Page 64 of Well Played

My heart sank.Oneof these boxes would have lasted me the past five years. Actually, that was being generous. I could’ve probably stretched the box to last the final year Tanner and I were togetherandthe years that followed. It was a stark reminder of just how different my lifestyle and Levi’s really were. He probably blew through these in a month while on the road. That made me feel a little queasy, yet I just stood there, staring down at the box.

I was so lost in my head that I didn’t hear Levi until he was in the doorway.

“Hey. Alex wanted to eat over at his friend Kyle’s. I texted you, but you didn’t answer, so I made an executive decision and dropped him off.”

I turned with the box of condoms still in my hands. “Exactly how long does this supply last you? Just preseason, or a few weeks in?”

Levi’s eyes dropped to my hands, and his brows dipped. “You think I’m stocking up for when I get back on the road?”

I shook my head. “It’s none of my business. I really don’t want to know what you do on the road.” Suddenly feeling awkward, I shoved the box back in the duffle bag. It still didn’t fit. “I wasn’t snooping. I tried to zip the bag to put it in the closet, and they were sticking out.”

Levi walked over. I’d been avoiding looking at him, but I felt his eyes on me.

“What?” I finally said.

He gently took the box from my hands and tossed it on the bed. “I bought them today. I wasn’t stocking up for when it’s time to go back to work. I figured I should hide them since Alex already found a belt and asked questions.”

I shrugged. “Whatever. It’s none of my business.”

His eyes narrowed. “What do you mean, it’s none of your business?”

“When you bought them and what you plan to do with them is your business, not mine.”

Levi held my eyes as he reached into his back pocket. Taking out his wallet, he shuffled through until he found whatever he was looking for. He unfolded a small paper and held it up for me to see. “CVS receipt from today. The date is marked at the top. Is that the only thing you saw? Just the condoms?”

“Yes.”

He dug into the bag and held up a small bottle. “I think this will tell youexactlywhat my plans were when I made the purchases today.”

I glanced at the bottle and back to him. “Lube?”

“Look closer.”

I squinted.Peach flavored.

“I thought it would be funny,” he said. “But then again, I didn’t think I’d be showing it to you while you were accusing me of buying them to get ready tofuckother women.”

The anger in his voice pulled my eyes to meet his. “I didn’t. I mean…I don’t… I wasn’t sure if…” I shook my head. “We should probably stop anyway.”

“Do you want to stop?”

“It’s the right thing to do.”

“Wasn’t asking about right or wrong. Was asking if you wanted to stop. Because I’m pretty sure the size of the two boxes I picked up today tells you that stopping is the furthest thing from my mind.”

“But…we’re in business together.”

He took a step closer. “Don’t care.”

“You’re leaving pretty soon.”

He took another step. “I’m right here, right now.”

“Alex…”

His eyes dropped to my lips as he took another step. “…isn’t home.”

My entire body started to tingle. “This town is so small. Someone will figure it out.”

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