Page 106 of Well Played

I took the envelope. “Okay, thank you.”

Shelby was barely out the door when I tore the envelope open. I don’t know what I’d been expecting; I guess I’d assumed it was a letter of some sort—the goodbye we didn’t get to have, or some attestation of his true feelings for me. But it wasn’t a letter at all. Inside was a stapled packet of legal documents, though I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at.

Quitclaim deed?

Grantor and Grantee?

I flipped through the pages, the last of which had Levi’s signature on it, then went back and started to read from the top. The meaning of the document didn’t become clear until the second full paragraph.

I, Levi Sanford Miller, hereby remise, release and forever quitclaim all of my interest in 638 Palm Court, The Palm Inn, City of Beaufort, State of South Carolina, to Presley Sullivan.

Oh my God.

Levi didn’t write me a love letter. He signed over his half of the inn to me.

And cut the last tie that binds us.

CHAPTER 27

Presley

The waves crashed as I sat on the sand, watching Alex dig for seashells. It was our first day in Myrtle Beach, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect.

“Look at this one!” Alex came running toward me and handed me an almost-symmetrical white shell with burnt orange spots.

I rubbed my finger along its lines. “This is definitely one for the jar.”

We’d brought a large jar from the kitchen with us and promised to fill the entire thing with only the most worthy of seashells to take back home.

When Alex ran back toward the shore, my phone rang. I smiled as I answered. “Hey, Harp.”

“I got your text with that breathtaking photo of the ocean. How’s Myrtle Beach?”

Breathing in the salty air, I said, “It was definitely a good decision to get away for a couple of days.”

“Is Tanner with you guys?”

“No. He wanted to come, but I told him I preferred to have some alone time here with Alex. I honestly needed a breather from him. Levi just left, so I’m still processing everything.”

“How did you leave things with him?”

Where do I even begin?I filled Harper in on the days leading up to Levi’s departure and ended with the fact that he’d given me his half of the inn.

“Wow. That was amazingly generous of him,” she said.

“I wish I could see it that way. I mean, it’s obviously generous. But it also felt like a slap in the face—like he didn’t want to have anything else to do with me, and that was a way of ensuring he didn’t have to. I feel like a fool for ever believing he could love me enough not to run away.”

After a few seconds of silence Harper asked, “Do you really think he stopped caring about you, or is this whole thing about guilt over Tanner?”

That was the magic question.

Digging lines in the sand, I shook my head. “I don’t know. And I’m not sure which scenario breaks my heart more. In some ways, it would be easier if he truly had lost interest in a future with me. Then I would know for sure he wasn’t hurting inside. It’s all so confusing. I was pretty sure he’d given up on us until the moment he left when I saw tears in his eyes.”

“Oh my God.Levi Millercried?”

It pained me to think about it. “It was subtle, and he was trying to hide it. I still have no idea if he just felt bad for hurting me or ifhewas the one feeling hurt. I’m supposed to be enjoying this time with my son, but that question is haunting me.” I sighed. “Even if I knew the answer, it wouldn’t change anything. Whether it’s a lack of love or guilt driving his decision, it’s over. Him giving me the deed proved that, and I need to accept it.” Emotion crashed over me, and I whispered, “I miss him so damn much.”

“Are you gonna be okay?”

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