by Keeland, Vi
“Yup.” I swallowed. “Did your mom say she was going on a date with your dad?”
“Dad told me.”
While it brought me some relief to know Tanner was the one who’d referred to it as a date, this still sucked. Whether it was officially a date or not, they were out together, which meant they were bonding.
Fuck. This was supposedly what I’d expected to happen, what needed to happen, but I’d never get used to the idea.
We talked for a few more minutes until Alex put my mother back on the phone.
She’d apparently read my mind.
Mom lowered her voice. “I don’t know if they’re officially on a date, Levi. From what Tanner tells me, he’s still trying to earn her trust.”
My heart pounded. “How is she?”
“Presley seems good—good but busy. The Palm Inn is up and running, fully booked for two months.”
I smiled. “Wow. That’s great.”
She paused. “You did the right thing, son. I’m proud of you.”
If only it felt right. Instead, my insides felt like they were twisting in knots.
After we hung up, I was desperate for a distraction. Despite knowing I’d pay for it tomorrow, I needed something to numb this feeling. I reached for a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and crashed.
CHAPTER 30
* * *
Presley
Six weeks after Levi left, I’d finally fallen into a routine. I’d get Alex ready for school, make breakfast for the guests at the inn, teach four periods of art, pick up Alex, come home and make dinner, check in on the guests, eat, do homework and bath time with my son, tidy up the common areas, take a shower, and fall into bed exhausted. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. It was easy to forget what day of the week it was since they all looked the same.
Today I’d just finished tidying up the inn and was about to turn off the lights and head upstairs to take a shower when someone knocked at the front door. Shelby Miller smiled when I opened it. I had to force a similar greeting. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Tanner’s mom, but most of the conversations we had were draining, and it had already been a long day.
Nevertheless, I stepped aside for her to enter and put on my best fake smile. “Hi, Shelby. I didn’t know you were coming by. Tanner isn’t here. He and the assistant coach are working on some new plays. He said he’d probably be back pretty late.”
“I know. That’s why I came by. I was hoping you and I could talk for a few minutes alone.”
“Ummm… Yeah, sure. Of course. Would you like a cup of tea?”
“If you’re having one, that would be great.”
We made small talk while I prepped two teas, mostly chatting about Alex and how he was settling into school. After I was done and put out cream and sugar, I sat across from her and sipped my tea.
“How are things going with Tanner?” she asked.
“We’ve been getting along pretty well. But we’re just friends, if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t see Tanner in a romantic light, and I’ve told him that a number of times.”
Shelby sighed. “That’s what I thought.”
“Did he…say something to you to make you think otherwise?”
She shook her head. “Not directly. But I received all of the confirmations for Jim’s jersey ceremony next weekend, and I noticed there was a one-bedroom suite under Tanner’s name with three guests listed. So I asked him about it.”
“Oh?”
“He said you, Alex, and he would all stay together in one room. Their suites have a separate bedroom and living room, with a king-size bed and also a small couch in the living area, but it’s not a pull-out couch. I let Tanner know that, thinking maybe he thought the couch converted to a bed he could sleep on, but he said it wouldn’t be a problem, that Alex would fit on the couch.” Shelby caught my gaze. “He also asked if I’d mind keeping my grandson one of the nights, so you two could have some alone time.”
I blew out a deep breath. “I definitely didn’t know about that. I only decided to go a few weeks ago because Alex’s begging made it impossible to say no. I’ve been so busy that I hadn’t even considered where we were staying or the sleeping arrangements. I knew Tanner said there were rooms blocked off for everyone. But I had no idea he thought it would be okay for us to share a bed.” I paused. “I swear, Shelby, I haven’t been leading him on at all. I’ve been very straightforward about how I feel, even though he keeps telling me he plans to wait me out.”
She shook her head. “I wasn’t thinking you were doing anything to make him feel that way. But I know how my son can be. Sometimes he gets ideas in his head, and he becomes so focused that he can lose track of reality.”
“I don’t want to hurt him. Things between us are good right now, on a friendship level. And he’s spending a lot of quality time getting to know Alex. But there really is no chance we’ll be getting back together.” I looked down into my tea. “My heart belongs to someone else, but even if it didn’t, I wouldn’t be interested in rekindling a romance with Tanner.”
Shelby was quiet for a moment. It looked like she might’ve been deliberating saying more. Eventually, she set down her teacup.
“Have you…spoken to Levi lately?”
I shook my head and frowned.
“This whole situation between my boys is very confusing. I’m never sure what I should say and what I shouldn’t. I’m supposed to be loyal to both my sons, but I’m keeping a secret from one, and I hate to see either of them hurting. And you, Presley. I know it probably seems like I’ve not been the friendliest person since you came back, but I believed some things that I never should’ve, and for that I’m sorry. You were always like the daughter I never had, and I care about you deeply. I don’t want to see you hurting either.”
“Thank you. And I’m sorry you’ve been put in the middle of this mess.”
Shelby was quiet for another moment. Eventually, she sighed. “Levi called me last week. It was the evening Alex was over because you and Tanner had gone out with some old friends. Alex told Levi he was over because his parents had gone out on a date.”
My eyes widened. “Oh no.”
Shelby nodded. “When I got back on the phone, Levi gave me the third degree. I told him Tanner was the one who’d called it a date, and I wasn’t sure if that was what you considered it. But he sounded pretty upset.”
I felt sick that Levi might think Tanner and I were together so soon after he left, that our relationship had meant so little to me that I could move on that fast—especially with his brother. But I also found Levi’s reaction confusing.
“He was the one who broke things off with me.”
Shelby reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just thought you should know—not only because of Levi’s reaction, but also because clearly Tanner is feeding Alex some things that aren’t exactly the truth. I wouldn’t want him to think his parents were back together, only to be let down.”
I nodded. “Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it.”
After Shelby left, I went to my room to take a shower. But rather than turn in, I decided to wait downstairs in the living room for Tanner to come home. It was time the two of us had a little heart to heart.
***
“Hey.” Lips touched my forehead. “You must’ve fallen asleep.”
I rubbed my eyes open to the sight of Tanner. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost midnight.” He smiled. “You know, you’re cute when you drool.”
I wiped my face as I sat up. “I was not drooling.”
He chuckled. “You want me to carry you to your room, sleepyhead?”
“No, I was waiting up for you.”
“Oh yeah?” He grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
I frowned. “Let’s go into the kitchen to talk. I need some water.”
While I was at the sink letting the water run cold, Tanner came up behind me. He stood close, and a hint of something sweet wafted through the air.
I turned and sniffed. “You smell like perfume.”
Tanner’s eyes didn’t quite meet mine when he spoke. “Jack’s wife hugged me goodbye when I left.”
It made sense, and I had no reason not to believe him—that is, except for his prior track record—yet for some reason, I sensed he was lying. But unlike when I’d smelled perfume on him years ago, I didn’t really care if he’d been out with another woman. In fact, it would make my life easier if he were with someone else.
“Why don’t we sit down?” I said.
We settled in at the kitchen table. I took the same seat I’d sat in earlier with Shelby, but rather than take the seat across from me like his mother had, Tanner took the seat next to me. He also scooched his chair closer, so we were practically on top of one another.
Then he took my hand. “What did you want to talk about?”
I untangled my fingers from his. “This, Tanner. You’ve got to stop doing things like taking my hand and putting your arm around me, especially when Alex is around. I don’t want to give him the wrong impression.”
Tanner frowned. “Fine.”
“Also, I called your mom tonight when I realized I’d never reserved a room for your dad’s jersey-retirement ceremony. She told me you’d booked a suite for me, you, and Alex.”
“I thought it would be nice if the three of us stayed together as a family. The suites usually have a couch, and I figured I would crash there. You and Alex could take the bed.”
I didn’t want to drag his mother into this, so I didn’t mention the version that she’d told me earlier.
“I’m not comfortable sharing a room with you, Tanner.”
His face wrinkled, as if he were genuinely perplexed. “Why not? It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before.”
“That’s not the point. We’re not a couple. I feel like we’ve finally gotten to a good place in our relationship, but if you keep insisting on pushing us to a place I don’t want to go, things are going to go off track.”
“Fine. I’ll call the hotel tomorrow and book you a separate room.”
“Thank you.”
“But I’m still not giving up on us. Eventually we’ll be together again, because we’re meant to be.”
I sighed. Sometimes it was like talking to a wall. “No, Tanner. We’re not.”
“We’ll see.”
It was pointless to have this conversation yet again, and my sleep was more important. “I’m tired. I’m going to go to bed. Goodnight, Tanner.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart.”
CHAPTER 31
* * *
Presley
The next week flew by, and before I knew it, I was stepping off of a plane in Denver and checking into the Four Seasons Hotel near the stadium. Just being in the same city as Levi had me on edge, and I found myself looking over my shoulder and all around every two minutes, even at the check-in desk.
Shelby had flown in yesterday, but she was waiting in the lobby when we arrived. She walked over and stood next to me as I waited on the clerk to give me a room key.
“He’s not staying at the hotel.”
“Who?”
She smiled. “Levi.”
I sighed. “Am I that obvious?”
She bumped her shoulder with mine. “Well, you’re scanning the room better than a Secret Service agent waiting for the president to walk in.”
I smiled sadly. “And here I thought I was being so nonchalant. Thank you for telling me. I do feel like I can relax a little knowing I might not accidentally walk into him. At least now I can concentrate all my worry on leaving The Palm in the care of the woman we hired to clean only a few weeks ago.”
“Is she not working out?”
“No, no. I’m just teasing. She’s been great. Melinda is super organized and capable, but it still feels strange to be away.”
Shelby glanced over her shoulder. Tanner had taken the same flight from Beaufort, along with a few of his cousins, but he’d taken a different Uber from the airport, so he was a few people behind me in line to check in. She waved to her son and turned back.
“You also won’t have to worry about walking into my other son. I had the manager put you in a room at the opposite end of the hotel from Tanner. I figured if he wasn’t in the room next to you, it wouldn’t be so easy for him to make excuses to pop over.”
I blew out a jagged breath. “Thanks, Shelby. I really appreciate that.”
“And as far as Levi, he’s at practice now. But he will be at the dinner tonight.”
A bunch of Tanner’s and Levi’s dad’s old teammates were in town for the ceremony, in addition to their entire extended family. So tonight there was a dinner in a private room at a nearby restaurant to give everyone a chance to catch up before the ceremony tomorrow.
I nodded. “Okay. Thank you for the heads up.”
With no chance of running into Levi, and Tanner on the other end of the hotel, I had about three hours to try to relax—or to worry about how I was going to handle being in the same room with Levi again later. Unfortunately, I was pretty sure the latter was going to win out.
Once I was checked in, Alex and I went to our room. I spent a restless hour flicking through television channels before deciding the best thing to do to conquer my nerves was to take a hot shower and start to get ready. At least it would give me something to focus on. I’d brought a green silk dress that was casual, yet showed off a little cleavage and leg. And since I had time to spare, I put on more makeup than usual, creating a smoky-eye effect and contouring my cheekbones. When I was done, I looked in the full-length mirror and was really happy with what I saw. It had been a while since I’d gotten myself all done up, and it gave me just the confidence boost I needed to get through tonight.
Alex was still in the bedroom watching TV, and when he came out, his eyes widened. “Wow. You look pretty, Mom.”
I smiled. “Thank you. I have a hot date tonight, so I wanted to clean myself up.”
“Dad?”
“No, silly. I was referring to you.”
“Oh.” Alex smiled.
But because of the way he’d assumed Tanner was my date, I thought it was a good time to set the record straight.
I sat down on the couch and patted the seat next to me. “Come sit for a minute, honey.”
“You’re not going to put stuff in my hair like you did for that wedding we went to last year, are you? I hate when my hair is hard.”
“No,” I chuckled. “I just want to talk for a minute.”
“Okay, Mom.”
I pushed a lock of hair from my son’s face and smiled. “I thought we should talk about Dad for a minute, about my relationship with him.”
“Are you guys getting married?”
My smile wilted. “No, honey. Your dad and I are just friends. That’s what I wanted to chat with you about.”
“But you’re dating, right? Don’t dating people get married?”
I shook my head. “We’re not dating. I know your dad has used that term at least once in the past when we went to dinner with some friends, but we’re not boyfriend and girlfriend, and we weren’t on an actual date. He just kind of called it that. And I know it can be super confusing because Dad is staying at the inn right now while he gets settled, but that’s also not the same as me living with Dad. So he lives in the same house as us, but he doesn’t really live with us.”
Alex shrugged. “You guys are weird.”
I smiled. “I guess we are. But I’ve been worried that you might think Dad and I are a couple again, and then you’d be disappointed when you realized we weren’t. Someday Dad is going to live somewhere else, and he might even have a girlfriend or something.”
“Would that make you sad?” he asked.
“Not at all. I want your dad to be happy.”
Alex seemed to mull that around for a minute, and then he shrugged again. “Okay. Can I go back to watching TV now?”
I laughed. He’d certainly taken that talk better than I’d e
xpected. “Actually, it’s almost time to go to dinner. Why don’t you get dressed? I laid out your clothes on the chair next to the bed.”
“But no crunchy-hair stuff, right?”
I patted my son’s hand. “No gel. I promise.”
***
“Uncle Levi!” My heart nearly stopped when my son yelled. I’d been watching the door ever since we were seated, but when the waitress started making her rounds to take orders, I became distracted, looking down at the menu.
Alex was seated next to me, and both of us across from Tanner. Alex pushed back from the table, scraping the bottom of the chair along the tile, and bolted for the door. When he got to Levi, he leaped into his uncle’s arms with a huge smile. My heart squeezed for so many different reasons. They hugged, and then Levi set him down on his feet, and they did some long handshake with slaps, shakes, and fist bumps. I’d been so caught up in my own feelings about seeing Levi, I hadn’t stopped to think about how happy Alex would be. They’d grown close over the summer, and the looks on their faces made it clear they’d missed each other.
Seeing Levi, a few of the others in the room got up from the table and walked over to say hello. Tanner’s back was facing the door, but he turned to watch all of the commotion, like everyone else. When a crowd started to form around his brother, Tanner remained in his seat. His jaw was set tight, and he raised his hand and called the waitress over.
“I’ll take another vodka seltzer.” He sucked back the remnants of the drink in his glass and held it up for her, rattling the ice.
She looked across to me. My wine glass was nearly drained, but I needed to take the edge off, not get sloshed. I shook my head. “No, thank you. I’m good.”
After a few minutes, the crowd around Levi started to dwindle, and my heart raced as I stole glances at him. He looked beautiful. His hair had grown longer, reaching down to the collar of his shirt, and the ends curled up in a messy sort of way that I found insanely sexy. He wore a French blue dress shirt tucked into navy dress pants, and the outfit really showcased his masculine silhouette. Broad shoulders created the mouth of the V and led down to a narrow waist. God, he is even more gorgeous than I remember.