Well Played by Vi Keeland
CHAPTER 30
Presley
Six weeks after Levi left, I’d finally fallen into a routine. I’d get Alex ready for school, make breakfast for the guests at the inn, teach four periods of art, pick up Alex, come home and make dinner, check in on the guests, eat, do homework and bath time with my son, tidy up the common areas, take a shower, and fall into bed exhausted. Wash. Rinse. Repeat. It was easy to forget what day of the week it was since they all looked the same.
Today I’d just finished tidying up the inn and was about to turn off the lights and head upstairs to take a shower when someone knocked at the front door. Shelby Miller smiled when I opened it. I had to force a similar greeting. It wasn’t that I didn’t like Tanner’s mom, but most of the conversations we had were draining, and it had already been a long day.
Nevertheless, I stepped aside for her to enter and put on my best fake smile. “Hi, Shelby. I didn’t know you were coming by. Tanner isn’t here. He and the assistant coach are working on some new plays. He said he’d probably be back pretty late.”
“I know. That’s why I came by. I was hoping you and I could talk for a few minutes alone.”
“Ummm… Yeah, sure. Of course. Would you like a cup of tea?”
“If you’re having one, that would be great.”
We made small talk while I prepped two teas, mostly chatting about Alex and how he was settling into school. After I was done and put out cream and sugar, I sat across from her and sipped my tea.
“How are things going with Tanner?” she asked.
“We’ve been getting along pretty well. But we’re just friends, if that’s what you’re asking. I don’t see Tanner in a romantic light, and I’ve told him that a number of times.”
Shelby sighed. “That’s what I thought.”
“Did he…say something to you to make you think otherwise?”
She shook her head. “Not directly. But I received all of the confirmations for Jim’s jersey ceremony next weekend, and I noticed there was a one-bedroom suite under Tanner’s name with three guests listed. So I asked him about it.”
“Oh?”
“He said you, Alex, and he would all stay together in one room. Their suites have a separate bedroom and living room, with a king-size bed and also a small couch in the living area, but it’s not a pull-out couch. I let Tanner know that, thinking maybe he thought the couch converted to a bed he could sleep on, but he said it wouldn’t be a problem, that Alex would fit on the couch.” Shelby caught my gaze. “He also asked if I’d mind keeping my grandson one of the nights, so you two could have some alone time.”
I blew out a deep breath. “I definitely didn’t know about that. I only decided to go a few weeks ago because Alex’s begging made it impossible to say no. I’ve been so busy that I hadn’t even considered where we were staying or the sleeping arrangements. I knew Tanner said there were rooms blocked off for everyone. But I had no idea he thought it would be okay for us to share a bed.” I paused. “I swear, Shelby, I haven’t been leading him on at all. I’ve been very straightforward about how I feel, even though he keeps telling me he plans to wait me out.”
She shook her head. “I wasn’t thinking you were doing anything to make him feel that way. But I know how my son can be. Sometimes he gets ideas in his head, and he becomes so focused that he can lose track of reality.”
“I don’t want to hurt him. Things between us are good right now, on a friendship level. And he’s spending a lot of quality time getting to know Alex. But there really is no chance we’ll be getting back together.” I looked down into my tea. “My heart belongs to someone else, but even if it didn’t, I wouldn’t be interested in rekindling a romance with Tanner.”
Shelby was quiet for a moment. It looked like she might’ve been deliberating saying more. Eventually, she set down her teacup.
“Have you…spoken to Levi lately?”
I shook my head and frowned.
“This whole situation between my boys is very confusing. I’m never sure what I should say and what I shouldn’t. I’m supposed to be loyal to both my sons, but I’m keeping a secret from one, and I hate to see either of them hurting. And you, Presley. I know it probably seems like I’ve not been the friendliest person since you came back, but I believed some things that I never should’ve, and for that I’m sorry. You were always like the daughter I never had, and I care about you deeply. I don’t want to see you hurting either.”
“Thank you. And I’m sorry you’ve been put in the middle of this mess.”
Shelby was quiet for another moment. Eventually, she sighed. “Levi called me last week. It was the evening Alex was over because you and Tanner had gone out with some old friends. Alex told Levi he was over because his parents had gone out on a date.”
My eyes widened. “Oh no.”
Shelby nodded. “When I got back on the phone, Levi gave me the third degree. I told him Tanner was the one who’d called it a date, and I wasn’t sure if that was what you considered it. But he sounded pretty upset.”
I felt sick that Levi might think Tanner and I were together so soon after he left, that our relationship had meant so little to me that I could move on that fast—especially with his brother. But I also found Levi’s reaction confusing.
“He was the one who broke things off with me.”
Shelby reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just thought you should know—not only because of Levi’s reaction, but also because clearly Tanner is feeding Alex some things that aren’t exactly the truth. I wouldn’t want him to think his parents were back together, only to be let down.”
I nodded. “Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it.”
After Shelby left, I went to my room to take a shower. But rather than turn in, I decided to wait downstairs in the living room for Tanner to come home. It was time the two of us had a little heart to heart.
***
“Hey.” Lips touched my forehead. “You must’ve fallen asleep.”
I rubbed my eyes open to the sight of Tanner. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost midnight.” He smiled. “You know, you’re cute when you drool.”
I wiped my face as I sat up. “I was not drooling.”
He chuckled. “You want me to carry you to your room, sleepyhead?”
“No, I was waiting up for you.”
“Oh yeah?” He grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
I frowned. “Let’s go into the kitchen to talk. I need some water.”
While I was at the sink letting the water run cold, Tanner came up behind me. He stood close, and a hint of something sweet wafted through the air. I turned and sniffed. “You smell like perfume.”
Tanner’s eyes didn’t quite meet mine when he spoke. “Jack’s wife hugged me goodbye when I left.”
It made sense, and I had no reason not to believe him—that is, except for his prior track record—yet for some reason, I sensed he was lying. But unlike when I’d smelled perfume on him years ago, I didn’t really care if he’d been out with another woman. In fact, it would make my life easier if he were with someone else.
“Why don’t we sit down?” I said.
We settled in at the kitchen table. I took the same seat I’d sat in earlier with Shelby, but rather than take the seat across from me like his mother had, Tanner took the seat next to me. He also scooched his chair closer, so we were practically on top of one another.
Then he took my hand. “What did you want to talk about?”
I untangled my fingers from his. “This, Tanner. You’ve got to stop doing things like taking my hand and putting your arm around me, especially when Alex is around. I don’t want to give him the wrong impression.”
Tanner frowned. “Fine.”
“Also, I called your mom tonight when I realized I’d never reserved a room for your dad’s jersey-retirement ceremony. She told me you’d booked a suite for me, you, and Alex.”
“I thought it would be nice if the three of us stayed together as a family. The suites usually have a couch, and I figured I would crash there. You and Alex could take the bed.”
I didn’t want to drag his mother into this, so I didn’t mention the version that she’d told me earlier.
“I’m not comfortable sharing a room with you, Tanner.”
His face wrinkled, as if he were genuinely perplexed. “Why not? It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before.”
“That’s not the point. We’re not a couple. I feel like we’ve finally gotten to a good place in our relationship, but if you keep insisting on pushing us to a place I don’t want to go, things are going to go off track.”
“Fine. I’ll call the hotel tomorrow and book you a separate room.”
“Thank you.”
“But I’m still not giving up on us. Eventually we’ll be together again, because we’re meant to be.”
I sighed. Sometimes it was like talking to a wall. “No, Tanner. We’re not.”
“We’ll see.”
It was pointless to have this conversation yet again, and my sleep was more important. “I’m tired. I’m going to go to bed. Goodnight, Tanner.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart.”
