Page 61 of Levi

But first I need to figure out what to wear that isn’t my team gear. I’ll be damned if I’m wearing that tonight. I don’t want anyone thinking I’m supposed to be working right now when I’m for sure planning on having a couple of bevvies.

* * *

I’m already surprisedI’m having as much fun as I am tonight here at the game with Stella. I figured I’d be too focused on watching the bench or seeing how the players were doing…or even worse, seeing what my uncle was doing and stressing out because I should be down there working.

Thankfully Stella knew exactly what I needed and instead of going in with the guys so that we could enter through the back, we actually met up at her bakery and then went and had a drink first, which definitely helped to ease my nerves.

Plus…by meeting up beforehand without the guys, Stella was able to see my outfit first and she loved it. Miles and Stella are two people who really understand the dynamic between Levi and me. I mean, they were sort of in the middle of it nearly a year ago when Levi and I decided to flirt with anyone and everyone who weren’t each other, which didn’t last long—mostly because Stella and Miles were playing the same game, only Miles snapped first and let’s just say, him and Stella are now as happy as can be.

It gives me a little hope for mine and Levi's situation. I mean, we may be dysfunctional, and it may be a little bit of a fucked-up situation, but somehow it perfectly suits us and I’m starting to realize that it’s okay for it not to look the same as everyone else’s. It’sourstory.

I liked my choice of outfit, which I won’t lie, I was nervous about wearing without asking if it was okay first.

I stood staring at my clothes for a good hour after I got out of the shower and couldn’t decide on a single thing to wear. Mostly because all the clothes in my closet now are part of my uniform, or at least say my position with the team on them, and tonight I don’t want to feel like I'm working. That’s when I realized if i was going to be affiliated with anyone tonight, it was Levi. Plus, I figured if I did run into my uncle, it would be a nice way to drive the point home of exactly who I’m standing by.

I might’ve secretly also been hoping I would get to see Levi’s reaction, but so far, we’re already well into the second period and we still haven’t noticed each other at the same time. Stella said he waved over at us once, but of course it was when I got up to go to the bathroom, so I missed him.

Me and my damn small bladder.

It doesn’t help that they’ve also really had to keep their eye on the game, because it’s been a close one. We are currently tied at two with five minutes left in this period, with Levi hopping over the boards for his turn on the ice, already skating directly towards the puck as the Cyclones skate down the ice towards our goal.

It’s intense, back and forth as the puck gets stolen away, but they try to clear it down the ice only to be stolen back by the Cyclones. Levi is on Miles, hot on his skates as he tries to get the puck back from him, but Miles isn’t letting him have it easy. Pressing Levi against the boards, Miles yells something in his face as he passes the puck to the guy behind him, obviously using whatever he said as a distraction.

When his eyes lock on mine, immediately finding me in the crowd, I realize that I am the distraction. I can see the smile from here as he looks up at me, only they’re not looking at my face, he is totally zoned in on my jersey, and based on the big, goofy-ass smile that man just got on his face, it’s something he definitely likes.

The crowd starts to notice him standing there, eyeing me for a moment, and then he throws up his hands towards me in a heart gesture. Stella starts to giggle, my face flaming red. “See, he can’t even deny he’s in love,” she whispers, and my cheeks heat immediately

“Oh, hell,” I whisper. “I’m going to go sneak off and grab a lemonade. I need to cool off a bit.”

“I bet you do,” she says with a laugh. “I’m good though, still got plenty.”

Slipping past Stella, I head down to concessions, wanting one of those big lemonades they actually put the halved lemons in. I pass a lot of the booths, finally finding the one I need, and get in line. Thankfully there’s only one other person ahead of me—the perks of going during the middle of game play, I guess—but I was thirsty and embarrassed and wanted away from all the people staring at me over Levi’s reaction when I haven’t even really been able to process just how much he looked like he enjoyed seeing what I was wearing.

Which is what makes me decide that I’m not going to do anything about it the second I see him tonight, but I will be talking to him soon—hopefully tonight…and if not, tomorrow. After getting my lemonade, I start to head back towards my seats, except I hear a voice yelling at one of the workers and a security guard who are trying to escort her back from the employee only area. It's one of the areas that the trucks can pull up to that has a gate, except it looks like it had been propped open so people could bring in deliveries based on the case of soda used to hold the gate open.

“No! I will not come with you,” the woman yells as she pulls her hand free. Something about her sounds familiar, and it’s unsettling. “I’m just trying to get back to my seats and they’re up this way,” she snaps out.

It’s Nana.

I look around and don’t see anyone else around her, none of her friends, not Nurse Holly.

Fuck. This isn’t good.

Thankfully I know both of the people trying to help Nana, so I walk over with a smile and nod at them, asking for their permission to talk to her. They both nod quickly, and I can tell they’re thankful for the help. It’s never fun to be the reason someone’s getting upset, especially in a situation like this.

“Hey, Nana,” I say calmly, her eyes popping up for a moment before looking back at the people who she was just talking to.

“I told you I knew people here,” she snaps, and one of the guys laughs.

I bet there’s a story there…

“Hey, guys, this is Levi Crosby’s nana,” I tell them with a soft smile as I look down at Nana, both of the guys introducing themselves, piggybacking on the conversation I’ve restarted with her.

She is still very unsure of both of them, but she looks up at me with a smile, and although I can still see the void in her eyes, the hollowness from the confusion she’s experiencing, I’m just thankful to be an anchor she can hold onto for the time being. “Hi, Quinny,” she says quietly. “Are you here to help me back to my seat?”

“I am,” I say, offering her my free hand. “I know a shortcut that takes us away from this smelly area. Can I show you?”

“Absolutely. Let’s go watch our boy play some more; he’s been absolutely so much fun to watch tonight!” Nana says with a little pep in her step, but she holds onto me tightly as we walk back to our seats, still an edge of nervousness to her. The second we’re back, a nurse immediately runs over to us, and thankfully her friend Delilah comes over as well, recognizing me immediately. “Quinn, thank goodness you found her,” Delilah says, taking my hand in hers as the nurse starts talking to Nana. “We were just walking over to the bathroom right across that hall over there, and the next thing I knew, I was washing my hands, and she was nowhere to be found.”

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