by Keeland, Vi
She placed her hand on my arm. “I know you probably feel like I’m not on your side in this. Please don’t feel that way. I feel like what’s best for them is also what’s best for you. Dad’s story of regret should serve as a lesson on how you may feel someday when it comes to your brother. Moving in now that you know he’s trying to make things right would be a tremendous betrayal, Levi. I keep waffling on whether or not you should even tell him. I’m starting to think it’s best if he never finds out. But the longer you’re around Presley, the more likely it is that he will. I feel like you’re on the cusp of doing irreversible damage, and now is your only chance to stop before it’s too late.”
My chest hurt so badly, filled with emotion, thinking about my dad and brother. But what Mom just told me about my father pushed me over the edge. My stepping away would give Tanner the second chance Dad never had. I also believed my father would have given me the same advice as my mother. Was loving Presley worth hurting my entire family? Regardless of that answer, I knew I would be unable to resist her as long as we were physically together. The only thing that would end this was distance.
Suddenly burning up from the stress, I reached into my pocket for my keys. “I gotta go.”
My mother frowned. “Have I totally upset you?”
“No. I appreciate you sharing everything with me. It’s given me more to think about.”
She reached for me. “I love you so much, Levi. Please know that. And I’m so incredibly proud of you, despite seeming disappointed in your actions lately. I know you didn’t mean to hurt him. I can see the sadness in your eyes, and I wish I could take it away.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I hugged her tightly before finally walking to my car.
***
That night, I didn’t plan to return to The Palm Inn until after everyone went to bed. Instead, I hung out at a local bar, sitting alone while I pondered my next steps.
Around ten thirty, my phone rang—my agent, Rich Doherty.
“What’s up, Rich?” I answered.
“How much do you love me?”
“Depends on how much I’ve had to drink. And I think tonight might be your lucky night.”
“Get it all out of your system now, I suppose. I need you back in tip-top shape.”
“Well, I still have two weeks to drink myself into oblivion.”
“Actually, back to the question of how much you love me—what if I asked you to come back now?”
“Why the hell would I do that when I still have time off left in my contract?”
“Because the team asked me to reach out. We hoped out of the goodness of your heart, you’d have some sympathy for the new receivers who desperately need your expertise at training camp.”
“That’s not part of the deal, Rich.”
“I know it isn’t. This would simply be a favor.”
My first instinct was to immediately refuse. Why the hell should I go back now, especially since things were so unresolved between Presley and me?
But then it occurred to me that maybe this phone call happened for a reason. Maybe taking the opportunity to leave early was my ticket out of this whole situation. Maybe it was the right thing to do, even if it wasn’t what I wanted.
I pulled on my hair. “Do me a favor. Let me think about this overnight. I’ve had way too much to drink to make a decision about anything right now. I’ll mull it over and let you know in the morning.”
“Well, that’s not a no, so I’ll freaking take it.”
“Bye, Rich.”
I hung up and dropped my phone on the counter before scrubbing my hand over my face.
A few minutes later, I called for a ride and left a wad of cash for the bartender. I’d planned accordingly and dropped my car off at The Palm Inn earlier before taking an Uber here. The last thing I needed was to be arrested for driving while intoxicated on top of everything else.
***
The following morning, I awoke to find a mane of beautiful, long hair covering my chest. I blinked my eyes as Presley straddled me. She began to kiss down my torso.
Equal parts turned on and panicked, I whispered, “What are you doing?”
“Tanner took Alex for donuts. We don’t have much time, but I couldn’t wait to wake you up. I missed you so much last night.”
Her kisses landed lower and lower.
Hit with a wave of guilt despite my raging hard-on, I didn’t know whether to stop this or give in. Before I could think too much about it, I felt her mouth wrapped around my cock. I groaned, bending my head back and allowing myself to enjoy it for a few seconds before forcing myself back to reality. Knowing the decision I’d made as I tossed and turned in the middle of the night last night, I couldn’t let her do this.
I yanked my body back. It pained me to see the look in her eyes as she blinked up at me in confusion.
“What’s wrong?”
“We can’t. It’s too risky. They could come back sooner than you think.”
If I wasn’t feeling so goddamn guilty about my plan to leave early, I could never have refused sex. But I had no right to her now.
Worry filled Presley’s eyes as she moved to sit at the corner of the bed.
I sat up and cradled her face in my hands before planting a deep and passionate kiss on her lips. I closed my eyes tightly, trying to burn the feeling into my memory before finally stopping the contact. I licked my lips, unsure if that would be my last taste of her.
“Why don’t you go get dressed, and I’ll make a quick breakfast for us so we can talk before they come back,” I said.
Still wearing a sullen look, Presley nodded before she hopped off the bed and went back to her room.
This was not how I wanted to leave things. I felt sick to my stomach, but for once I needed to do the right thing instead of what made me feel good.
After I threw my jeans and a T-shirt on, I headed to the kitchen and got to work making coffee, eggs, bacon, and toast for Presley and me. I’d likely not be able to stomach any of it, though.
Dread settled in my gut because I had to somehow figure out a way to explain myself. Fuck if I knew how to break the news. Was it easier to just leave in the dead of night? Maybe then she’d hate me and wouldn’t care so damn much. She was going to be hurt no matter what, and in some ways, I’d rather she be angry at me than heartbroken.
I was just about to call her to the kitchen when the front door opened.
A few seconds later, Tanner and Alex walked in, just as I was plating the eggs.
I feigned a smile as Alex walked toward me on his crutches.
I put down the pan. “How’s my tough guy?”
“My leg still hurts,” my nephew said with pink frosting at the corner of his mouth.
“I’m sure it does, buddy.”
“I’m still going to the peewee party on Friday night, though, even if I can’t play this week.”
“That’s the spirit.”
Tanner didn’t say anything as he walked to the refrigerator and took something out.
“You have to come to the party, Uncle Levi. A bunch of my friends want to see you one more time before you leave.”
My chest tightened, and I made the impulsive decision to let this be the moment I broke the news. Because, let’s face it, this wasn’t going to get any easier if I waited.
“Actually, bud, I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“It turns out, I have to head back to Colorado early. I’m leaving tomorrow.”
“Oh no! You can’t leave yet. Why?” he asked with a panicked expression.
The sound of Presley’s shocked voice rang out from behind me. “What?”
I hadn’t realized she was within earshot. My heart sank. Suddenly I could no longer form the words to properly explain myself.
Fuck. Looking into her eyes, I said, “I was gonna tell you over breakfast.”
“Tomorrow?” she breathed. “Tomorrow?”
I nodded. “My agent called and said they need me back at training
camp early to work with the new receivers. I figured since I had to leave in two weeks anyway, I might as well head out there.”
Presley looked devastated, as if all of the joy had been sucked out of her. I tightened my muscles, vowing to remain strong and reminding myself that ultimately I was doing what was best for her—for everyone.
I regretted telling Alex first, though, and wished Presley and I were having this conversation alone. But it was too late.
“Please don’t go yet, Uncle Levi.” Alex’s voice cracked, and it broke my damn heart. Here I was thinking he had all he needed with his dad here. But he seemed really broken up over the bombshell I’d just dropped.
I knelt and placed my arms around his shoulders. “I promise to come back and visit the first chance I get, okay?”
Come hell or high water, I needed to stick to that promise, even if things would be awkward between Presley and me. My nephew shouldn’t have to pay for my indiscretions. Despite Tanner being back in the picture, I’d developed something special with Alex, and I wasn’t willing to throw that away, even if I’d forever be second fiddle to his father.
I knew if I could manage to keep what happened between me and his mother secret, my relationship with Alex would remain strong. My relationship with Presley, though? I had no idea what would become of that now that I’d made this decision. But I loved her, and sometimes loving someone means doing what’s best for them in the long run.
“Thanks for making breakfast, but I’m not hungry,” Presley said as she left the room.
My heart ached. I wanted to run after her but had virtual shackles on me with my brother standing here.
With Presley gone, I finally looked over at Tanner.
“Shame you can’t stick around,” he said.
Except his tone didn’t sound the least bit sincere. I wondered if he hadn’t been so oblivious after all.
CHAPTER 26
* * *
Presley
“Do you think you can run to Home Depot and pick up the bolts we need to hang the swing on the porch?”
Tanner’s forehead wrinkled. “The swing I put in the garage the other day?”
“Yes.”
“The bolts to hang it come with the swing. I read it on the box.”
I’d been afraid he might say that, so I’d snuck into the garage a half hour ago, opened the box, took out the bolts, and hid them in my dresser drawer.
I shook my head and reached into my pocket for the directions. “It says they’re supposed to be in the box, but they weren’t. I opened it earlier.” Unfolding the paper, I pointed to the picture of the bolts included with the parts descriptions. “This is the size we need.”
Tanner took the paper. “I’ll pick them up tomorrow. I have to go over to the college and do some paperwork. It’s right down the street from the Home Depot.”
I shook my head. “No. I need it hung tonight. The guy who revamped the website for the inn wants to add a video of it on the homepage before we officially open. Something about giving it movement to catch the eye.”
Tanner sighed. “Alright, fine.”
“Could you also stop at the grocery store and pick up some coffee beans?”
“There’s coffee in the cabinet.”
“Not anymore. I made an extra pot this afternoon and finished the last of it.” Or the can is sitting in my underwear drawer next to the swing bolts.
Tanner nodded. “Okay, sure.”
“And…would you mind taking my car and putting windshield wiper fluid in? Oh, and I told Alex he could stay over at his friend Kyle’s tonight, if you could also drop him on the way.”
Tanner’s brows rose. “Anything else?”
“No, that’s it.” But only because asking you to drive to Florida to get some fresh oranges might be a bit over the top.
Normally I felt bad asking people for favors, though today I’d been incapable of feeling bad for anyone but myself. This entire day had been absolute torture. Tanner hadn’t left the house, and I thought I might seriously burst if I didn’t get some alone time to talk to Levi. So I had no choice but to create a few chores to make it happen. Levi had been scarce all day, holed up in his room with the door closed, like he was right now. So once I got Alex and Tanner out of the house, I went straight to his bedroom and took a deep breath before knocking.
“Come in.”
I opened the door. A half-packed suitcase was laid out on the bed, and Levi held a stack of T-shirts in his hand. The look on his face made my heart twist in my chest. He looked as down and out as I felt. Without a word, I stepped into his room and shut the door behind me.
Levi looked over my shoulder at the door and then back at me.
“Don’t worry. I sent Tanner to run some errands. He won’t be back for at least an hour. And Alex is staying at his friend’s tonight, though I promised I’d pick him up by seven AM tomorrow, because he wants to spend every waking moment he can with you before you leave us.”
If it were possible, Levi’s long face grew even sadder. He raked a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry he’s upset about me leaving.”
I’d been on the verge of tears all day, but suddenly I felt a different emotion. Anger. I put my hands on my hips. “Really? Is it just him you’re sorry about hurting? Did you ever stop and think maybe someone else might be hurt by your sudden announcement?”
Levi blew out a jagged breath and rubbed the back of his neck. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to tell you one on one like I’d planned.”
My voice rose to slightly less than a shriek. “So what you’re sorry for is telling me the news in an inopportune way, not for leaving early?”
Levi just kept shaking his head with his eyes cast down. “I’m sorry. Work called, and I need to go back early.”
“Bullshit. I remember how these things go, Levi. I’m not an idiot. If your contract says you have to report at ten AM on July twenty-third, you guys show up no earlier than nine fifty-nine. And the players union doesn’t even want you to give the team that one extra minute. So this was a choice you made.”
He nodded. “You’re right. It was. I made a choice to go back a little earlier to help out the new receivers.”
I shook my head. Levi still wasn’t looking me in the eyes, so I closed the gap between us. “Look at me, Levi. And tell me why you’re really going back.”
His eyes raised and jumped back and forth between mine a moment before he closed them and took a deep breath. “I’m leaving because things between me and you need to end.”
Sadness wrapped around my heart and squeezed out all the anger. I did my best to blink back the sting of tears, but I knew I couldn’t keep them at bay too long. “Why? Why does it need to end?”
Levi leaned his forehead against mine. “I’m not right for you. You moved back to Beaufort to give you and your son the life you deserve. That life is here for the taking, and it doesn’t include me.”
Tears spilled down my cheeks. “But you said we could find a way to work it out.”
“We got caught up in the heat of the moment. I care about you, Presley. I really do. And Alex, too. But what happened between us should’ve never happened. It was a mistake.”
It felt like someone had slapped me across the face. Saying it had to end was one thing, but regretting it and calling it a mistake was another altogether. I took two steps back. “A mistake? How can you say that? You told me once that you’d never regret us.”
“You should give your family a chance, Presley. Alex deserves to have his father in his life, and you deserve to have someone who can be by your side day in, day out.”
“But I don’t want to be with Tanner. I want to be with you. I know it’s confusing and people will get hurt, but we can figure it out. I know we can. That’s what you said all along. You made me believe it could work.”
Levi squeezed his eyes shut. He was quiet for a long time. Eventually he looked up and swallowed. “I don’t want to work it out, Presley.”
It felt like so
meone knocked the wind out of me.
Levi shook his head. “I’m sorry if I led you on and took things too far. I will be there for Alex—that, I promise. But you and me? It was never going to last. We live two very different lives, and I don’t want to be tied down while I’m on the road.”
My lips trembled. “I see.”
He looked down again. “I’m sorry, Presley. I really am.”
Levi stepped forward with his arms out, like he was going to console me. But no way could I let him do that. As it was, I was on the verge of breaking down. I just needed to get the hell out of here. So I put my hand on his chest and shoved to stop him. “Don’t. I’ll be fine.” I lifted my chin, even though tears were already dripping from it. “Goodbye, Levi.”
***
I had to put ice packs on my eyes the next morning to reduce the swelling enough so I could drive to pick up Alex. Last night had been brutal. I kept replaying the months Levi and I had shared over and over in my head to see what I’d missed. There must have been signs that things between us were only a fling to him, signs that I missed because of my growing feelings. People don’t just wake up one day and randomly decide a relationship isn’t worth fighting for. But no matter how hard I thought back and dissected our time together, I just couldn’t see what was coming.
And that scared the hell out of me. I’d been blindsided once before by love—by Tanner—and I’d thought I’d learned from that experience and grown as a woman. Falling for another man, only to be discarded like yesterday’s trash again, wasn’t just heartbreaking; it made me feel like a complete idiot.
Luckily, one of the benefits of being a mom was that you didn’t get much time to wallow in self-pity. The minute I picked up Alex from his friend’s house, he started rambling on and on about his Uncle Levi, and I had no choice but to suck it up.
“Grandma told me Uncle Levi’s team is retiring Grandpa’s football jersey this year. The whole family is going to a big ceremony in September. It’s in Denver, so Uncle Levi will be there, too. Do you think we can go with them, Mom? Grandma said we could if you said it was okay.”
