Page 16 of Playing the Neutral Zone

LEVI: What about her apology for dumping coffee all over me and Mia yesterday afternoon?

SCOTTIE: That was an accident, and you know it.

LEVI: Fine.Whenever I see her next, I’ll apologize.

SCOTTIE: No, you’ll make time today to apologize.

I rolled my eyes and threw my phone down on the counter, took my frustration out on the pan of eggs, and poured them onto the plate as I heard my phone go off again.I grabbed it and looked at the message Scottie left.

SCOTTIE: Well?

LEVI: Noted.

Instead of waiting for a response, I shut my phone off, leaving it on the counter, grabbed the eggs and a fork and made my way into the living room where I found Mia sound asleep on the couch.

I covered her with the blanket that lay over the back and sat down in the chair across from her, turning the television off cartoons to the sports channel, sat back, and dug the fork into the plate of eggs, taking my mind off everything else.

ChapterFive

Scarlett

I poured a cup of hot coffee, grabbed my fruit and yogurt, and made my way out to my balcony.It was a gorgeous fall morning; it was too bad my mood didn’t reflect the sunshine.I tightened the tie of my bathrobe and then sat down, taking a sip of coffee and shoving a raspberry in my mouth.

Last night had been horrible.The more I thought about it, the more my head ached.My coworker Janice had been on me since I’d arrived out here, and she found out I was single.She claimed she had the most perfect guy for me, but then everyone had said the same thing, and for that reason alone, I’d never agreed to go on any blind date.However, she must have chipped away at my strong exterior just long enough to annoy me because one afternoon I finally broke down and agreed.

Not that he was an awful person, but he wasn’t my type, that much I knew the moment I’d met him.First, he brought me roses, and to most women, they’d have loved the flowers.However, I’m deathly allergic, which Janice had known.I’d have probably been fine had I just asked Janice to put them in a vase in her kitchen, but she insisted I smell them, claiming she always did when Eddie, her boyfriend, gave them to her.That started the sneezing.

Once I’d gotten over that and we were at the restaurant, he’d ordered my food for me.If there was one thing I hated more than roses, it was a man who asked me what I was thinking of having, and when I mention I was torn between two dishes, he decided he’d just make that choice for me.Of course, I spoke up and ordered what I wanted anyway, which was the opposite choice he’d picked.It was those two incidents that had set the mood for me for the entire evening.

Once dinner was done, we made our way over to a club called Illusions for dancing and drinks, which, to be honest, I was a little excited about.It had been a long time since I’d been out dancing.We got some drinks and found a perfect spot on the dance floor, and for the first time all night, I was actually having fun.

Until I saw Levi come in with some guys from the team.

I had a hard time keeping my eyes off him, until they all disappeared.I figured they’d left the club, only to find out an hour later I’d been wrong.He approached me out of nowhere, demanding that I leave the team alone.Embarrassment and hurt flooded me as he stood there, accusing me of doing something I’d never do.That was when Paul came to my rescue, but to avoid a scene and a fight that I could already see brewing, I pulled him away, only to have him keep telling me he’d take care of him if I wanted.No matter how many times I told him no, he kept harping on it all evening, including when he dropped me off.

He walked me to the door.I could tell he wanted to come up, but I quickly put an end to that, lying and telling him I had to be up and out the door for work early this morning.Plus, I’d had too much to drink and didn’t want the night to end in some mistake I’d end up regretting.Instead, I promised to reach out to him, but I had no intention of ever calling him again, and I could only hope Janice hadn’t given him my number.

I shoved a spoonful of yogurt into my mouth, took a sip of coffee, and sat back in my chair, looking out over the water just as my phone chimed with a message.

Picking it up, I was shocked to see Levi’s name on my screen.I swallowed hard and my hands shook as I typed my password in and navigated to his message.

LEVI: Sorry.

Anger flooded me.Had my brother messaged Levi this morning after my drunken phone call last night?I wondered.I’d been so upset when I got home that I’d messaged Scottie.I didn’t know what else to do; I needed someone to talk to, to vent to.I’d spilled it all—about the horrific coffee accident and then about Levi accusing me of going after the players on the team to get an interview off company time.It probably hadn’t been the best idea, but I was hurting.That wasn’t the only reason I was hurting.It was the anniversary of Duncan’s accident, which seemed to magnify everything.

I dialed Scottie’s number and waited for him to answer.The moment I heard his voice, I jumped right in.

“Did you happen to message Levi and tell him to apologize?”

“Damn right I did.There was no way he should have accused you the way he did.”

“I don’t need you to fight my battles for me, Scottie.”

“I never said you did, but I also know that with Levi Anderson, you wouldn’t say anything about it, either.”

“Are you saying I wouldn’t stand up for myself?”I asked, picking at my cuticle as embarrassment flooded my body.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying.”

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