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Levi - One Month Later

I’d dropped Mia off at daycare and walked into the change room, immediately heading to my locker to get ready for afternoon practice.

“Bout time you got here,” Knox said, bumping me with his shoulder.

“I know. Mia had a mini meltdown just before we left.”

“My little bean alright?” Colton asked, shoving his things into his locker.

“Yeah, just another missing Scarlett moment. I’ll be so happy when she forgets about her.” I sighed, sitting down on the bench to take a breath.

“She still going on about that?”

I nodded. “She even cried herself to sleep the other night,” I said, running my fingers through my mop of curls.

“Maybe a night at Uncle Knox and Aunt Lorelai’s would help?” Knox said, sitting down and lacing his skates. “Lorelai would love to have her. She was talking about taking her for a mani-pedi the other day to that new spa that opened.”

Lorelai had stepped up recently, offering to take Mia and do things that Scarlett had done with her, just to keep some sort of balance in her life. I was beyond grateful.

“Careful, I may take you up on the overnight offer.” I chuckled, pulling off my shirt.

“Practice in five!” Coach Thompkins yelled from the door.

I looked down at myself. I wasn’t even close to being ready, thanks to Mia’s minor meltdown. “Fuck, you guys go. I’ll be there in a few minutes,” I said, not wanting the rest of them to be late because of me.

The second the guys left the locker room, and I started changing, my phone rang. I looked at the screen and saw Harvey’s name. The Ice Insiders had retracted the article almost faster than when they printed it, but this one was the call that I’d been waiting for.

“Hey, Harvey,” I greeted.

“Levi, so glad I caught you. Listen, things are just about finished with the custody agreement, but I wanted to talk to you before I signed on your behalf.”

“Okay.”

My stomach flipped. I’d been on edge for the past six weeks waiting to hear from him. Of course, he’d kept me updated via email, but I’d yet to speak with him.

“Listen, Skylar will drop this entire thing, but she wants payment in return.”

I shook my head and pinched the bridge of my nose. She wanted payment. So typical, I thought to myself.

“What does she want?” I asked, afraid to know the answer.

“In the grand scheme of things, it’s not a lot of money.”

“What’s not a lot of money, Harvey?” I questioned, mentally preparing myself for the figure.

“She’ll go away and never come near you again for one point five million.”

I leaned back against the lockers and shook my head. Her belief that she deserved money after I raised Mia astonished me.

“Levi, if I can offer anything, I think you should do it. Get her off your back and out of your life and move on,” Harvey said.

“Fine, but she needs to sign an agreement stating she can’t turn around and come after me again,” I bit out.

“Already in my hand, Levi. No worries there. Consider it done.”

“Thanks, Harvey. Oh, and if you can get her to agree for a million, I’d appreciate it.”

“Do my best, Levi. Talk soon.”

I honestly felt like my life was finally turning back to normal. Weeks passed, Mia finally stopped asking about Scarlett, and Skylar had taken the one million and signed the paperwork. I’d never been so relieved. The one thing I feared the most was losing Mia.

I’d just finished a slew of away games, and we were now on mid-season break, which meant I had nowhere to be for at least a week.

I slipped from bed and got into the shower. It was still early, but I wanted to get a head start on vacation. I was taking Mia home to see my parents for a few days before life returned to normal.

Once I showered, I made my way to the kitchen to make special animal waffles for breakfast. It was a tradition that I’d started, we had animal waffles the first day of mid-season break. Then we were heading to the airport for our flight to New York.

I had just poured the batter into the waffle iron when my phone pinged. I figured it was the guys, I grabbed it and opened my app to see Scottie’s name.

Scottie: Can we talk?

I tapped the edge of my phone and then opened the waffle iron, removing the first waffle. I added more batter and shut it before responding.

Levi: If it’s quick, yes. Busy day ahead.

Immediately, my phone rang, and I grabbed it, hopefully before it woke Mia. She was still asleep, and I always enjoyed seeing the look of surprise on her face when I placed the plate of animal waffles in front of her.

“What’s up?” I questioned.

“Levi, we need to talk.”

“About?”

“Scarlett…”

I closed my eyes. The last thing I wanted to do was to have a conversation with Scottie about his sister’s actions. I was still pissed with everything that had gone down, and I knew I would have a hard time not telling him exactly how I felt.

“Levi, she’s crushed.”

“She should be,” I bit out.

The last thing I wanted to hear was how hurt she was because of something she did herself, because, frankly, she wasn't the victim here.

“Did you give her a chance to explain?”

“No. Why the hell would I?”

“Levi, she didn’t do the things you think she did. It was someone else.”

I was seriously beginning to think she was a master at getting people to believe her lies.

I questioned everything we ever had between us.

I certainly had to second-guess her sob story about her and Duncan and the fact that she never loved him.

For all I knew, that was nothing but a crock of shit to weasel her way into my life.

Now that I thought about it, I was even more disappointed with myself that it had worked.

“Is that what she told you? A sob story to get you to believe her, so she doesn’t come out looking like the bad guy, but a victim in all this as well?”

“Levi, come on, man.”

“Scottie, to be honest, I don’t want to hear it.”

The line was quiet for a moment, and then Scottie cleared his throat.

“Levi, listen. She quit her job and moved home.”

“Convenient, add on more pity Scarlett vibes. And I should care, why?”

“You should care because those aren’t actions of someone who would do something like that on purpose. She wants to call you, to explain some things to you, but she’s afraid you won’t talk to her.”

“At least she’s smart in that regard, because she’s right. I won’t talk to her. It’s her actions that caused me to have my name dragged through the mud, to almost lose some contracts because of her, and it also caused me to almost lose Mia. If she’s smart, she’ll stay the hell away from me.”

“All she wants is a chance to apologize, Levi. Give her that.”

I couldn’t help but chuckle. Did he honestly think I was that stupid, that I’d want to sit down and listen to more lies that fell from her lips?

“Scottie, I hate to do this because I’ve always considered you to be one of my best friends.

However, your sister has just cost me a tremendous amount of hurt and a fuck of a lot of money, and I’m serious when I say she needs to stay away.

I’m also going to tell you that if the only time you are going to call me is when you feel the need to advocate for her, don’t fucking bother. ”

The phone was silent as I waited for him to respond.

Those words probably hurt me more than ever, since we’d been friends for as long as we had, but the part of my life that contained Scarlett was over and I was ready to move on.

I was just about to say something when I heard Mia’s small voice behind me.

“Morning, Daddy!”

I didn’t stay on the phone. Instead, I hung up and made my way over to Mia.

“Morning, Pumpkin,” I said, quickly kissing her on the head, then opening the waffle maker before the waffle burned.

I went around the island and picked her up, hugging her tight, then placing her on her chair.

“How about some animal waffles?” I said, placing the plate in front of her with two waffles outlined like cats.

She covered her mouth and giggled as she pulled Potato close to her. “Look, Potato, kitty waffles.” She giggled.

I couldn’t help but smile as I went back around and poured more batter into the waffle iron, then poured us both a glass of juice.

“Ready to watch the Vancouver Grizzlies?” I asked Mia as we followed my parents down the steps of the stadium to our seats.

Mia nodded her head. I’d gotten her one of the baseball jerseys as a surprise before we’d left Vancouver, knowing we’d be hitting the season opener while we were visiting my parents in New York.

The moment we were in our seats and Mom and Dad sat down, I handed Mia to Mom.

“Who wants drinks and food?” I questioned.

“I’m dying for a ballpark dog, as is your mother,” Dad said.

“Me too!” Mia shouted with excitement.

“You too?” I said, tapping her small baseball hat as I made a face at her, causing her to laugh.

“Dad, you’re silly.”

“Alright, I’ll be back. Mia, stay with Grandma and Grandpa,” I said, leaving to make my way back up the stairs and to the line for the concession stand.

Once in line, I quickly checked my messages, responding to the boys about our return flight, and then pocketed my phone just in time to hear a woman’s voice call my name. Reluctantly, I turned around to see Scarlett standing behind me. I said nothing as I stared at her.

“It’s good to see you,” she said, as if nothing had happened between us at all.

“Someone’s opinion may differ from that,” I bit back, turning around and placing my order with the vendor.

“What are you doing out here?” she questioned.

“Visiting my parents. Want to write an article about that now?”

“Levi, please, I’ve been wanting to apologize to you. I left my job at the Ice Insiders .”

“Great, I’m happy for you. Hope they are treating you like the trash you are where you’re working.”

Scarlett looked at me. I could see the tears forming in her eyes. Perhaps I was being beyond harsh, but fuck, she’s ripped out my heart and went straight for the jugular by betraying my trust.

“Look, Scarlett, I’m not gonna sugar coat shit.

You tore my heart out, and not only mine, but Mia’s.

I can forgive myself for being stupid enough to let you back into my life, but I can’t forgive myself for allowing Mia to fall in love with you.

The tears she has shed over you broke me even more because I know it was my fault for allowing you into her life.

So, as sorry as you are, and regardless of what truly happened, you need to understand that there is no way I can do this right now.

The hurt’s been caused, and the damage done. ”

“Levi…” she whispered, placing her hand on my forearm, which I pulled away.

“Sir, your order is ready,” the guy behind the counter said, tapping my shoulder.

I turned, thanked him, and took the box of food from him, and went to walk away when I felt a tap on my shoulder. Scarlett stood there looking up at me, tears in her eyes, one even escaping and rolling down her cheek.

“I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me one day, Levi.”

I shook my head as I looked at her. “Have a good life,” I said and made my way over to the staircase that led to our seats, joining my parents and Mia, forgetting about the confrontation I’d just had.