Page 9 of Playing the Neutral Zone

“It was good to see you.”I nodded and then took off onto the ice, skating away from Scottie and my past, and looked toward my present day.

ChapterThree

Scarlett - Two Weeks Later

Sweat poured from my brow as I ran down the side street near the water.I loved my morning runs, and it made it even better to have the beautiful scenery of this new city.

I was on my last leg.Only one more street to go, I thought as I stopped at the traffic light, jogging in place until the light turned.The moment I had permission to cross, I proceeded, heading up the street, and I slowed my pace as I approached the building.

The tall thirty-story condo was my new home.One I loved.I’d even met some nice people since moving in, especially my neighbour Mrs.Fletcher, a sixty-five-year-old recently widowed lady who lived in the unit across the hall from me.Just as I made it to the base of the walkway, I looked up to see her leaving the building.

“Morning, Scarlett.How was your run, dear?”she greeted.

“Good, as always.It’s a beautiful day too, so that didn’t hurt,” I said, smiling.

“One of the last few I take it.It will turn cold soon.”

“I know.Good thing I’m used to harsh winters.”I smiled.“You off to your card game?”I asked, stretching out my calf muscle.

I’d lived here less than three weeks and already knew her schedule—probably better than she did.She not only played cards three mornings a week with the gin club, but she also worked as a nanny to one tenant in the building.Five years ago, she’d lost her husband of thirty years to a massive stroke.It was that story that had intrigued me.We’d shared dinner, and that was when I’d told her about Duncan.

She listened quietly and then grabbed hold of my hand and told me I had a whole life ahead of me, that I needed to work through his loss, pack up that sorrow and find myself one of the eligible bachelors in the building.I only smiled, then laughed, telling her I was ready to date again.

“You know it, dear.Those buggers stole sixty from me last week in what I like to call a fake hand, so I’m going in guns blazing and get my money back.”

“You get them.”I laughed.

“Plan on it.Oh, and have you, by chance, run into any of the eligible bachelors we talked about?”

I smiled and shook my head.“Not yet.My co-worker has decided I should try a blind date with her friend first.Then I promise I’ll look.”

“You make sure you do if the blind date doesn’t work out.There are some very well-off ones in this building, not to mention some very attractive ones too,” she said, waving her hand in front of her face.“There is even one of the hockey players from the Dominators in the building.I know him very well, so, if you’d like an introduction, all you need to do is ask.He’s a lovely young man, by the way, and his daughter is a special little something.”

My body flooded with heat at the mention of the team.There was no doubt they were all attractive, but one hockey player in my lifetime was probably enough, I thought to myself.

“I’ll keep that in mind.Thanks.”I smiled as a cab pulled up.

“Alright, dear, wish me luck.”

“Good luck,” I said, waving, and made my way into the building and over to the elevator where I pushed the button and then leaned against the wall.

My watch vibrated, notifying me of an email.I quickly navigated to see who it was from and was surprised to see my boss, Carol, had messaged me about our Monday morning meeting.As I read through the email, excitement built in me.She wanted to see me alone after the usual team meeting Monday morning.

I pushed myself off the wall and made my way over to the mailboxes, checking to see if I had any mail while I was down here.I pulled the small stack of envelopes from the tiny box and turned back around, coming face to chest with someone.

“Oh my, I’m sorry, I didn’t…” I stopped speaking when I looked up to see who was standing before me.

“Scarlett?”What are you…” Levi muttered, his hands full of grocery bags.

“Levi, funny meeting you here,” I said.

“Not really, since I live here.”

My heart raced as I stared back at him.It didn’t matter how much time had passed.He still did that to me, making my heart race.It was beating out of my chest the other night when I ran into him at the arena too, actually causing me to become lightheaded for a few seconds after we parted ways.

As we stood there looking at one another, I had a sudden urge to pour my heart out to him, to tell him everything that had happened since we’d split, and how I regretted my choice more than he’d ever know, but there was no way I could give in that easily.

“I live here too,” I mumbled.

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