4. Levi
CHAPTER 4
LEVI
Cooper: Did you see the email from Declan?
Jax: No?
Me: What email?
Cooper: The one that said that Coach took a job in California and we have a new coach starting next week.
What. The. Fuck.
Asher: No shit? What the fuck is happening less than a week before we start our season.
Nash: I wonder what the fuck happened for Coach not to even tell us himself.
Cooper: No idea but looks like Monday is going to be more interesting than we expected.
Me: Fuck.
“What do you mean I don’t have to stay to play bingo? Are you kicking me out?” I pout as I finish putting everything away from our dinner. We had meatloaf and mashed potatoes because it’s always been my favorite, and my nana has never forgotten. She knows and makes sure to make it every so often, usually cooking me a second one to take home because meatloaf sandwiches slap, and I’ll fight anyone who disagrees.
I come over for dinner at least once a week. It’s my favorite thing to do, especially when I get to kick her ass at bingo.
“No, don't be silly, boy,” Nana says, swatting me with her towel as she walks by. “Don't you have a game you need to get to?”
“Not today. I've still got another week left to bug you and beat you at bingo. Nice try though,” I say before starting the dishwasher.
When I look up, she's watching me, her eyes glossed over as she stares as if she's trying to figure something out. I can almost see the wheels trying to turn, catching every once in a while, before she shakes her head and snaps out of it.
“Fine, let's go. But you have to deal with Delilah if you keep winning. She's already not a big fan of you,” she says as she grabs our daubers and throws them in her bag.
“That's only because I turned down dating her granddaughter.”
“Can you blame her? You're a catch, and she would've been lucky to have you in her family. It's a shame she's a crazy old bat, but the granddaughter is too, so you made the right call.”
Shaking my head, I laugh before following her out the door to walk to the bingo hall down the street.
When she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years ago, I didn't want to believe it. She was the only thing I had left after my parents bailed when I was five, and then Grandpa passed away awhile later. My nana is incredible. She fought for me to live the best life even after she lost my grandpa, her best friend who she was with for over forty-five years. It was tough for her. I knew it then, but she never complained, even picked up extra shifts on the weekends at the restaurant by our house to help me get better equipment for hockey. So, to think she's losing her memory—and slowly, herself—it's fucking heartbreaking.
I remember when they told us she had Alzheimer's like it was yesterday. I went through the ringer that day with my emotions. I held it together in the car as I drove us home, let her tell me what she was worried about before she decided she wanted to go watch TV and relax.
Then I took a shower where I scream-cried over the fear of losing her.
After that, I went to the rink for practice and started one too many fistfights with my teammates until finally our captain, Asher, who's been my best friend since I was eight, pulled me aside. All it took was one look and he knew it was something big. I unloaded, and after that he and the rest of our friends went back to my place and cooked for my nana, one of the benefits of having her living with me.
I'll forever be thankful for that day. The blood, sweat, and tears all ended in a room full of love, surrounding my nana with the life and support she needed in that moment.
I know that because I needed it too.
But now, every little slip-up she has, every little lapse in her memory, scares me and makes me think it's getting worse. Most of the time, I can convince myself I’m just being anxious and worried over nothing, but other times, it feels like I'm watching my world slip through my fingers like sand, and I just want to hold onto it for as long as I can.
“—but even then every time I'm around her, all I can smell is the stupid orange cleaner she used on the entire house. It's too much.”
“Who are you talking about?”
“We really need to work on your listening skills if you're ever going to find yourself a girl,” she says, rolling her eyes before turning to head into the bingo hall.
It's a cute building they have in the middle of the retirement community, designed to look like a little log cabin. It’s awesome, and pretty much anytime you come in here, it'll be filled with people having fun. We've come for bingo, swing dancing, line dancing, and even a very intense game of checkers that happened here on a random Tuesday. It's always fun, even though Delilah, the grumpy lady who lives next to my nana, always complains about me. No one listens to her, but sometimes I want to tell her to stop being petty and show her I have a girlfriend just to really get under her skin.
Maybe I'm the petty one.
As we head in, it's already starting to fill up, but thankfully we snag a couple of seats in the back, far enough away from Delilah hopefully not to get yelled at.
“Why are you so quiet?” my nana asks as she lays down the bingo cards and pulls out her favorite purple dauber, like always.
I'd make fun of her for being superstitious, but I'm a hockey player. That'd be like the pot calling the kettle black.
“Just strategizing how to beat everyone today.” I smirk.
“Damn it, Levi, just answer a damn question for once.”
“You're pushy, but fine. Just a lot going on with the season starting, and based on the email our owner, Declan, sent out earlier today, there will be some changes.”
“What do you mean?”
“Remember the coach before this one?”
“The dickhead coach with the niece you tried to marry, even though it’s the sister you want?” she bites out, proving that her long-term memory is definitely better than her short-term—at least at this moment.
“That's the one,” I say with a grimace.
“Couldn't forget them; trust me, I've tried,” Nana says, spitting each word out like it tastes bad.
“Apparently, he’s coming back. Or at least that’s what it sounds like,” I tell her, waving at Delilah and Brenda as they walk past us to their usual spots.
“Go on.”
“Quinn had mentioned to me that her uncle would be coaching back in Nashville, but I didn’t believe her. I figured if there was going to be a change, Coach would let us know. Only, earlier today, I got that email from the owner. Putting two and two together, it sounds like Sullivan will be our new coach.”
“And Quinn told you this?” she says with a knowing smirk. Damn, in this moment, I wish I hadn’t told her everything when Ally and I broke up.
Why is this what she remembers?
“Yup.”
“So, you two are still friends?”
I feel my cheeks heat, and I immediately look down at my bingo cards, staring at the letters like they’re going to turn into something really interesting, just to avoid her eye contact.
“Yeah, we hang out now and then,” I say vaguely. “But she knew I never planned on leaving Nashville, so I think she thought it was important enough to let me know. Or at least that’s what it seemed like,” I tell her, rambling on, trying to get her off the scent of secrets. She’s like a bloodhound and will follow the scent until she gets what she wants. I’m just not in the mood today. She eyes me for a minute, then lets out a little “hurumph” before nodding.
“Well, I say just see how it all plays out. But this time, maybe follow your heart instead of your head,” Nana says with a smirk right as Delilah comes over to our table.
“Kimberly, are you ever going to stop inviting your grandson to our bingo days? It’s really obnoxious losing to a cheater all the time,” Delilah says while refusing to look at me.
“I do not cheat, Ms. Delilah. I think we all know that I’m just a very lucky guy,” I tell her with a wink.
“You’re incorrigible, Mr. Crosby. I’ll be watching you,” she says, pointing two fingers at her eyes before directing them at me with a glare.
“I’m sure you will. Enjoy the game,” I tell her with a smirk as she walks away, my nana just shaking her head at us.
By the end of the night, I won three out of five bingo games, earning me a death glare from Delilah, but I just blew her a kiss and walked out with Nana, forcing her to walk behind us while we celebrated the entire way home.
Yup, I'm definitely petty.