Levi

by Justine Elvira

  "What are you doing here?" I ask, completely shocked yet so grateful that my friends–the only other family I have–came here for support.

  Skye finishes waddling over and hugs me. "We would never miss this. It's a big day."

  "Still, I know how tired you've been lately. I thought we'd just see you back at our house for the party."

  "Ken, you're my best friend. I'm not missing this. I could be in labor and I'd risk giving birth in that courtroom just so I could see the three of you officially become a family." I squeeze her tightly and hold back the tears that threaten to fall. My whole family is here, making this day as perfect as it can be.

  Our lawyer comes over and tells us we need to get inside. It's then that the butterflies completely disappear. I'm able to block all of what's going on around us and focus on the moment ahead. A moment that symbolizes what I've felt since the moment I met Brody and became a part of his life.

  Brody taps me on the shoulder and signs, "Let’s make this official, Mom."

  Then Levi steps up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. Whispering in my ear he affirms, "My boy is ready. Let's go in and officially make you his mother."

  Ten years after adoption...

  Sportscast: Load the Bases

  Commentators: Mark and Sammy

  National televised sports program

  One week after MLB's First-Year Player Draft

  June 11th

  Mark: What a week it's been in baseball, Sammy. Coming off last week’s MLB First-Year Player Draft, we've watched an exciting week in baseball and it's still only June!

  Sammy: I know, Mark. Fans around the country are still holding out hope their team will make it to the post season. There are arguably no fans out there as passionate as the bleacher creatures. Yankees fans are hoping this team can bring them another World Series win and after yesterday's no-hitter, the Yankees are showing signs they're the team to beat this season.

  Mark: Absolutely. The Yankees seem to have everything going for them right now, and that's including some amazing picks last week at the draft. I know we've been talking about this all week, Sam, but I got to bring up their second pick, Brody Bryant from Gallaudet. Bryant is one of the best catchers in the game. I'm actually surprised he wasn't scooped up during the first round of picks.

  Sammy: I am, too. I hate to say the lack of enthusiasm for him during the first round has to do with the fact that he's deaf, but I can't see any other reason he was looked past by every team in the MLB. I think clubhouses were afraid to pick him because it's so rare to have a deaf player in the pros. I'm glad the Yankees could see what an outstanding ballplayer Bryant is.

  Mark: I don't know if it had anything to do with him being deaf. I think a lot of these teams didn't get to see Bryant play as much as the other prospects because he chose to play in college for Gallaudet instead of a division one school. If you're not playing division one it's hard to be seen and get your name out there.

  Sammy: Even more reason to like this kid. He played at a school he wanted to instead of a school that would give him an easy ride to the MLB. With his stats and the way he crowds a plate, I can't wait to see how this kid does his first year for the Yankees. Baseball must run in the blood.

  Mark: How did I know you were going to bring him up, Sammy?

  Sammy: You can't talk Brody Bryant without talking about his father, Leviticus Bryant. A little over twenty years ago Mike and Terry were hosting this show and talking about Leviticus Bryant, the number one draft pick in the MLB. He was expected to do big things. He could have been the greatest ballplayer to ever live.

  Mark: Let's not pull out hypotheticals with nothing to back it up. He was drafted by the Dodgers, but never stepped out on the field. He was forgotten about just as quickly as he left the game.

  Sammy: Some people may have forgotten but those who follow the game as intensely as I do will never forget. It will be exciting to see what his son does for the Yankees now that we'll finally get to see a Bryant play. Let's hope Brody Bryant can steal a base faster than his father can.

  Mike: Brody's stealing bases and hearts. It's a good thing Brody Bryant did not inherit his running from his father. We can thank the baseball Gods for that! I think now is the perfect time to let Leviticus Bryant weigh in on this, since it's his son and we have him on the phone. Hey, Leviticus. How’s it going?

  Levi: Hey, fellas. You can call me Levi. Things are going great. My son is starting the career of his dreams so life can't get any better than this.

  Mike: Where were you when you got the news that the Yankees drafted Brody?

  Levi: My wife and I were actually with Brody in his hotel room, along with his manager and agent. It was an exciting moment.

  Mike: Did it bring back any memories from when you were in that same position all those years ago? Did you have any advice for Brody?

  Levi: Sure, it brought back a lot of memories. My only advice to him was to try and enjoy the moment and take it all in so he can remember as much as possible.

  Sammy: What challenges do you expect him to face being the only deaf player in Major League baseball?

  Levi: Guys, I can't be expected to know that. Only Brody can fully understand the challenges ahead of him but I know he'll face them all head on and surprise all those skeptics out there who think drafting him was some kind of publicity stunt by the Yankees. Brody's the real deal and fans of the game will get to see that as soon as he gets his chance to step out on that field.

  Mike: How about you? How are you handling your son's success and constantly being reminded of what you could have almost had? Do you have any regrets?

  Levi: I have no regrets. I'm handling my son's success like a proud father. He's known what he wanted since he was five, and he worked his ass off to get where he is today. His mother and I are so proud of him. It's as simple as that.

  Sammy: How come you never went back to baseball?

  Levi: It never felt right. I'm too old.

  Sammy: The game could have used a pitcher like you. We wish you had found a way to come back. You should have followed your dreams.

  Levi: I guess that's the thing about dreams–they change. Baseball is not my dream anymore. It hasn't been for a very long time. My dream is my life right now. I have an incredible son who has two loving parents that adore him. I have the most understanding, passionate, and loving wife. Every week I get to sit by her side as we watch our son follow his dreams. My life may not sound like a dream to some people, but for me it doesn't get any better than this.

  The End

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  Dear Readers,

  You all are amazing. You're truly the force that keeps me going when times are rough. Thank you so much for waiting patiently for Levi to be released. I appreciate you sticking by me and understanding that sometimes life takes over and stories need to be put on hold. I loved writing Levi and I love the characters in this story. I hope you love them, too!

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  Thank you for reading Levi and for your support. It means the world to me. I know how lucky I am to have you by my side.

  Love,

  Justine Elvira

  Check out Justine Elvira's bestselling novel

  Changing His Game

  *Warning: Changing His Game is a stand-alone novel. This book is for mature readers ages 18 and up. It contains sex, sex, and more sex with a porn star. It briefly touches on M/F/M and M/F/F.

  Adult Films. XXX Movies. Porn.

  These are the kind of movies I've never planned to watch. It was a taboo topic where I grew up. As a kid I had only heard of it in passing. In middle school my parents would talk about my creepy uncle Frank and how he should look for a job instead of watching "those movies" all day. In High School boys thought it was funny to ask my friends and me to star in the amateur adult films they were making. In college most of my guy friends watched them, but I never had. When I moved to California that changed.

  After surprising my fiancé at home and catching him screwing another woman, I hopped in my car and started driving. I was running away from my old life and I needed a change. I remembered my friend Tawny inviting me to visit her in Los Angeles, so that's where I went.

  I didn’t find Tawny when I got there, but I did find her gorgeous roommate, Jared. Our friendship started out rough, but he gave me a place to stay and helped me get back on my feet. He became my best friend. My best friend who millions of women happened to lust over.

  Jared plays by a different set of rules, where anything goes. His lifestyle is unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed before and it scares me. When you live your life on the edge, eventually you'll fall over. I didn't want to see that happen to him.

  At night he’s just Jared, my Jared, and I’ll deny it to anyone who asks, but I’m completely in love with him. During the day he’s Brandon Boner, and the world is in love with him.

  Oh yeah, did I mention he’s a porn star?

  Changing His Game is available now!

  Turn the page to read the first chapter.

  Changing His Game

  Chapter One

  My car has become my only companion the last three days. The drive from South Haven, Michigan, to Los Angeles is a long one. My GPS estimates it as a thirty-two hour drive, but with stopping for food, gas, and sleeping at random motels, I've been driving for three days.

  I'm on Sunset Boulevard looking for the next street to turn on. Tawny told me she lived in Los Angeles, but the GPS tells me her address is in Beverly Hills. I have no clue if Beverly Hills and Los Angeles are the same place or two different towns. I've never been to California before. Hell, I only left the state of Michigan once, and that was to attend my aunt's funeral in Indiana.

  My friend Tawny moved out to California two years ago. She left with dreams to be an actress and star alongside actors like Robert Pattinson and Chris Hemsworth. So many people in our small town gave her crap for leaving. They told her she'd never make it. I envied her. She had the guts to leave the small town life, while I was planning to get married and build a life there.

  I'd been dating Brock Richardson since my freshman year of high school. I know what you're thinking; Brock is such a pretentious name. I hated his name and almost everything about him, but our parents were friends and in their eyes, we were destined to be together.

  I first started dating Brock out of obligation to my parents, but I soon started to enjoy it. People paid attention to me because I was with him and I became sort of popular by association. After a while I started to really fall for Brock, too. He could be really romantic and do some of the sweetest things. It never crossed my mind to leave him, and he never left me.

  After four years of high school I went on to Michigan State University to get a degree in teaching, and Brock stayed in South Haven to learn the family business. His dad was the biggest contractor in the area. The plan was that when Brock and I got married, Brock was to take over the business.

  MSU is only two hours away from South Haven so I saw Brock every chance I got. By my junior year of college, I was engaged and Tawny had moved to California. We kept in touch through social media and she seemed to be doing well. She told me she was getting jobs here and there, but she hadn't gotten her big break yet.

  Three months ago she sent me her address, telling me I should come visit her over the summer. I never planned on taking her up on the offer, that is, until three days ago.

  I had finished my finals last week and was officially a graduate, but I wasn't set to walk for my degree until this Sunday. My family, Brock, and Brock's family were all going to come up to MSU and watch the ceremony. I was getting antsy and had no desire to stay on campus for another week, so I packed my bags and decided to drive home and surprise Brock, maybe spend a few days with him before heading back to MSU for my graduation ceremony. When I got to his apartment complex I went straight into his apartment. I had a key and I wanted it to be a surprise, and it was a surprise all right. Just not for him.

  I got the surprise of a lifetime when I walked into his bedroom and caught him fucking Lexi Sanders. Lexi was a year younger than us in school and I knew she had always had a crush on Brock, but I never thought I had to worry about her. He was devoted to me. When his eyes landed on me in the doorway, he got up and tried to explain, but I wouldn't let him. I didn’t even wait to hear his excuse. I stormed out of his apartment, climbed into my Toyota Yaris, and started to drive.

  I didn't know where to go at first, but I knew I didn't want to go home. I didn't want to have to explain everything to my parents and sister. I also didn’t want to risk the possibility of my parents defending Brock to me.

  I didn't really understand what I was doing, but one minute I was so upset I thought I should pull over, and the next minute I picked up my phone and logged into Facebook. I got Tawny's address from our private messages and plugged her address into my GPS. I started to drive and never looked back.

  My phone was going crazy with missed calls and texts, but I ignored them all. I finally checked my phone that evening when I checked in to a motel in Iowa. I called my little sister and let her know I was okay. I didn't tell her where I was or when I'd be home. I just told her I'd call her in a few days.

  Now I'm in California, looking for the next street I'm supposed to turn on to. A few minutes later my GPS leads me to a gated community.

  "This must be some mistake," I whisper to myself. "There is no way Tawny can afford to live here."

  There is a security tower to my left and an older man walks over and knocks on my window. I roll it down, preparing to let him know I'm lost.

  "Name?" The security officer asks. I'm caught off guard.

  "Um... My name is Autumn, Autumn Adams."

  He looks down on his clipboard and back up to me.

  "I don't see an Autumn Adams on the list."

  "That's okay, sir. I actually just think I'm lost," I pull my GPS off my dashboard and hand it to the security guard. "My friend Tawny lives in this neighborhood. I'm having a hard time finding the street."

  He looks down at the address and hands me back my GPS.

  "You're at the right spot, honey. You're looking for Jared Reynolds' place. I'll open the gates. Just drive up the hill and turn at the first street on the right. His house is at the very end of the block. You can't miss it with the party he's throwing tonight, and the houses being so far apart."

  I want to question him and ask who Jared is, but he's already left me and opened the gate. I drive in and follow his directions. The homes in this subdivision are enormous. Something I've only seen in a movie.

  How can Tawny afford to live here?

  I make a right at the top of the hill and pull up to the last house on the block. I cut the engine and stare up at the house in front of me. I'm hit with floor to ceiling windows on every floor. It looks to be about three
stories tall and the U-shape driveway leads to a six-car garage. A few minutes go by before I realize I'm just staring.

  I get out of my vehicle and stretch my legs; they're aching from three days of limited mobility. I pull out my duffle bag from the backseat of my car. That's one of the benefits of my impromptu road trip; I still had my bags in the car from when I left MSU. I leave the rest of my luggage in the Yaris.

  I head up to the house and reach a set of dark wooden doors. I find the doorbell and ring it, anxious to see my friend. I'm looking around the outside of the property as I'm waiting for someone to answer the door. The landscaping is impeccable. Every bush is perfectly trimmed, the lawn is cut to perfection, and the flowers are in full bloom. After a minute with no answer I ring the doorbell a few times in a row. It's probably obnoxious, but I need to get someone's attention over the loud music coming from inside the house. There is still no answer and I'm about to just walk in, when a woman in her late twenties opens the door while lighting her cigarette.