Page 42 of Playing the Neutral Zone

“The one interview I’m waiting on can’t be held for two more weeks.”I shrugged.

“Didn’t you get my email?”she questioned.

“I did.”

“Isn’t that the interview you were waiting for?”she asked.

I looked at her and then at my computer screen.Honestly, I wasn’t waiting for any interview, and I had a feeling she knew it.What I really wanted to tell her was to hold this damn interview herself since she was the one who’d contacted Skylar and by the looks of things under false pretenses.Instead of saying anything I just kept my mouth shut.

“Fine, a couple more weeks, but no more extensions after this one.”

I nodded and watched her walk away, then turned back to the computer, tapping my nails on my desk.

I could only imagine how vague Carol had been in her email to her and how she had probably never mentioned Levi at all.It made total sense she was thinking it was about her being fired.Lately, theIce Insidershad been doing many articles on things that had gone on in the past, and anyone who’d followed us and had been contacted for an interview would have the right mindset to think it was regarding a past event.

I shook my head and closed my email.I needed to think, and I needed air.I got up from my desk, called the front desk and told them to hold all my calls, then grabbed my jacket and took off from the office.

Chapter 12

Levi

Immediately upon entering Illusions, a staff member escorted us upstairs to our private room, where our food awaited us.

“Ah, food,” Dylan said, heading over to the platter of hot wings.

“Fuck, I’m starved,” I said, loading wings onto a plate as well.

Knox, Colton, Lucas, and Clay followed suit, and then we all took our usual seats.Colton took a minute to give everyone a beer.

I’d just sunk my teeth into one wing when Knox looked over at me.

“It’s about time you join us,” he said, drinking back half his beer.

“Yeah, sorry about that, guys.Things have been a little crazy.”I shrugged.

“Who’s the girl?”Colton questioned, taking a bite of pizza.

I looked at my teammates.They were waiting for me to divulge my secret.I could tell from the looks on their faces that they knew I was seeing someone, so there was no point in hiding it any longer.I was about to speak when Lucas cleared his throat.

“Don’t even think about trying to tell us you aren’t seeing anyone.We already know you are.Shitty game days, shitty practice days, not going out with us.Odd behavior there.”

I sat back and let out a sigh.“Fine, yes, I am seeing someone.”

“Who?”Colton questioned.

“I don’t really think that matters, does it?”Dylan asked.

“Yep, it does.It will tell us on a scale of 1-10 how fucked up he really is,” Knox answered.“I mean, look at Clay before I found out he was doing my sister.”

“I was only fucked up because I knew you’d kill me,” Clay said, shaking his head.

“Damn right I would.Should have kept it in your pants.”Knox chuckled.

“Shouldn’t you have kept yours in your pants, then?I mean, you were doing Phil’s sister.”

Knox looked over at Dylan and nodded.“Probably, but Lorelai had her shit together.Peyton didn’t.”

“Oh god, let it go already,” Clay said, letting out an enormous sigh.

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