Page 1 of Playing the Neutral Zone

ChapterOne

Scarlett - Seven Years Ago

I lay on the lounge,staring up at the sky.I’d always loved watching the clouds drift overhead as the sun beat down on me, and now was no different.I could hear the traffic of New York city in the distance, which I found oddly relaxing.

I inhaled deeply, trying to focus on the moment and not think about the fact that soon I’d be back at school for my last semester of college.Nerves and anxiety would build, and all the fun of this past summer would be behind me, but for now, I needed to remind myself to just enjoy the present moment.

I spent most of my summer travelling with my parents and my brother Scott.Probably the last family vacation we’d take, since Scottie was now engaged to be married to his high school sweetheart, Monica.I’d soon be permanently living in New York, especially once I graduated from school in six months, as that was where all the jobs were.

Levi was my brother’s best friend.He was also the man I’d planned to spend the rest of my life with when I was only thirteen, and it still held true today—for me anyway.Levi wouldn’t date me because he’d made some silly promise to my brother that he wouldn’t lay a finger on me until I graduated school.He valued his friendship with my brother, but he’d also told him once graduation day came, I was fair game, and that there would be no more bro code shit.

Over the years we’d flirt, we’d kiss, and we’d dance around one another, even while we both dated other people.Most of the time I focused my time trying to get his attention, but no matter what I did, the man wouldn’t crack.That was okay though, because when it came down to it, we both knew we were the one for each other.

Levi had just signed a five-year contract with the New York Predators, and he’d just purchased a new condo in one of the newest high-rises in the Upper East Side this spring.I could still remember the day he called to tell me and Scottie the news, he sounded like a little kid at Christmas, but once he got me on the phone alone, that’s when things changed.His voice went from that giddy child’s voice to that deep, sexy voice I loved.

“Now we can proceed as planned.Once you’re done with school, we’ll find you a job close to the condo, and you can just move in.”

“Here you go, my sun goddess.”Levi said, interrupting my thoughts.

I looked over and shaded my eyes from the sun to see him standing there shirtless, holding out a glass of iced tea.The moment I returned, I came out here so I could spend my last week of summer vacation with Levi as I had done every summer.I smiled and sat up and took the glass from him while he straddled the lounger I was lying on and sat down behind me.

“Thank you.”I softly smiled and took a sip of the perfectly sweetened iced tea.

When I sat back, Levi wrapped his arms around my waist and placed a kiss on the side of my neck.

I closed my eyes and relished the warmth of his touch.I loved the way it felt to be in his arms and could only imagine how much better it would feel once things were out in the open and I was finally his.

I’d just placed my glass down on the table when he started kissing my neck.Only when his lips hit the spot just below my ear, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“God, I love how ticklish you are,” he whispered, his breath causing me to laugh more as he kissed that spot again.

I shifted on the seat and turned, moving to meet his lips, but he placed his forefinger on them, stopping me.

“You know we can’t do anything yet.I made a promise.”

I rolled my eyes.How I hated that stupid promise he’d made to my brother.

“You’re seriously going to wait?”I questioned, my voice cracking.“It’s six more months.”

“I am.I made a promise to your brother.What kind of friend would I be if I went back on my word?”He leaned back against the chair, looking at me with his gorgeous baby blues.

“This is so stupid.Levi, you’re a grown man, and I’m a grown woman.We are both capable of making our own decisions.”

“You don’t need to remind me,” he said, his eyes skimming down my bikini-clad body.“I’ll be just as happy to rip this off you when the time comes as you’ll be to have it ripped off.”He smiled, running his finger under the shoulder strap of my bathing suit.

He didn’t know just how happy I’d be to have that happen.I’d only been dreaming of it for what felt like forever, wondering what it would be like to feel the weight of him on top of me.

“It’s six more months, Levi.I don’t think that’s going to make a difference.Let’s just start seeing one another now.Scottie doesn’t need to know.We’re all the way out here.He’s all the way back home.Plus, Monica has him consumed with wedding plans.”

Levi met my eyes, a small smile on his lips, but then shook his head.“I’ll know.”

“You’re turning me down?”I questioned.

“Not turning you down.I’m keeping my word to someone who means a lot to me.Plus, it’s six months.We’ve waited this long.Another six months won’t kill us.”

“Easy for you to say.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”he asked, placing his finger under my chin and lifting my head so I could look at him.

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