Well Played by Vi Keeland
CHAPTER 27
Presley
The waves crashed as I sat on the sand, watching Alex dig for seashells. It was our first day in Myrtle Beach, and the weather couldn’t have been more perfect.
“Look at this one!” Alex came running toward me and handed me an almost-symmetrical white shell with burnt orange spots.
I rubbed my finger along its lines. “This is definitely one for the jar.”
We’d brought a large jar from the kitchen with us and promised to fill the entire thing with only the most worthy of seashells to take back home.
When Alex ran back toward the shore, my phone rang. I smiled as I answered. “Hey, Harp.”
“I got your text with that breathtaking photo of the ocean. How’s Myrtle Beach?”
Breathing in the salty air, I said, “It was definitely a good decision to get away for a couple of days.”
“Is Tanner with you guys?”
“No. He wanted to come, but I told him I preferred to have some alone time here with Alex. I honestly needed a breather from him. Levi just left, so I’m still processing everything.”
“How did you leave things with him?”
Where do I even begin? I filled Harper in on the days leading up to Levi’s departure and ended with the fact that he’d given me his half of the inn.
“Wow. That was amazingly generous of him,” she said.
“I wish I could see it that way. I mean, it’s obviously generous. But it also felt like a slap in the face—like he didn’t want to have anything else to do with me, and that was a way of ensuring he didn’t have to. I feel like a fool for ever believing he could love me enough not to run away.”
After a few seconds of silence Harper asked, “Do you really think he stopped caring about you, or is this whole thing about guilt over Tanner?”
That was the magic question.
Digging lines in the sand, I shook my head. “I don’t know. And I’m not sure which scenario breaks my heart more. In some ways, it would be easier if he truly had lost interest in a future with me. Then I would know for sure he wasn’t hurting inside. It’s all so confusing. I was pretty sure he’d given up on us until the moment he left when I saw tears in his eyes.”
“Oh my God. Levi Miller cried?”
It pained me to think about it. “It was subtle, and he was trying to hide it. I still have no idea if he just felt bad for hurting me or if he was the one feeling hurt. I’m supposed to be enjoying this time with my son, but that question is haunting me.” I sighed. “Even if I knew the answer, it wouldn’t change anything. Whether it’s a lack of love or guilt driving his decision, it’s over. Him giving me the deed proved that, and I need to accept it.” Emotion crashed over me, and I whispered, “I miss him so damn much.”
“Are you gonna be okay?”
I took a deep breath. “I have to be—for Alex. This is the last I’m gonna speak of it, Harper. As soon as I get off the phone with you, I’m letting it go for the rest of this trip.”
“You need me to come down?” she asked.
“No. Of course, I’d love to see you, but I have to do this on my own. Even if it kills me, I’ll force myself to move on.”
She sighed. “If you change your mind, I’ll be on the next plane, okay?”
A friend who’d hop a plane just to make you feel better is definitely a keeper.
“Thanks, Harp. I love you.”
***
A couple of days later, it was back to reality after Alex and I returned to The Palm Inn. The trip had turned out exactly as I’d wanted. I’d done the best I could, giving Alex all of my attention as we toured Myrtle Beach. We spent a lot of time together in the water, ate at the local restaurants, had ice cream, and browsed all the shops.
Being back home, though, reignited the emptiness of realizing Levi was gone.
Tanner walked into the kitchen as I was putting away groceries. I hadn’t gone shopping since before Levi left and had badly needed to restock the pantry.
“How about we drop Alex off at my mother’s tonight and go out to dinner, just you and me?” he suggested.
I paused before making an excuse, which wasn’t entirely a lie. “We just got back. I kind of feel like being a homebody for a little while.”
He nodded, looking a bit deflated. “Well, then, we can have a date night in. I’ll cook something for us? Give you a break if you’re tired?”
His use of the word date forced me to take a more direct approach.
“Tanner, I’ve already told you where things stand for me. Nothing has changed. We’re co-parents, but that’s it. Not to mention, my focus right now needs to be on the grand opening next week, and Alex starting school soon.” I shut the pantry door. “But even if those things weren’t happening, I’m not interested in a romantic relationship with you anymore. I thought I made that clear.”
He grimaced. “Oh, you did. But I can’t give up without a fight. You mean too much to me. I’ll be trying from time to time, fully expecting to get shot down for a while. And you know what? All things considered—the mistakes I’ve made in the past—this is to be expected. But I won’t give up on you, Presley. I will not give up on us. You and Alex are the most important people in the world to me. Every day from now on is a step toward earning your trust back.” He took a few steps closer. “In the meantime, I’m here to help you. Tell me what you need from me. I’m on your side, on your team. Put me to work, and we’ll make this the most kickass grand opening this town has ever seen.”
***
Over the week that followed, Tanner definitely turned out to be a man of his word. He’d done so much to help me, from tending to Alex to deep cleaning the rooms in preparation for our guests.
In just a few days, people would start arriving to stay at The Palm Inn, and tonight was the grand-opening party. We’d invited the local press and arranged for prepared food to be brought in. Two of the reporters would even be spending the night in the recently renovated bedrooms in exchange for write-ups about the inn.
I was getting the kitchen ready for the caterers when Tanner and Alex walked in from back-to-school shopping. Alex carried a bunch of bags to his room while Tanner joined me in the kitchen. I knew I couldn’t have focused and been ready for the party tonight if Tanner wasn’t here paying attention to Alex. I was more grateful for his presence by the day.
“How’s my girl?” Tanner shook his head and corrected himself. “I’m sorry. Old habit.”
I sprayed the counter and wiped it down as he came up behind me.
“You’re so tense, Presley. You need to relax.”
The next thing I knew, Tanner’s hands were firmly around my shoulders. He dug his fingers into my muscles, massaging. As inappropriate as this seemed, I closed my eyes and relished the feel of the tension releasing from the base of my neck.
For a moment, as I closed my eyes, I imagined it was Levi touching me. My body stirred before I snapped out of my trance and pulled away.
Letting out a breath, I said, “Thank you.”
I swiftly exited the kitchen—and ran into a smirking Fern in the hallway.
“Feeling refreshed?” she cracked.
Great. I could only imagine what that had looked like in the kitchen. But I couldn’t be concerned with her assumptions right now.
I walked right past her, went straight to my room, and shut the door before lying down on the bed. My body buzzed from the massage—not because it had been Tanner’s hands on me, but because being touched reminded me of everything I still longed for.
I miss Levi. I missed the way Levi looked at me, the way he made me feel, how happy I was with him. I had no idea how I was supposed to just forget all of that and move on with my life.
Rubbing my temples, I started to sweat. I rubbed my legs against the smooth sheets in frustration. I snatched my phone from the nightstand and scrolled through my contacts.
My finger lingered over Levi’s name as I debated texting him.
What would I even say? Admitting how much I missed him or that I was thinking about him wasn’t going to make either of our lives easier. It would serve no purpose. I tossed the phone and buried my head in a pillow, hoping the moment would pass. And eventually it did. Rather than give in to my need for contact with Levi, I escaped to the shower and began getting ready for tonight.
***
A couple of hours later, I was downstairs, dressed in a floor-length, purple dress as people arrived for the celebration.
Tanner and Alex wore matching navy suits, and even Fern had changed out of her usual house dress into a fancy outfit. She’d finished off the look with a gargantuan hat adorned with flowers.
I made my way around, schmoozing with the guests and answering questions from local reporters.
It was hard to talk about the renovation process without acknowledging Levi, so I gave him credit where it was due. More than one person asked why he wasn’t at the party, and I explained with a bitter taste in my mouth that he was back in Colorado for work. Perhaps the most bittersweet fact about this entire shindig was that Levi had arranged the whole thing. Back when things were better between us, he’d made all of the party arrangements—from the invite list down to picking the menu.
By the time everyone left, I was utterly exhausted from having to be “on” so many hours in a row as The Palm Inn’s official spokesperson. And I hadn’t eaten a morsel of the food Levi paid for.
The kitchen was finally quiet when I opened the refrigerator to see what was left. Staring me in the face was a tray of peach cobbler. Levi had requested that particular dessert for a reason, and at the time, it was likely not meant to hurt me.
I took the tray out and grabbed a fork, knowing damn well tonight would be yet another evening consumed by thoughts of Levi Miller.
