Page 9 of Levi

We’re fucked up.

We fuck, fight, then fuck some more.

After that, it’s goodbye for a few months until we see each other again. But that night felt different. For one tiny, little moment, I thought he was really jealous over me. I thought he was mad that Miles was touching me…maybe even jealous enough to stop playing these stupid games and finally pick me.

But I was wrong.

It’s even worse because I swear my vagina knows we’re in the same zip code. All I can think about is texting him my address for a quick hookup. But I refuse. Not after he denied me and then tried to get me to still fuck him. No thanks.

That’s what vibrators and the thought of him are for. But I’ll be damned if I admit that little detail

CHAPTER4

LEVI

Cooper: Did you see the email from Declan?

Jax: No?

Me: What email?

Cooper: The one that said that Coach took a job in California and we have a new coach starting next week.

What. The. Fuck.

Asher: No shit? What the fuck is happening less than a week before we start our season.

Nash: I wonder what the fuck happened for Coach not to even tell us himself.

Cooper: No idea but looks like Monday is going to be more interesting than we expected.

Me: Fuck.

“What doyou mean I don’t have to stay to play bingo? Are you kicking me out?” I pout as I finish putting everything away from our dinner. We had meatloaf and mashed potatoes because it’s always been my favorite, and my nana has never forgotten. She knows and makes sure to make it every so often, usually cooking me a second one to take home because meatloaf sandwiches slap, and I’ll fight anyone who disagrees.

I come over for dinner at least once a week. It’s my favorite thing to do, especially when I get to kick her ass at bingo.

“No, don't be silly, boy,” Nana says, swatting me with her towel as she walks by. “Don't you have a game you need to get to?”

“Not today. I've still got another week left to bug you and beat you at bingo. Nice try though,” I say before starting the dishwasher.

When I look up, she's watching me, her eyes glossed over as she stares as if she's trying to figure something out. I can almost see the wheels trying to turn, catching every once in a while, before she shakes her head and snaps out of it.

“Fine, let's go. But you have to deal with Delilah if you keep winning. She's already not a big fan of you,” she says as she grabs our daubers and throws them in her bag.

“That's only because I turned down dating her granddaughter.”

“Can you blame her? You're a catch, and she would've been lucky to have you in her family. It's a shame she's a crazy old bat, but the granddaughter is too, so you made the right call.”

Shaking my head, I laugh before following her out the door to walk to the bingo hall down the street.

When she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years ago, I didn't want to believe it. She was the only thing I had left after my parents bailed when I was five, and then Grandpa passed away awhile later. My nana is incredible. She fought for me to live the best life even after she lost my grandpa, her best friend who she was with for over forty-five years. It was tough for her. I knew it then, but she never complained, even picked up extra shifts on the weekends at the restaurant by our house to help me get better equipment for hockey. So, to think she's losing her memory—and slowly, herself—it's fucking heartbreaking.

I remember when they told us she had Alzheimer's like it was yesterday. I went through the ringer that day with my emotions. I held it together in the car as I drove us home, let her tell me what she was worried about before she decided she wanted to go watch TV and relax.

Then I took a shower where I scream-cried over the fear of losing her.

After that, I went to the rink for practice and started one too many fistfights with my teammates until finally our captain, Asher, who's been my best friend since I was eight, pulled me aside. All it took was one look and he knew it was something big. I unloaded, and after that he and the rest of our friends went back to my place and cooked for my nana, one of the benefits of having her living with me.

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