Page 34 of Well Played

Her mouth spread into a smile. “There are worse things in the world than having a handsome football star acting all protective over you. I appreciate you looking out for me.”

“It wasn’t exactly as noble as that. But I will look out for you from now on, Presley. You and I, we didn’t know each other all that well before. But I feel like after I leave in a couple of months, things will be different. I don’t plan to lose touch with you guys.”

“I’m kind of getting used to having you around, Levi. It’s gonna suck when you leave.”

I hadn’t realized I was still rubbing my knee until Presley moved from her seat and positioned herself next to me. She placed her hand on it and began to gently massage. My body stirred.

“Does that feel okay?” she whispered.

“Yeah. It does. More than okay.”

I bent my head back, swearing at myself for enjoying her damn touch more than I’d enjoyed…well, hell, the last time I’d had sex. What the fuck was wrong with me? Getting off on Alex’s mother?

But I saw her as so much more than that now, didn’t I? And it was starting to become a problem.

CHAPTER 8

Presley

“Sweetheart, will you do me a favor and go see if Uncle Levi wants any banana-nut pancakes?” The stack on the side of the stove had to be eighteen inches high.

Alex got up from his chair, but instead of heading to his uncle’s room, he walked over and put his hand on my back. “Are you okay, Mom?”

My forehead wrinkled. “Sure, why wouldn’t I be?”

My son shrugged. “I don’t know. But you usually make a lot of food when you get upset. Last time Dad didn’t show up for his visit, you made like a hundred cupcakes.”

Though a hundred was a bit of an exaggeration, Ididtend to cook when I was lost in my head. I’d had no idea Alex realized that. This morning, I’d gotten out of bed at six and roasted a whole chicken before chopping it up and making chicken salad. My growing feelings toward Levi had me very unsettled.

But I didn’t want Alex to worry, so I smiled. “I’m fine, sweetie. I made extra to freeze in case you’re hungry after practice, that’s all. You can just pop them in the toaster oven later when you get home.”

Alex shrugged. “Okay, Mom.” Then he walked back over to his chair and sat down.

I turned with the spatula in my hand. “Umm… Did you forget you were going to go ask Uncle Levi if he wanted pancakes?”

“No, I didn’t forget. Uncle Levi’s not home. He left already.”

“He left?”

Alex nodded.

“When did he leave?”

“While you were in the shower. I was in my room getting dressed, and he came in with his suitcase to say goodbye.”

“Suitcase?”

“Yeah. He said he was going away for a few days.”

“Did he say where?”

“No.”

Alex was completely unfazed as he shoveled a pancake into his mouth. I, on the other hand, felt oddly bothered. Levi had gone out of town for a few days and didn’t even mention it to me? It wasn’t like he had any obligation, yet it still made me feel sort of bad that he hadn’t told me or said goodbye.

“Did he say when he’d be back?”

“No. He just told me not to drop my right shoulder when I cut to my right at practice. Coach Brick taught me to do it that way, but Uncle Levi said it should be the opposite—I need to drop left to fake out the defender.”

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