Dirty Player (The Montgomery Billionaires #3)

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

LEVI

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I drop the weight bar and sit up, feeling around for my shoulder. My injury is well and truly healed, but I’m still careful with it.

Coach has put me back on the field for the past two games. We won one, lost the other. So far he’s pleased with my performance, but I want to make sure I stay with the team next year.

And the year after.

I’m serious about my football career.

Kaylee pissed me off last night. Why the hell did she get so drunk? I lost a valuable hour of sleep having to pick her up.

Not that I minded.

When Stephanie said there were assholes hanging around—my words, not hers— I already had my keys in my hand. But I’d rather have had six hours sleep last night instead of five.

She knows the level we work at in the NFL.

There was something weird going on in her head last night, and I was not going to get into a conversation with a drunk woman.

I saw the hurt in her eyes just before I turned the light out. I planned to see how she was today, but so far I’ve not seen her.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, so I won’t see her until next week. We’re flying to the Hamptons tonight to spend a few days with the Dufort’s.

Fuck, I’m going to miss her.

As much as I love my family, and that’s a lot, I hate that it means not being with her.

Still, I’ll be coming home a day early to spend a day training hard, but it won’t be downtime to be with Kaylee.

I move to another machine and think about all the men watching her in the bar when I walked in. I’m never going to be able to stand in public with her and tell them to fuck off and say she’s mine.

I’m a public figure now.

I was lucky not to get recognized last night. She wasn’t making a big scene, but the sexy little kitten wasn’t exactly being innocuous either.

Finally, I spot her walking past the gym door wearing dark sunglasses, so I finish up my set. I chug down my water and head in the direction of her office.

When I pop my head in, Natalie is on the phone at her desk.

Kaylee glances up at me and she looks rough.

I smirk. “How’s the head?”

“Sore. Thanks for the rescue,” she replies quietly.

“Anytime.” I smile and when she doesn’t smile back, I know something’s wrong.

Her laptop pings.

“Better get back to this. I was an hour late today.”

I nod and watch her.

“Happy Thanksgiving,” Kaylee adds, shooting me the coldest, fake smile I’ve ever seen.

She’s not just hungover.

I don’t even know how to call her on it.

We aren’t dating. We aren’t in a relationship. Either of us could end this at any moment. Kaylee’s pushing me away, so I need to listen.

“You, too,” I reply and push off the wall.

Walking back down to the gym, I feel empty and cold. Both of us are spending the weekend with our families. I already know I’ll miss her.

I want her in my bed every night.

I once wanted her to be the woman I fucking married. Now I’m torturing myself by sleeping with her and hiding her from everyone.

Including my team, manager, and coaches.

Thankfully, the media.

Sometimes I wonder why she hasn’t pushed for more, and it does bother me.

Neither of us is committed and I’m pretty fucking sure I’m the only one emotionally invested.

Yet all we do is have sex. Scorching hot sex... and I’m not complaining. But I am curious.

If I don’t get traded next year, then what happens? Does she move on to another player? By the time I get back to the gym, my blood is pumping.

Maybe it’s good that it’s the holidays. I need a break to get things clear in my head.

With Christmas just around the corner, things could just get more complicated. I know my love is unrequited, and there’s no way I can let my family know I’ve been seeing her. Especially if she really is just a jersey chaser.

Christ, I need to get real with myself.

Kaylee Rose isn’t interested in me. Me , the man.

She loves the sport. That’s what we have in common. Well, that, and the greatest sex I’ve ever had...

But I’m starting to realize it’s not enough.

And that while she’s mine, I can’t keep her.

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I LEAN BACK in my seat and run a hand over my stomach. We’re having Thanksgiving lunch at Lily and Jacob’s mansion in the Hamptons and I’ve eaten way too much.

“Do you ever get fat?” Lily asks me, bouncing her kid on her knee.

I bark out a laugh and start coughing.

“That’s what I want to know.” Molly watches me carefully, as if I know witchcraft or something.

“He’s an athlete,” Payton says. “That’s how. Personally, before I was pregnant, I was happy with my one-hour gym workouts six days a week.”

“Five,” Knox states, and Payton glares at him. Then because my brother is suicidal, he adds, “For forty-five minutes. And it’s down the hall from our bedroom.”

Definitely suicidal.

I rub my jaw and glance at Atlas, who’s shaking his head at the idiot.

“Whatever, my point is”—Payton pokes her tongue out, and Molly giggles—“Levi can’t just eat whatever he wants.”

I can.

“I can.” I say out loud because I can’t help myself and winding up my sister-in-law is a fun sport all on its own. “Speaking of which, I might have another slice of pumpkin pie.”

Knox, who is finally out of his Tom Ford suit and wearing a similar outfit to all of us—casual designer pants, a Prada shirt, and dark sweater—laughs and leans over to kiss his wife.

“Sorry honey.”

“Ugh.” Payton shoots me a jealous glance and I laugh.

“How? That’s not fair.” Molly rubs her swollen tummy.

“Science,” I reply because I am not getting into the whole thing with them.

“DNA.” Atlas shrugs.

“Lies. You’ve got quite a belly coming along since Molly has been cooking for you.” Blake leans back in his chair from across the table.

“The fuck I have!” Atlas leans back, glancing down his body.

Molly snickers.

Blake is Jacob’s brother and my brother-in-law. Basically, Blake married Bella, my sister. Who is busy with her toddler in the next room.

I slide my chair back and stand. “You can all fight this out while I get another slice of pie.”

The truth is, my body will burn these calories a million times faster than theirs, as I’m a professional athlete. I’ve built it that way. But I’ll also be at the training center for the rest of the weekend while they’re relaxing.

“Fine. I’ll have another slice too,” Payton says, and when I glance at her, we both start laughing.

“Maybe I should become an athlete then.” I hear Lilly say as I walk across the large room toward the kitchen.

“You will not,” Jacob replies. “I love you just the way you are. All your curves.”

“I don’t have curves!”

“Jesus, do none of the men in this family have a clue?” Atlas groans as I chuckle.

I walk around the corner wondering if they have any clue how much hard work, tenacity, and mindset go into doing what we do.

Most people would give up after a week. Hell, a few hours.

And they do.

That’s why very few can do it and instead enjoy watching those of us at the top of our game.

As I step into Jacob and Lilly’s stunning chef’s kitchen, my mind drifts to Kaylee. We haven’t spoken since Wednesday, and I miss her. Not for the first time this weekend. I’ve imagined her sitting at the table with us, walking along the beach, chatting with the girls.

They’d love her.

I know they fucking would.

I just couldn’t ever bring her home. Atlas and Knox would rip me to pieces and tell me to get my head read.

Dad walks in with his phone to his ear and freezes when he sees me.

I lift my brows.

An odd reaction from him.

“When I get home, I’ll give you a call,” he says, turning away and walking back the way he came in. “Yes. I would. Very much.”

The fuck?

Any man over the age of fifteen knows the tone he’s using. He’s talking to a woman.

I stand still, trying to listen when Knox walks in.

“The pie isn’t going to cut itself.” He nudges my shoulder.

I turn to face him. “When did Dad start dating?”

“Since fucking never.” Knox glances over my shoulder in the direction Dad just left and looks as happy as I do about it.

Mom might have died almost three years ago, but I’m not sure I’m ready to see him with anyone else. I’d put money on Bella, Knox, and Atlas feeling the same way.

It’s written all over my big brother’s face right now.

My phone beeps in my pocket and I tug it out, my heartbeat speeding up, thinking it’s Kaylee.

Kyler.

I can feel my face falling in disappointment. Which is totally unfair to my best friend.

Happy Thanksgiving dude. Are you drunk yet?

I type a reply.

Can’t. Professional athlete now. Way too sensible.

Liar. You’re still eating all the pie, aren’t you ?

I snort, take a photo of said pie and send it to him.

Kyler replies with a laughing emoji.

Knox has disappeared and I lean my hip on the counter, sliding a hand into my pocket and thinking about how we just reacted to hearing Dad on the phone to a woman.

Do we really have a say?

They’ve all been clear about what they think of Kaylee. Understandable, given the circumstances when we were together. And how I was impacted.

That was over a year ago.

She was my first love...fuck, at this stage, the only woman I love.

I wish she was here, goddamn it.

Pulling my hand out of my pocket, I swipe the phone and type.

Happy Thanksgiving, kitten. Lx

When I wake up the next morning, Kaylee still hasn’t replied.