Breakaway (8 page)

Her mouth is hanging open and she probably caught that little kiss to Sunny. For Sunny’s sake, maybe she’ll just ignore that we are even here. Ha! Presley tugs hard on Trevor’s sleeve as he pulls out a chair. He turns towards her and she nods her head in my direction.

“Levi?” I glance to Sunny and she says, “My mom asked what your parents do for a living?”

My parents? I don’t want to talk about this! “My old man is retired,” I manage before McCarthy himself walks up to our table and lays a hand on my shoulder, squeezing hard.

“Carr! It’s been a while, man! How have you been?”

I want to groan. “Hey, Trev, I’m doing well. I’m kind of in the middle of something important. We’ll catch up later?”

“Oh, c’mon now, Levi,” he squeezes even harder. “We’re old pals! Surely you have time for me.” McCarthy has the nerve to grin. I glance over to where they were sitting, but I only see the man. Where’s Presley? “Where are my manners?” he exclaims fakely. Trevor holds out a hand to Sunny. “You must be one of Levi’
s
man
y
girlfriends,” he says when Sunny reluctantly shakes his hand. He turns to her parents and says, “And you two are?”

“Her parents,” Sunny’s mom says in shock.

My anger builds at how McCarthy couldn’t just stay at his damn table. I’m trying to do Sunny a favor and it blows up in both of our faces.

“Going the extra mile with this one, huh, Levi? Didn’t know you were serious with anyone. And here I thought we were best friends!” He laughs. Laughs!

“You don’t know what you’re talking about, McCarthy, so take your ass back to your table, okay?” I grit and shove his hand off my shoulder.

“We’ll catch up later. No doubt about that. Nice to meet you all.” He ends with a nod to everyone. I watch as he walks proudly back to his table and I see Presley glance this way. She looks upset and I’m sure that anger is going to be her next emotion. Presley doesn’t seem the type to let something hurt her for long. She seems like the type to get pissed about it instead of wallowing in hurt.

Before Sunny or I can explain anything, her father calls for the bill. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is said as we walk out and I drive them back to Sunny’s place. Her parents are first out of the vehicle and I reach over to squeeze Sunny’s knee.

“Sorry, but at least now, you have a reason to break up with me,” I chuckle.

“Yeah, but there were easier ways. Thanks anyway, Levi.” She gives a little smile and gets out. Instead of driving home, I go back to the rink. I assume my plan sort of worked. Definitely not how I wanted, though. I lay on the bench and think. You know what, I’ll just go to Presley and tell her that the dinner was a favor and that was it. I was simply helping out a friend. Nothing out of the ordinary and I wasn’t with someone else even though it looked that way. I’ll go over, explain what happened, and apologize. I don’t know what I’ll be apologizing for, but it can’t hurt.

With a plan, I go over to Presley’s. She’s not home, so I sit at the top of the stairs to wait. It takes two hours before I see her and as if the world hasn’t damned me enough today, Trevor is with her. Can’t I have a little leeway? Apparently not. I sigh when the twins catch sight of me at the same time. They walk up the stairway, and I stand. It’s then that I notice that Presley has a hold of Trevor’s arm, as if she’s keeping him from charging me.

They stop two steps below me.

“What do you want, Levi?” Presley asks, glaring at me. There’s the anger I predicted.

“Can I talk to you alone?”

“Are you kidding me?” Trevor bursts.

“Oh, calm down. You don’t know what the hell happened, McCarthy.” I turn my attention back to Presley. “Please, Presley?”

“She isn’t going to talk to you, jackass.” Trevor is fuming. “Now move so she can go home.”

“Presley?” I ask softly. She hasn’t taken her eyes off me, and I take that as a grain of hope. “At least allow me to explain myself and then you can kick me out, if you want.”

“Move, Carr,” Trevor says again, but I ignore him.

She squares her shoulders, and it’s then that I know I’ve lost this battle with her. She shakes her head and pushes past me, entering her apartment quickly.

“I could so kill you right now. This isn’t over, Carr.” Trevor shoves me to the side and disappears inside with Presley.

Ugh! This is not about to be over. I’ll go ride around for a bit to allow enough time for McCarthy to leave and then I’ll talk to Presley. I quickly go down the stairs and walk through the parking lot to my SUV. I’ve got to get gas and pick up a couple of things from the store anyway. I run my errands and take my time. All I want to do is at least tell Presley what happened and then let her make up her mind. She can’t - well, she can, but I don’t want her to go based on what she saw. I don’t want her to give up on me yet.

Standing outside of Presley’s door, a sliver of apprehension runs through me. What if she won’t give me a chance? What if she slams the door in my face? I shake my head at these pesky thoughts and knock twice. I notice a peephole on the door, and I wonder if she actually uses it. I hope not, for my sake.

The door swings open, and her curious expression turns hard and angry fast. She goes to close it, but I stick my foot in the door and hold out my hand to stop her. Presley’s looking fine with no bra in a skimpy tank top that looks like it could be made of silk with matching shorts. Catching my appreciating eyes, she steps behind the door so only her head is peeking out.

“What do you want?”

“Let me talk to you, Presley. Please?” I don’t think I’ve ever said please twice in one day before.

“Talk.”

“I can’t come in? It’s cold out here and you’re not exactly covered up. All this cold air is going to come into your apartment.” I hold my hands up in surrender at her glare. “Five minutes. That’s all I want.”

“If you look at me the wrong way much less touch me, you’re out of here.” I nod. She steps aside, and I walk in. “Stay in the kitchen,” she orders, walking away into her bedroom. When she comes out, she’s wearing a JWU sweatshirt and sweatpants. I wonder if she just put them on over what she was already wearing or if she actually changed. Either way, the image is stuck in my mind. I’m sitting at her table and she sits across from me.

“Well?”

“For a while now, if I have to go somewhere and need a date, I call her. One time, her parents showed up unexpectedly. Because it was early morning and I obviously spent the night, she lied and told them we were dating. I thought she told them later that we weren’t, in fact, together, but she didn’t. When they popped up again, she needed me to play the part and I did. That was it.”

“That is the lamest thing I have ever heard,” Presley says with a roll of her eyes.

“Look here, Smarty. I’m not lying. I-”

“Did yo
u
nee
d
a date that night at the movies? Your explanation doesn’t exactly make sense with your actions.”

I sigh. “No, but I wanted to go out with someone, so I called her.” Ignoring her warning, I reach over and grab her hand from the table, holding it in mine while running my thumb back and forth across the top. “Presley, do you think I would try so hard to explain myself, if I was actually seeing Sunny? I was just doing her a favor. She is a Bunny, after all.”

“What makes her so special if she’s only a Bunny?”

I thought I was so close, but I guess not. I take my hand from hers and run it over my face. “We have an understanding with one another.” Am I really going to have to explain myself to her? Based on her gaze, that’s a yes. “It doesn’t really matter the how’s and why’s of it, because it’s been put on hold indefinitely since I started hanging out with you.”

Presley

“Well, you don’t have to explain anything to me anyway, because we won’t be hanging out anymore.” I cross my arms. I really wasn’t sure if he is lying or not, but I know what I’d seen. He kissed her and she was holding his hand. Just like a boyfriend and a girlfriend. Plus, meeting the parents because he was doing a favor for her is the dumbest thing I’ve heard.

“Smarty, I’m telling you-”

“The truth. Right.” I hold my hand up to stop him from talking. “I heard you the first time. By the way, your five minutes are up.” I stand and head towards the door. “You know what,” I whip around to see that he is still sitting at the table. “I forgot to thank you.”

“Thank me?” His face scrunches up in confusion. 

“Yes, because I thought you were going to be a decent guy. I didn’t think you were going to be the stereotypical hockey jock, but thank you for letting me know that you are just like every other hockey player. Now leave.” I open the door and place my hands on my hip. “Now, Levi.”

Levi crosses his large, tan arms. “Nope.”

“Excuse me?”

“I. Am. Not. Leaving.” He says each word in a precise, firm tone.

I slam my door shut. “Fine, I’ll just call my brother and his friends and they will make you leave.” I reach for my phone on the end table.

“Wow, have to call th
e
twi
n
to handle your battles? I figured a student of pre-law would be mature enough to handle a reasonable, adult conversation.”

“Whoa, are you calling me immature?”

“That seems to be the conclusion I’m coming to.”

My blood is boiling. How dare he call me immature when he is running around town with some damn Puck Bunny. “Fuck you, Levi! You’re nothing, but a dumb puck-head anyway. You’re just pissed because my brother is a better hockey player than you and you will never be anything other than his backup. On top of that, you have to resort to having a bottle blonde with a pea size brain and D-size cups because you can’t find a real girlfriend.” I watch Levi’s face grow with more anger with every word I said. I don’t care, I’m mad and he hurt me.

I watch Levi slowly get up and walk over to me. He towers over me with hurt and fury in his eyes. “Let me explain something to you, Smarty. I’m far from dumb or a puck-head. Furthermore, your clouded version of how your brother is god-like on the ice is bullshit. I will never, ever be his backup. As far as being with other girls, I will take D-cups over your high-class, immature attitude any day. So, it’s my turn to say ‘thank you’, because I’m not going to waste my time on you.” Levi turns his back to me and walks out. 

My adrenaline is pulsing through my veins as I continue to stare at my door. I almost think he is going to walk back in and continue arguing with me. He never does. I don’t know where the tears come from. They start to fall and I’m trying to calm myself. Why am I crying over Levi Carr anyway? He isn’t anything to me, really. I know I like him, but not anymore.

I grab my phone and call the one person who will back me up. After two rings, Marley says hello.

“There is a carton of ice cream in my freezer, a cheesy love story in my DVD player, and I need someone to share it with.”

“Are you crying, Presley?” Marley’s voice is full of concern.

“Possibly.” I sniff.

“I’m on my way.”

~ ~ ~

When I open the door for Marley, she gasps as she looks at me. “Who’s the jerk who made you cry? I’ll kill him.” She hugs me tight.

“Levi Carr.” We sit on the couch and I spill the details of the evening. I tell her everything, how hurt I was walking into the restaurant, and seeing him sitting there with the Bunny. I tell her that dumb story he came up with and how I shouted at him.

“Wow, you’ve had a night.” Marley goes and gets the ice cream carton and two spoons. We sit on my couch, digging into the ice cream.

“What should I do?”

“Well, do you like him because you think he is a good guy? Or, do you just want to defy your brother?” Marley smacks her lips around the spoon.

“I don’t want to defy Trevor. Besides you, he is all I have in my life. And, I do like Levi, but not if I don’t trust him.”

“Ok, what would you do if he knocks on your door right now?”

“I would slap him across his gorgeous face.”

Marley laughs. “And then...”

I take a deep breath and fall back on the couch, staring at the ceiling. “Then I would rip his clothes off and ride him to the moon.” Marley and I both laugh at that. “I do feel bad about the stuff I said. Maybe he was telling the truth.”

“We could find out if he was,” she says slyly.

“What do you mean?” I’m scared to find out what she has planned.

“Hear me out. I have a school directory. Sunny isn’t that common of a name and I am sure she goes to RU. Let’s find her and ask her.”

“Are you kidding me? There’s no way that will work.” Marley gets up and heads to my laptop. I follow her. She logs into her RU student account and brings up the directory. She searches for Sunny’s name and within a second, the bottle blonde’s picture pops up. Along with her phone number and address.

“She lives by the frat houses.” Marley points at the screen.

“This is dumb. How do we know if she is even home? She might be at a party or out with Levi.”

“Are you going to put on something other than PJ’s?” She ignores my apprehension and gives me a serious look. I’m not sure if this is the right thing to do. Yes, I’m mad at Levi and I want to apologize, but this has to be some type of invasion of privacy. Well, shit, I’m just going to have to do something reckless for once.

“Fine, I’ll go change.”

~ ~ ~

Marley pulls her car into the driveway of Sunny’s home. I’m shaking with nervousness and think of all the ways this is a bad idea. Marley looks extremely calm as she walks up to the door and knocks. A thin, blonde opens the door in a skimpy baby doll nightie.

“What do you want?” The girl stares right at us.

“Hey Sunny, we have a quick question for you?” Marley asks.

“Ugh, what? Hey, aren’t you that girl from this evening?” Sunny points at me. I can feel the jealousy pulsing through me again. This is the type that Levi likes. I push my nervousness down and step in front of her.

“Yes and why was Levi with you?”

“Why do you care?” she sneers.

“Look,” I push my hand through my hair. “Please, just tell me. I won’t say anything to anyone. Promise.”

She looks me up and down. “I can’t believe he likes someone like you. But I guess I do owe him. He has left m
e
twic
e
to go to you. I guess that means he really likes you.” She huffs and looks up to gather her thoughts. She looks back at me. “Levi was with me tonight to play the role of my boyfriend. I may have told my parents we were together.” Just like that my heart jumps into my throat. He was telling me the truth.

“Thank you.” I grab Marley and race to the car.

“See all is okay.” Marley smiles at me.

“I need to find Levi.” I text him quickly and tell him we need to talk right now.

“Well, I’ll take you to his place.”

I stare at my phone like it is going to explode in my hand waiting for Levi to text back. “I don’t know where he lives. We only go to my place.”

“I can fix that too.” Marley picks up her phone and scrolls until she finds the number she is looking for.

“Jere, baby, I need a favor.”  After Marley flirts with Jere for a few minutes, she has the address. Levi doesn’t live far from where we are now. Marley pulls out of the driveway and we are off.

I can’t believe this is happening. I’m chasing a guy. I’ve never done this before. But I can feel that this is right. Levi is a decent guy, and I can trust him.

We turn the corner and Marley pulls into a parking space along the street. The street is lined with cars and I see Levi’s SVU.

“It’s that one right there.” She points to her left. “You want me to wait?”

I nod because I am not sure if Levi will talk to me. I jump out and head to his door. I knock lightly, and I hear voices on the other side. When the door opens, I see it is the same guy who grabbed my arm the night on the sidewalk.

“What do you want?”

“I...I need to see Levi.” I stammer for a second because there is something about this guy that I don’t like.

“He is busy. In his bedroom.” He cocks his eyebrow at me.

“No, I’m not, Nichols. Go away.” Levi comes up behind him. Nichols eyes me up and down in disgust and walks away.

“How did you find my place?” He crosses his arms. I think about his strong arms around me when I swallow hard. He still looks angry with me, and I’m not sure if he will listen to me.

“I needed to talk to you.” My voice is shaky, but I need to say this to him. It needs to be face-to-face.

“You have one minute.”

“I found Sunny and talked to her.” Levi’s eye widen. “I know you were telling me the truth. So, I’m sorry. I’m sorry I didn’t believe you, for calling you some foul names, and well...I’m sorry. I was mad because I didn’t think you would lie to me. Seeing you with her hurt me because I thought something was happening between us.” The tears are creeping up, but I won’t let them fall in front of him. “That’s all I had to say.” I turn to walk away.

“Hey, Smarty.” I turn to see him leaning on the door frame. He nods his head for me to follow him into his place. I do and he shuts the door behind me. He grabs my hand lovingly and we walk through the living where a few guys are playing a video game.

“Hey, what the hell do you think you are doing?” Nichols says.

“Shut up!” Levi yells at him as he continues to drag me to, what I assume, is his bedroom.

I walk into a large room. I’m surprised to see it so clean. I notice that his color scheme is simple and it’s just like him, crisp and clean. I take a quick glance around the room. His desk in the corner has a stack of books on it. I notice there is nothing on the walls, but there are two small picture frames on his nightstand. I sit on the edge of the bed and look at him as he shuts and locks the door. I’m not sure what he has planned, but he looks like I am prey and he is the lion. I’m not scared of him, I trust him. He pulls me up from the bed and pulls down the zipper of my jacket.

“Wait.” I step back. He eyebrows shoot up and he looks at me curiously. “I have to text Marley.”

He laughs. “Do you need her permission?”

“Ha, ha,” I say sarcastically. “No, she is waiting outside. She was hanging around to make sure I was going to be okay.” I send her a quick text and tell her I’m fine and she can leave. I don’t realize until then that my hands are shaking.

When I am finished, I take off my jacket and look up at him. The anger and fury I’d seen in his eyes before is gone. Now, they’re filled with lust and desire. He cups my cheeks and bring his lips down to mine. His soft lips are a contrast to his rough, hockey hands that are caressing my cheeks.

“Presley,” Levi breaks out of our kiss and I stare into blue eyes. I can feel his hot breath on my skin and it is setting me on fire.

“Yes.” I can barely get the one syllable word out.

“Do you trust me?”

“What?” I’m not expecting him to say anything like that.

“Do you trust me?” he repeats.

I do. I know that he was telling me the truth about helping out Sunny tonight. I know that he opened up to me at the hockey rink and he doesn’t with others. He isn’t like my brother had said. I’m sure Levi has had his fair share of Bunnies, but he is more than that. I take the leap.

“Yes, Levi, I do trust you.”

Levi brings his lips back to mine. The kiss is more intense and I feel his hands move from my cheeks down my back and he gently cups my ass. He lifts me up off the ground and I wrap my legs around him. He lays me at the head of the bed and settles in between my legs. My body takes over, and I rock against him. I can feel every inch of his hardness as he presses into me. I jerk at the bottom of his shirt to get it off of him. I still can’t believe how his rock hard abs aren’t considered illegal in most states. He leaves my lips as I finish getting his shirt off. He kisses down my neck and nips at my collarbone. I arch my back and moan.

“Fuck, Presley.” He sits me up and removes my shirt and bra in a flash and we lay back down. Our body heat is making our skin singe with pleasure. Levi works his way down to my breast. His teeth graze my nipple and a shot of pleasure goes through my veins. I dig my nails into his back and rock harder against him. I need to feel more of him. My body is craving him.

Levi comes back to my mouth. “Say you trust me.”

“I trust you, Levi.” I’m panting with desire as I feel Levi’s hand tug at my yoga pants. He is staring at me and is breathing as hard as I am when he pulls my underwear to the side. My legs open wider, on their own accord, as Levi touches me. He hasn’t broken our eye contact yet.