Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108124 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 432(@250wpm)___ 360(@300wpm)
Fuck. This was supposedly what I’d expected to happen, what needed to happen, but I’d never get used to the idea.
We talked for a few more minutes until Alex put my mother back on the phone.
She’d apparently read my mind.
Mom lowered her voice. “I don’t know if they’re officially on a date, Levi. From what Tanner tells me, he’s still trying to earn her trust.”
My heart pounded. “How is she?”
“Presley seems good—good but busy. The Palm Inn is up and running, fully booked for two months.”
I smiled. “Wow. That’s great.”
She paused. “You did the right thing, son. I’m proud of you.”
If only it felt right. Instead, my insides felt like they were twisting in knots.
After we hung up, I was desperate for a distraction. Despite knowing I’d pay for it tomorrow, I needed something to numb this feeling. I reached for a bottle of Jack Daniel’s and crashed.
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.”