CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
LEVI
What is he doing here?
He hasn’t spoken to me once since I got injured, and he just shows up here?
I subconsciously pull Scarlett into me, a protectiveness racing through me as I stare at the man in front of us.
Scarlett looks up at me confused before looking back at my dad and recognition dawns on her face.
“So, I see you’re finally back on the ice,” he nods his head slowly, menacingly. “Finally ready to stop overreacting about a little hit?”
I don’t speak, just watching him as he glances around. “I mean, really, Levi. You should be stronger than that. It was quite embarrassing to watch.”
My jaw clenches, my body tensing as he continues to berate me.
His eyes land on Scarlett. “And who’s this?”
“She… uh,” I pause, not feeling comfortable letting my dad into this part of my life. The part that is just so good.
Scarlett steps in front of me further in a protective stance, and she reaches her hand out toward my father. “I’m Scarlett.”
He scrunches his face, as he looks her up and down.
“I see,” he says, not reaching out to shake her hand. “And what is it that you do, Scarlett?”
Scarlett falters, her arm dropping back into her side. “I’m a Pilates instructor.”
Huffing, he turns back to me. “So, this is why you needed time off, Levi? I thought that I brought you up better than to get distracted. Especially by a woman.”
“She’s not a distraction,” I whisper, my anxiety growing by the second.
He laughs sarcastically. “No? You just spent a couple of months off, gallivanting around rather than being on the ice and training to be better? Training to be the best? Honestly, Levi…”
Scarlett looks back at me, a fire igniting in her eyes. “He’s worked extremely hard to get back on the ice. I’d say that he’s certainly focused enough.”
My father regards her with mild interest. “You think you know what all this takes?”
“Not at all,” Scarlett straightens her spine. “But I understand how hard he works. Levi is an incredible hockey player, and he deserves to have you see him as such.”
My heart stops at the praise. At having someone defend me like this. I’ve never had someone, other than my sister, really be in my corner like this. And I only hope that I can have this forever.
My father’s silent as he stares at Scarlett. “I hope you know that Levi will end up leaving you. He doesn’t know what it means to stick around.”
At that, my dad turns, walking down the hall and I watch as he leaves.
Scarlett spins around, arms reaching toward my face, hands cupping my jaw as her eyes search mine. “Are you okay, baby?”
“Scar, I’m so sorry.”
She pulls me down, placing a few gentle kisses against my lips. “Don’t be sorry. This isn’t your fault.”
A small grin tugs at my lips. “What happened to no kissing?”
Her eyes sparkle, shrugging her shoulders before she pulls me in for one more long kiss. “I wanted to.”
My smile falters. “He’s always been like that.”
“That doesn’t mean that it’s okay, Levi. You deserve better than that.”
“He just thinks that if I ever take some time off that I’ll get worse, or people will forget about me.”
“Well, I say that you’re pretty unforgettable, Levi Carter.”
My pulse stutters as my cheeks heat, the praise being my undoing once again.
“If you feel like I’m a distraction, I can stop coming to training.” Her words come out as a whisper.
I slowly shake my head, grasping Scarlett’s hips to pull her flush against me.
“You make me better. I haven’t felt this at ease on the ice in a long time. Even before the injury,” I murmur, lowering my head towards hers. “I need you, Scar,” my voice breaks as I brush my lips against her temple, breathing her in. “And I really like you.”
She freezes as she pulls her head back to find my eyes again. Her eyes are shining under the stadium lights. “I really like you too, Levi.”
My heart stops as a slow smile breaks out across my face. “Let’s get you out of your gear, and then I’ll walk you to your car.”
She nods, grabbing my hand and pulling me behind her toward the locker room. And I really hope she no longer wants to keep whatever we had at the lake house. Because I know that it’s now so much more than that.