Page 32 of The Bad Boy’s Homecoming (The Southern Hart Brothers #2)
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Levi
Breaking the News
L eaving Atlanta had never felt so right when Levi got on the flight to Boston, but landing in the city several states away from home wasn’t exactly an ideal place to play ball.
Even though the team was one of the best in the league, and had amazing state-of-the-art training facilities, he didn’t think he could play there.
After speaking with the team managers, and them assuring him he would have no persona clause, he asked Hal if there was any other interest.
“Once we get this paternity situation settled I think it will help. G has a plan to announce the results, but the teams seem leery about your reputation. Florida has expressed interest, so I set up a meeting there next.”
“Florida would be closer to home,” Levi said.
“You have a meeting tomorrow in Tampa.”
“Great, hopefully the lab sends the results later today or tomorrow.”
“How did your chat with Maddox go?”
“He won’t take my calls, so I guess I’ll have to see him in person when I’m in Florida.”
“No fistfights,” Hal said.
Levi didn’t know what was worse: waiting on the test results or trying to get his old teammate to talk to him.
Once he landed in Tampa, he rented a car and drove south to Sarasota, where all the professional baseball teams held several weeks of spring training.
Since he wasn’t technically signed with any team, he had to use his connections with Atlanta to get into the training facility.
The smell of the ballfield, fresh dirt and cut grass, had him wanting to sign with the next team that offered him a deal.
He waited by the pitching dugout for Maddox to finish his set but when the large man spotted Levi he shook his head.
“You’re like a dog with a bone,” Maddox said.
“I need to apologize. And you obviously don’t need to accept it but there is something else.”
Maddox nodded. “Alright obviously you won’t stop until you have your say.” His deep voice had a faint accent where each word sounded like it ended with an A sound.
“I’m sorry I slept with your girl. I’m not going to make any excuses. As your teammate it was wrong, and I am sorry.”
“Sorry because you might be the baby daddy, or because you realize it was a shitty thing to do?”
“Both, but I’m not the father,” Levi said.
Maddox’s head whipped up from removing his gloves.
“I requested a paternity test, which she agreed to if I would speak to you.”
“So you’re here to do her bidding?”
“In a way, she wants me to tell you we both knew it was a mistake. But I’ll be honest I thought after years of friendship she’d finally realized she wanted to have something real with me. I only realized afterward she was playing me to make you jealous.”
Maddox shook his head and looked out at the field.
“But there’s something else.”
“More confessions?”
Now this was where Levi was taking a risk. If Maddox did love her then he would be insulting him.
“I think she’s desperate for you to love her, and she’s conniving enough to get pregnant to try to force you to be with her.”
“But?” Maddox said just sitting forward and looking out onto the field.
“But I don’t think the baby is yours either.”
Maddox smiled. “I know it’s not mine, but I’m not going to get into the specifics. And I’m not going to publicize my personal information to prove it.”
“I’m sorry, Maddox.”
“Listen, I get it. Sara can be very persuasive and persistent. I didn’t realize you had such a thing for her, or I wouldn’t have started dating her. It would have saved me a lot of trouble.”
“So, you’re not going to get back together with her?”
“Hell no, man, she’s carrying some other man’s child and trying to pass it off as mine. She’s the one who sold all those stories to the press to create all this drama.”
Levi was relieved Maddox didn’t even seem mad at him.
“You could still play for Atlanta, I’d rather have the Bad Boy of Baseball on my team than to have to play against you,” Maddox said with a laugh.
“I think it’s time for change.”
“Then I’ll see you at the playoffs.” Maddox stood and held his hand out to Levi.
He stood and shook his former teammate’s hand. “Thank you.” He was surprised at how easy the conversation he’d been dreading had been.
“We’re cool, man,” Maddox said.
Levi left feeling a weight lift off of him.
Declan had sent him the results that morning, he’d cleared the air with Maddox, and now he had a meeting with Tampa to get to.
And Sara had until five o’clock to announce Levi wasn’t the father, but either way his team had press releases with proof ready to go. Then he needed to see about Missy.
*
Sitting across from one of the most bombastic podcasters in sports news, Levi tried not to let his nerves get to him.
His agent and G had told him he needed to fix his image.
Sara had made her public statement confirming Levi wasn’t the father, but that didn’t absolve him of his sins.
So here he was about to go live on the Benji sportscast. He just hoped it worked.
“Mr. Bad Boy Levi Hart, formerly the shortstop for the Atlanta Warriors. I bet you’re feeling pretty relieved right about now?”
“Actually I’m feeling pretty embarrassed,” Levi said, honestly.
“Embarrassed? How so?”
“Well let’s see, imagine you had a crush on a girl but she dated your teammate instead.
Then in a twist of fate she ends up single and wants to give you a chance.
So you go against guy code and go for it.
Only to realize she’s still in love with someone else.
Then four months later you learn you might be a dad.
And you actually feel a little excited at the idea, but by now you’ve met someone you actually believe is the woman of your dreams, and this could ruin any chance you ever may have had with her.
And on top of that, everyone thinks you’re a dirtbag—I mean even the bag boy at the grocery store.
Deep down you know you messed up and you’re going to have to face the music. ”
“Damn, bro, you actually got me feeling sorry for you. Are you saying you had feelings for Maddox’s girl?”
“Of course I did. I wouldn’t have slept with her if I hadn’t. Sara and I went to college together, we were friends for years, and the timing just never worked out.” Levi wasn’t going to make Sara out to be the villain even if she had played him.
“So she used you?”
“I think she was feeling sad and rejected and needed someone. She leaned on a friend.”
“And you’re not the father.”
“Nope. But I wish her and the baby the best. I’m not mad at her, because I can completely understand how it feels to be in love with someone and feel desperate to convince them to love you back.”
“Yo, Bad Boy, more like Sad Boy.” Benji the podcaster reached over and shook Levi’s hand. “I respect your honesty. So many people want to come on here and try to sell some PR story. They try to improve their image, but you’re just being totally real with us.”
“I don’t really have much left to lose, and I’m not proud of my part in all this. Maddox was kind enough to forgive me, and I’m hoping for a fresh start with a new team.”
“That may be the biggest part of this story, because as a free agent, you must have every team after you. Anyone you’re hoping comes through?”
“I’d love to stay on the East Coast, and I’d prefer not to deal with the snow, but honestly, Benji, I’m just trying to keep playing ball.
It was always my dad’s dream that one of his boys would play in the majors, and every time I’m out on that field, it’s like he’s there cheering me on.
I’m not ready to let go of that feeling. ”
“Levi Hart, you’re the most successful shortstop to play the game, a real legend. But you’re also not a bad guy. I hope you get what you want, especially that girl you met. Love is really the answer, am I right?”
“You’re right. It just takes some of us longer to figure that out. Thank you for having me and letting me tell my story.”