Page 47 of Playing the Neutral Zone

“He is charming, that is for sure.”I winked, giving her a fake smile.“Go on,” I urged.

“Well, that night, after we’d danced and had pictures taken, Levi had accompanied me back to the hotel and had walked me to my room.Once outside my door, something happened between us.Either I kissed him, or he kissed me, and the next thing I knew, we were in bed together.He snuck out before morning, and when I approached him at another event, two weeks later, he explained to me he was involved with someone and that the night we’d spent together would have to be our last.

“Weeks later, just when I thought things had passed, and I was involved with a wonderful player from Florida, word got around that I’d had relations with the coach, and others.Not only did my relationship come to an end but so did my employment before I even had a chance to explain.”

“They didn’t even ask you?”

“Okay, well, that isn’t true.They asked me, but I couldn’t lie about it, and the next thing I knew, my job was gone.Apparently, it was in my contract that there couldn’t be fraternization.”

“Wow, so what did you do?”

“Well, I couldn’t work in those circles anymore.Those men basically ruined my career, but then the biggest shock of them all came.I found out a few months later I was pregnant.I knew it had to be Levi’s after I’d visited my doctor, and I reached out to him.Only he wouldn’t have anything to do with me.He said he was deep in a relationship and that I needed to go away.”

I scribbled my notes as I tried to maintain a straight face.

“When I reached out to him again when I was just about at my due date, he refused to take my calls.So, then the baby was born, and I really struggled to look after her.I couldn’t afford to raise her on my own, and I didn’t have the money to go after him for support.Six months later, I ended up losing my apartment.With no job, I couldn’t pay my rent, and Levi refused to speak to me.I at least knew where he lived, so one night I made my way across town and dropped the baby off to him.It was probably the hardest thing I’d ever done, giving her up, when all I really wanted was for him to help with her, but if I can be honest, I think he refused to believe it was his.”

“Are you sure it was his?”I asked.

Skylar froze and glared at me as I looked up at her.

“I’m only asking,” I said, certain I’d crossed a line I shouldn’t have.

“Yes, I’m sure it’s his.”

“Okay.”

“What are you doing now?”

“Well, I’m working in PR again, just not with a sports team.While this isn’t a story that I’m proud of, women in the field need to know that this sort of thing happens in this industry, as I’m sure you know yourself.”

“Right,” I said.“Well, thank you for your time.”

“You are welcome.When can I expect the article to air?I’d like to know that I’ve made people aware of what happened to me.I’ve spent years trying to get my name cleared.”

“Well, legal will be in touch with you before it even gets printed, so watch for an email,” I said, closing my notebook and getting up from where I was sitting and opening the door.The entire way to the front door, Skylar thanked me for talking with her and for wanting to bring her story to light.

I satbehind my desk Monday afternoon, going over the article on Levi.I couldn’t bash him how Carol had wanted, so I wrote nothing about anything I’d spoken to Skylar about.Instead, I focused on his career, highlighting his growth as a player with the Predators to his move to the Dominators.I wanted this article to be something he’d be proud of, not something he’d hate me for.Once I finished my final read-through, I attached a few pictures I’d had taken of him on the ice along with the article and submitted it to Carol, then gathered my things and made my way home.

Levi had just returned from his away games, and we were planning on taking Mia down to the waterfront festival.I quickly showered and then ran up to his unit.The moment he opened the door, he pulled me against him into an enormous hug.

“Fuck, I missed you,” he whispered, meeting my lips with a tender kiss.

“I missed you too.”

“Is Mia ready to go?It was getting busy down there.”

“She’s just over at the park with Mrs.Fletcher,” he said, looking over his shoulder at the empty apartment, a mischievous grin coming to his face.“Which means we have the place to ourselves, at least for half an hour.”

“Is that so?”I said, giving him a knowing look.

He placed his arm around me, closed the door, and we took off down the hallway to the bedroom.

I watchedLevi and Mia climb onto the teacup ride and took a seat, both waving in my direction.I smiled and waved back just as the ride started.

I looked out over the water, thinking about our afternoon quickie.I could still feel his hands gripping my hips as I sat on his face.I could still feel my orgasm rip through me as he relentlessly sucked my clit into his mouth while I gripped the headboard, screaming his name.He’d barely allowed me to come down from that orgasm before he was on his knees taking me from behind until we both collapsed on the bed, breathless.

“What are you thinking about?”I heard Levi say.

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