Page 10

Levi

I stood on the ice, my chin resting on the top of my stick as we all listened to Dylan’s plan of attack for tonight’s game. We broke our team talk when Coach Thompkins returned and called Dylan over for a quick one-on-one. As we waited for Dylan to return, I skated around the guys as they talked.

“What’s everyone up to this weekend?” Lucas asked, shooting a puck my way, which I shot down toward the net, lifting my arms in victory as it went in.

“Peyton wants to go shopping for baby clothes. That’s where I’ll be,” Clay said.

“We’ve been invited to have dinner with Dylan and Aurora. No, wait, actualy, we are referees is more like it. Dinner with her mom and Dylan’s dad. Should be a good time,” Knox said, rolling his eyes.

“Lucky you.” Lucas chuckled. “What about you, Colton.”

“New furniture is being delivered to my new place. Then I guess I’ll be working on unpacking. Did you want to help, Levi?” he questioned. “You can bring Mia. Just bring some of her toys.”

“Can’t,” I added.

“What do you mean? What the hell do you have going on that you can’t help me out?”

I wasn’t sure I wanted to divulge too much information to the guys right now.

“I have a date,” I answered, keeping my head down.

“A date? With who?” Lucas asked. “Do we know her?”

There was no way I was going to mention Scarlett’s name yet. So, I shook my head. “Just a girl from my building. Nothing serious.”

It wasn’t unlike me to have the occasional date.

I’d dated most nights this past summer before Mia had returned from her grandparents to live with me.

She’d been rather a surprise to the guys too, since I’d not mentioned her to them when I first came to the team, but they’d welcomed her with open arms, especially Colton

“Wow, so you even date when you have the little peanut at home?” Colton questioned. “What if you guys want to…oh, I don’t know…return to your place and take a roll in the sheets?”

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. What did he think went on in my world, what with a nearly seven-year-old sleeping in the bedroom next to mine?

I was lucky if I had enough time to watch some porn and get myself off without Mia bursting into my room on me.

It most definitely wasn’t his apartment.

The guy always had women coming and going.

“Well, when that happens, I use your place,” I said, chuckling as his eyes widened. “Usually when you’re still out of a town after a game.”

“Fuck you.” He chuckled, punching me in the arm as I skated past him.

I stretched before I walked out of the treatment room. Physio the day after game night always felt amazing, until today.

“Feeling better?” Lorelai questioned as she made some notes in my file, like she always did after my appointments.

“Much, at least until everything stiffens up again.” I chuckled.

I’d been hit hard against the boards one-night last week, during the second period, and while I’d not hurt myself, I’d been struggling with some lower back pain. I’d been told to check in with Aurora since she was the one on staff at the game that night, but I’d refused, claiming things were fine.

“I’m sure. It’s not a wonder your back is killing you. Your glutes, hams, and quads were super tight, even your calves. You’ve been stretching after practices and games, haven’t you?” she questioned, looking at me.

“Of course.” I lied, avoiding her eyes.

“Levi….”

“Fine, I have been but probably not as much as I should be.” I shrugged. “However, that hit I took last night didn’t help either.”

“You think?” She giggled. “You should have been in here last week.”

She was right and I knew it. Truth was, I hadn’t been stretching at all, and I was now paying for it.

She and I had talked about this, and I knew it was important, but I’d been racing to get off the ice and, on my way, back home most of this past week, especially with Mia not feeling well.

I hated burdening Mrs. Fletcher with a sick and crying child, even when she assured me many times that it was alright.

“Levi, make sure you take the extra time, even if you do it at home. I know you take off quickly because of Mia, so I understand. Let’s get you scheduled for next week, before the away games, okay?

We need to get those muscles loosened to prevent an injury that could take you out for part, if not for the rest, of the season. ”

“Okay,” I answered.

“We’ll do it during your practices. That way Mia is still here in the building with the daycare team. Heck she can even come down here while you are in treatment if it makes you feel better. Now you travel what, Tuesday through Friday?” she asked, looking over her schedule.

“Wednesday to Friday,” I answered, checking my schedule on my phone.

“Yep, I had the wrong week. Okay, how about Monday and Tuesday, after practice.”

“See you then,” I said, adding the appointments to my calendar.

I finally got Mia down for the night, showered, and had just sat down to relax and watch some TV when my phone started pinging with messages.

Yawning, I leaned forward and grabbed my phone to see a string of messages from the guys.

Frowning, I opened it up, wondering which one of us was going through a crisis and needed help.

Colton: Breaking News: Anderson has a date with some hot chick!

Dylan: Congrats Levi, who’s the lucky lady?

Knox: Shouldn’t we be saying unlucky? I mean, look at him?

Dylan: No, lucky…don’t be a dick.

Clay: Well, he has that way about him. He comes by it honestly. I mean, at least that is what his sister says.

Knox: Not this again…

Clay: You started it. Besides, you should want the best outcome for your teammates, me included.

Lucas: Exactly Clay, I agree, I don’t see that here.

Knox: Kill it Lucas, and Clay, I’ve always wanted the best for my teammates, until one of them went behind my back and did my little sister.

Clay: Seriously?? Are we still on this???

Knox: We’ll be on that forever.

Dylan: Alright you two, let’s be nice and get back to being friends, and let us get back to the matter that has been brought to our attention. Anderson, who’s the lucky woman?

God, did these guys not know how to behave themselves? I let out a sigh and began typing. How had I become the one who was in a crisis?

Levi: It’s nothing really, just a little dinner date.

Colton: Dinner or sex?

Lucas: Is that all you think about?

Colton: What food? Don’t you think about food?

Lucas: Really? Food? You think we don’t know you? Haha

Colton: That’s right. I think about food all the time. You all should know that.

Levi: He’s right, he has a bigger appetite than Knox

Knox: Says who? My sexual appetite is pretty large.

Colton: Not as large as mine.

Knox: Care to put that to a test?

Dylan: WHOA….ANYWAY…where are you taking the lucky lady?

Levi: I was thinking of taking her to The Orchid Lounge

Dylan: Oh, that new Japanese place? Supposed to be excellent.

Knox: Let’s not tell Aurora or Lorelai that, I know Lorelai has been hinting to me that they both want to go.

Dylan: Same here, Aurora hasn’t given up yet, she left one of their menus on the dining room table tonight.

Knox: Levi, please come back with some horrible reviews.

Colton: Shit, this girl can’t just be any girl if you’re taking her there. Have you seen the prices? It’s fucking expensive as shit!

Levi: It’s not that bad.

Colton: For a first date it is…jesus, how about you date me then? I’ll even put out on the first date!

Levi: *eye roll* I saw the prices, and I’m not interested in your offer, thanks Colton.

I thought for a second. Did I make a mistake by telling them where I was planning on taking Scarlett? Was the cost of the meal really too much for a first date scenario?

Clay: *whistles, cough cough* You must really like this girl a lot….

Levi: Why do you say that?

Clay: I don’t know. I wouldn’t take a first date to a place like that…

Knox: Are you telling me you wouldn’t take Peyton there?

Clay: Not what I said.

Dylan: While I’d agree with you on that Clay, maybe Levi is trying to impress the girl and just doesn’t want to tell us. He is entitled to his privacy as well.

Levi: Thanks, Dylan

Dylan: No problem

Lucas: I don’t know. Maybe something else is going on and he’s been hiding her from us.

Levi: Okay, then where would you guys suggest going?

I grabbed my water and took a drink while I waited, and those three little dots bounced around. These guys were ridiculous, as if the place I’d been planning on taking Scarlett was too over-the-top for a first date. In my mind, nothing would ever be too over-the-top for Scarlett.

Colton: I don’t know. Maybe cook the girl dinner at your apartment for a first date. That is what I would do.

Clay: Even if you want to impress her?

Colton: What’s that supposed to mean?

Dylan: I’ve seen your cooking, let’s just say that was a fair question.

Colton: I’ll bring you lunch or dinner next week. May not look great, but the shit I cook takes fucking amazing.

Dylan: I’ll take your word for it.

Levi: Look, I’m gonna go relax, I’m open to suggestions when you guys have any…

Knox: What about The Lighthouse?

Levi: She’s allergic to seafood

Dylan: What about The Sunset?

Levi: Okay, I’ll entertain that one.

Clay: I’m sure wherever you decide to take her she’ll love it.

Lucas: I’m with Colton. Make her dinner. Or better yet, hire Colton to make dinner for the pair of you.

Colton: I’m not a chef…

Dylan: we know ;)

Knox: Yes, we know that.

Colton: Kill it…lol

Levi: I could make her dinner, but Mia…

Lucas: Shit, I forgot about the little one…

Colton: Plus, he can’t just take her back to his bedroom after dinner with that little peanut running around.

Levi: My god, guys, it’s a first date…jesus…what do you think I am?

Colton: stopped no one before…a little wine…a little candlelight, soft music and the girls melting in the palm of your hand…or better yet, you’re melting in the palm of hers.

Dylan: That could be true, if she isn’t throwing up after she ate what you cooked, haha

Knox: Sure is, all that romantic stuff gets Lorelai every time…

Levi: I’ve got to go, Mia is up.

Dylan: Later, let us know what you decide. We’ll lend a hand with other suggestions.

Knox: Enjoy your night with your little lady. I know I’m going to enjoy mine.

Lucas: We’ll drop more ideas as we think of them

Clay: You can count on us.

Levi: Why am I’m suddenly worried about that?

I smiled as I dropped the phone down on the table, got up from where I was sitting, and went to see what Mia needed.