Page 8 of Playing the Neutral Zone

I chuckled.Scottie had played hockey with me while growing up, but an ankle injury early in one of our college games had ended his would-be career.

“Good to see you.How come you didn’t tell me you were coming out here?How’s Monica?”I asked.

“Wouldn’t know, man, she left me,” Scottie said, looking a bit defeated.

“Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that.”I knew they’d been having issues, but the last time I heard from Scottie, they were working through them.

“Doesn’t matter.Anyway, I wasn’t planning on coming.It was Scarlett who dragged me out here, claiming I needed to get out of the house.”

I studied Scottie for a minute before he continued.“Scarlett’s moving out here.She’s being transferred to the Canadian division of theIce Insiders.She’s worked her way up, and she is diving in for a promotion with the company.”

“Good for her,” I said, knowing I didn’t mean a word of what I’d just said, while taking another drink.

“Yeah, I’m proud of her.She’s gone after what she wanted, and it’s gotten her far, just like you said it would.”

“That’s good, man.I’m happy for her,” I said, leaning back against the bench, watching my team members on the ice.“Still doesn’t explain why she made you come all the way here.Figured Duncan would have brought her,” I answered.

Her leaving had gutted me and then came the next blow.I’m not sure which had been worse, her leaving, or what happened in the following months.Duncan, one of her college friends, had moved right on in after we’d gone our separate ways.I’d always known he’d had something for her, and even though I’d gone after her after she walked away from me and tried to get her to come back to me, she’d refused.She kept telling me that Mia, work, and learning how to deal with being a single dad were my priorities and that they should be the only things on my mind.

“He would have, but—”

“Scottie, it doesn’t matter, I don’t care.”I said, stopping him before he could continue.

Scottie looked at me, something hidden in his expression.As far as I was concerned, the ship that Scarlett and I had once sailed on was long gone, as was friendship or any other type of relationship.

“Mom was worried about her, so she asked me to come out here with her while she got settled in her new place.”

“How long are you staying for?”I questioned, wanting to get off the topic of Scarlett.

“Tonight’s my last night.”

“Heading back to New York?”

“Yes, work only allowed me so much time off between the divorce and this impromptu trip.”

“I get that.Well, maybe the next time you’re out here we can get together.”

Scottie nodded, then leaned forward.“Levi, before I go, I wanted to ask you something.”

“Shoot,” I said, still watching the team on the ice.

“Would you mind keeping an eye on Scarlett?”

I choked on the mouthful of water I’d just taken and looked at Scottie, disbelief no doubt present on my face.Was he serious?Was he seriously asking me to watch out for her?We’d been down this road once before, and I wasn’t about to run down it again.Plus, she had Duncan.

“You two used to be so close, and I know she is going to need someone she can trust, especially living this far away from home… Please Levi.”

“Key word in that sentence was ‘used to be,’ Scottie.Things changed the day she walked out that door.And between Mia, practices, and my game schedule, I can’t add on driving out to another part of the city and checking on her.I barely have the energy to make it to my bed at night now that Mia is back with me.”I chuckled.

“What if I told you that you wouldn’t have to go far?”

Again, I chuckled.“That still wouldn’t make a difference, man.A city block would be too far most days.She’ll be fine on her own,” I said, watching as Coach Thompkins waved me back on the ice.“Look, I’ve got to get back out there.We’ll talk later, and I hope you get Scarlett all settled in before you have to go back to the city.I’m sure Duncan will look after his princess once he gets here.”

Scottie nodded, saying nothing more about the topic.“Alright, man, good luck out there.”

I was just about to put my foot back on the ice but turned back to Scottie.“Just know had things of ended a little differently between her and I, I’d be there for her in a heartbeat.I just can’t go back down that path, man,” I said, feeling bad for my answer.

“Hey, no hard feelings.I was out of line to even ask.”

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