Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
“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 someone 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.”