Page 36 of Playing the Neutral Zone

Levi stood there looking at me, shock all over his face.I wanted him to say something, anything but he just stood there looking at me.Without a word, he turned, made his way to the door, and left the room.I waited there, waiting for him to knock, to come back, but there was nothing, he was gone.

Chapter 10

Levi

“What’s with you this morning?”Dylan asked, coming to a stop in front of me.

I’d missed every single shot that had been sent my way in this morning’s practice, and had even wiped out four times, which rarely happened during practice.

“I don’t know.Guess I’m just not on my game.”I sighed, not wanting to divulge the truth.

It wasn’t every day you heard that the girl who ripped your heart out was still in love with you.Those words still shocked me, and it had been five days.Yes, five days since she uttered those words while we were in New York, and five days since I’d spoken to her after she’d said them.I’d avoided her at every turn and made it known because I certainly didn’t know how to deal with any of it.

“Not on your game is right.God, I hope you don’t play like that tomorrow night.We are on home turf.Can’t disappoint the fans.”

I nodded, taking one puck that was lying on the ice in front of me and shooting it toward the net, missing again.

“Here’s hoping.Maybe I’ll just sit this game out, tell the coach I fucked up my back or something.”

Dylan gave me a worried look.“Levi, if you need to talk…”

“No, nothing is wrong.It’s all good.Just having an off day.”I sighed.“Or maybe an off week would be more accurate.”

Once showered and changed, I headed up to find Mia at the daycare centre playing with one of the other player’s kids.I waved from the door, and she immediately got up, put the things she was playing with away, and ran to me.Picking her up, I placed a kiss on her cheek, grabbed her jacket, and we made our way to the car.

Once Mia was in her car seat, I climbed into the driver’s seat and immediately sent a text to Scottie.I don’t know why, but I needed to know if what Scarlett had said was true.Sure, he’d tried to get me to work things out with her, but he’d said nothing that would have led me to believe she was unhappy.

Once I’d messaged, I pulled out of the spot and raced home.

Mia slept soundlybeside me in my bed.I glanced at the clock, letting out a yawn.It was only a little past two.She normally had a nap on practice day, and since she had been so tired when I had to get her up this morning, I wasn’t in a rush to wake her from her nap just yet.In fact, I had just woken up.I adjusted the pillows behind me and grabbed my phone from my night table just in time to see Scottie’s name flash on my screen.

Scottie: What’s going on?How’s the season going?I’ve been watching.You are on fire this year.

Levi: Thanks.It hasn’t been too bad.How’s things with you?

Scottie: Not bad, same as usual.

Levi: That’s good.

Scottie: So, what’s up?You said you wanted to talk to me about something.

I looked at his question.Yes, that was what I’d said, and I’d alluded to nothing more, probably as a way out if I decided I didn’t want to know the truth.I tapped the edge of my phone, then began typing.

Levi: I wanted to talk to you about Scarlett.

Scottie: Oh, is everything okay with her?She hasn’t messaged or called me since before she left to watch your game in New York.To be honest, I’m getting a little worried.

Levi: So, she’s ignoring you as well?

Scottie: What do you mean?Ignoring me as well?What’s going on out there?

Levi: After I treated her like shit, and you wanted me to apologize, I took her out on a date.Nothing serious before you get all overprotective and brotherly on me.

Scottie: She told me.

Levi: Of course she did.

Scottie: There isn’t much she doesn’t tell me.

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