing it, damn near getting his first shutout of the season—fuckers scored with three seconds left to ruin it, but we still won four to one. Yet even that wasn’t sufficient enough to keep Coach off our backs.

“What do you mean? I feel like I could keep skating for the rest of the day,” Jax says as he finally makes his way into the locker room after getting chewed out by Coach for skating too slow.

“Oh, fuck all the way off,” Nash groans as he takes his skates off and starts grabbing shit from his locker for a shower. “You’re just saying that because you didn’t actually work hard, so you still have fucking energy. Some of us skated our asses off and don’t have anything left in the tank, which is why we didn’t get yelled at by Coach.”

“Not my fault I don’t have a baby bitch energy tank.” Jax winks before practically skipping off to the showers. “You’ll be strong like me one of these days,” he sing-songs before disappearing.

Fucker.

“Y’all still coming over later?” I ask as I throw my sweats and sweatshirt back on after I get done drying off from my shower. The only thing I want right now is comfort and to get back home to see Quinn.

“Duh. It’s video game night,” Nash says before walking off, Asher and Cooper both agreeing as they finish getting their shit together.

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