Page 26 of Playing the Neutral Zone

Scarlett: No, I just figured you’d still be with them.The game barely ended an hour and a half ago.

I’d just sent that message and my phone rang, causing me to jump.I looked at the screen and saw his name there as my ringtone played.The same ringtone I’d saved on my phone specifically for him.I swallowed hard.I could hear my heart racing in my ears as I answered the call.

My voice shook as I answered.“Hello.”

“Expecting someone else, or hoping for someone else?”His deep voice poured over the phone, followed by a chuckle.

“No.I’m just surprised you called me instead of messaging me back through messenger first.How did you know my number was the same?”I asked, settling under the covers.

“Lucky guess?I’m glad you enjoyed dinner.”

“I did, thank you.It was a pleasant surprise.”

“Well, I figured since I was ordering for Mia and her nanny that I’d order you a little something as well.”

“Ah, I see?”I asked, giggling.

“To be honest, I was hoping to prove that you aren’t making a mistake by going out with me on Saturday night.I know you were hesitant, and probably would have declined, had I not of walked out the door on you,” he said, his voice lowering.

I stared at the ceiling and closed my eyes, letting out the breath I was holding.How I’d forgotten what this man could be like.That deep, sexy voice I used to love listening to after a long day.Most nights when I first moved away from home, it was the only thing that brought me comfort.It had also brought me to orgasm time and time again, listening to him talk dirty to me over the phone.I could still remember the first time we’d had phone sex, how turned on I got listening to him.

I kicked the covers off me, trying to cool myself off.I’d never realized how many things I’d just shoved to the back of my mind after I’d ended things with him.I guess it was easier than remembering the things he’d done for me and with me over the years.

“You were never a mistake, Levi,” I whispered, closing my eyes, knowing he’d probably already heard the vulnerability in my voice.

“I wasn’t?”

“No, you weren’t.I was the one who made the….”

I stopped speaking.There was no way I could divulge this to him, and I shouldn’t.

“You were the one who what?”he questioned, then went silent, waiting for me to respond.

“Levi, you know, I think I’m going to say good night.It’s late and we both have work in the morning,” I said, suddenly feeling a way more vulnerable than I ever intended to get with him on this call.

“See you Saturday then.”

“See you then.”

“Night, Scarlett.”

“Night, Levi.”

Chapter 8

Levi

I lay in bed with my hands behind my head.The sun was just coming up.Mia slept soundly against me.I rolled onto my side, careful not to move the bed too much for fear I might wake her.

I’d gotten home late last night, and once Mrs.Fletcher left, Mia woke from a bad dream.Since I didn’t feel like spending the night on the couch after being away from home, I’d grabbed her stuffed bear and favorite blanket and brought her into bed with me.

I closed my eyes, hoping I’d be able to get another half hour of sleep before Mia woke, but my mind wouldn’t shut off.

I rolled over, this time sitting up on the edge of the bed and running my hands through my hair.I’d been like this since the other night, unable to concentrate and sleep, right after the call with Scarlett.

I grabbed my phone and scrolled through my photo albums, finally coming to the one I’d made for our photos.I’d kept every single photograph we’d taken together over the years, and I looked through them as I sat there.

God, as much as I never wanted to admit it to myself, I still held feelings for her.The moment I’d heard her say that I hadn’t been a mistake, I felt a trickle of relief.As much as I’d told her brother I didn’t want to know things about her, it hadn’t been the truth at all; it had been something I’d had to do to protect myself.

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