Well Played by Vi Keeland
CHAPTER 28
Presley
Two weeks later, The Palm Inn was officially open for business, and the first guests had checked in. Not only that, we were sold out for two months—until early October. Everything was great, aside from the fact that I was exhausted.
This endeavor was entirely too much for one person. Tanner had started his new coaching job, and was still doing the agent stuff on the side, so he couldn’t help me as much anymore. And I’d started the art teacher position at the local high school, which ate up a good chunk of my time.
Tanner had just dropped Alex off at school when he returned to join me for coffee before work.
“You look totally stressed. Did something happen with one of the guests?” he asked as he poured himself a mug.
“No, it’s nothing bad. I’m just realizing I need help. We’re booked solid for over eight weeks. Preparing breakfast each day is enough work. And now that I’ve started teaching, I don’t think I can handle all the cleaning and turning around the rooms—not to mention the laundry. I know I should’ve foreseen this, but it’s harder than I imagined.”
He put his mug down. “Say no more. After I deal with some client stuff this morning, I’ll line someone up to come in and clean.”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“I want to. And I’ll pay for it. Aside from buying food here and there, I’ve been living at this place rent-free, and that’s not really fair. I know I’m still behind on what I owe you, but count on me to handle the cleaning costs and also to start covering more of the other expenses around here.”
It was nice to have his support, but I couldn’t help feeling like this was another attempt to become a fixture in our lives again. But I certainly wasn’t going to turn him down if he wanted to contribute.
After Tanner went upstairs to work, I did something I almost never do. I took my coffee into the living room and turned on the TV. I wasn’t a big television watcher, most of the time preferring to read. But I had a little time before I had to report to school to teach my first art class for the day.
For about ten minutes, I watched the Today show, and during a commercial, I flipped through the channels.
Normally, I’d blow right by ESPN, except the familiar face on the screen caused me to freeze. Levi’s big blue eyes were fixed on the female reporter.
I swallowed the lump in my throat as he spoke.
The beautiful blond had asked him his opinion on a new player who’d been transferred to the Broncos for the upcoming season.
Levi scratched his chin. “Everyone’s welcomed him with open arms. It’s been fun getting into a groove and being back at camp. The team is stronger than ever, and I’m excited for the season to start.”
She continued to ask him questions with a twinkle in her eye. She seemed to be flirting. My stomach sank, and I changed the channel. I couldn’t take it.
If I couldn’t handle a reporter flirting with him, how would I have ever dealt with all of the rest of the women throwing themselves at him, day in and day out?
***
Two more weeks passed, and things felt more under control at The Palm Inn now that I had regular help. Tanner had hired a friend of Fern’s to come in for housekeeping a few days a week, so I no longer had to bear the brunt of that.
Handling the breakfast end of things was also much easier now that I had less on my plate. I didn’t have to start my art teaching job until 11AM, so that allowed me plenty of time to prepare coffee and food for our guests. And sometimes, when I was running late, Tanner would step in and take over for me if he didn’t have to report to his coaching job. Alex was also settled into the new school year, and I couldn’t have asked for anything more right now on the home front.
The only problem was the lingering longing inside of me for a man I couldn’t have. The same man whose brother seemed to be doing everything humanly possible to earn another chance.
Speaking of Tanner, I’d finally decided to give in to one of his many requests to spend time outside of the house together. He’d convinced me I deserved a night out and promised not to assume it was a date if I just agreed.
So, one evening, the two of us dropped Alex off at Tanner’s mother’s house before meeting Lily and Tom Hannaford at one of my favorite Italian restaurants, Carducci’s. Lily and Tom were one of the few couples we’d gone to high school with who were still together. We’d often gone on double dates with them back in the day, so it was definitely like déjà vu to be sitting across from them tonight.
At one point after the waiter took our order, Lily hit me with the dreaded question. “So, what’s going on with you two?” She looked between us. “Please tell me a reconciliation is in the works.”
I’d hoped Tanner, who set up this dinner, had explained things to them so I didn’t have to.
“We’re just friends and co-parents, actually,” I told her.
Tanner placed his hand on my arm. “That’s the plan for now.” He smiled over at me, but I didn’t return it. “I’m holding out hope that she gives me another chance. I messed up royally in the past, so I’m currently working to earn her trust back. Taking it day by day.”
Lily grinned. “Well, that’s commendable. But what if that never happens?”
Tanner squinted. “What do you mean?”
“What if she can never learn to trust you again?”
He sighed and looked over at me. “Then we’ll always be in each other’s lives, and I’ll always be there for her and Alex—no matter what.”
I took a sip of water and felt the need to clarify my position. “There are some things in life that are best not revisited,” I explained. “I think you can have respect and love for someone and also recognize that you’re better off apart. That’s the case with Tanner and me.”
A frown crossed Tanner’s face.
While it sucked to once again deflate his hope, I needed to continue keeping things real until it eventually sank in for him. He’d clearly misled our friends into thinking this was some kind of double date.
After a few glasses of wine, I managed to finally enjoy myself as the subject moved away from Tanner and me. The four of us reminisced about old times, things like sneaking into movies when we were in high school.
Everything was kosher until Tom brought up the L-word during dessert.
He turned to Tanner. “How’s your brother doing?”
“Good,” Tanner said. “He’s back at training camp, gearing up for the new season.”
“I heard the Broncos snagged Chip Reid. That was a huge acquisition.”
Tanner nodded. “Yeah. Should be an interesting season.”
Tom chuckled. “God, Levi must be living the life. I can only imagine how much ass that guy gets.”
My wine felt like it was coming back up as a surge of jealousy hit. It wasn’t like he’d said anything I didn’t already know, but it sucked to hear. It also sucked that it had such a profound effect on me. But I was no less in love with Levi now than the day he left. In light of that, the way Tom’s comment made me burn up was normal. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead as I downed the last of my wine.
Lily tilted her head as she looked straight at me, seeming to examine my face. “Wasn’t he here in town for a while?”
I cleared my throat. “Yeah. He was a big help when we were starting the renovations at The Palm Inn.”
“I’m totally indebted to him for being here until I got my shit together,” Tanner added.
Lily looked at me again. “Was he living there at The Palm with you before Tanner arrived?”
Feeling my cheeks heat, I nodded. “Yes.”
“Interesting. Had you ever spent extensive time together before?”
“No, it was my first time really getting to know him.”
“I see.” She smirked slightly.
And that’s when I knew. She had noticed my reaction and put two and two together. Somehow, from the look on my face alone, Lily had figured out what Tanner had yet to—that something had gone down between me and his brother.
How on Earth was I going to hide my feelings for Levi from Tanner forever if this chick had figured it out in a matter of minutes?
