The Game (That Girl, #2)(54)

“Baby, lay your head this way.”

I grab the side of her head, trying to tilt it toward me while keeping an eye on the road. I laugh at calling her baby and her love of the name. I finally pass a sign that says five miles to town, and I cram my foot down even harder onto the gas pedal.

“Levi?”

Jazzy lifts her head to look at me with sleep-clouded eyes.

“Yeah, baby.”

She grins back at me when she hears her name.

“I’m tired.”

“I know. Try to lay your head on my shoulder. We’re almost there. I saw a Red Lion next to the airport.”

Jazzy puts her head on my shoulder, and know it can’t be comfortable because of the middle console. This f*cking car needs to go straight to a crusher. I take my right hand and place it on the top of her head, gripping some of her blonde locks. I feel her petite hands wrap onto my arm holding her head.

“Levi,” she says, “I love you.”

She squeezes my arm, and I feel her tears run down into the crook of my elbow. I’ve never felt like a bigger ass than I do right now. I want to say it back to her because I think I do love Jazzy. The problem is, I think.

“You don’t have to say it back, just know I love you, Levi Wilks.”

Like a f*cking *, I don’t say a word and keep driving.





Chapter 14





Jazzy



Levi made good on his promise and called for his private jet to fly us back to Fort Collins. I put up a fight, but in the end, between his experience on the plane and driving the Prius, I let him win the fight.

“So, Lynlee tells us you became a Mile High Member?” Jenni asks.

I give the Lynlee a death glare, enraged she’d told Jenni. Unbelievable. Who can I talk to these days?

“What?” Lynlee shrugs. “I had to tell someone and figured Lincoln wouldn’t want to hear about it.”

“So, did the pilot, like, watch you?”

“No, the pilot, like, flew the f*cking plane.”

“God, you’re so testy today, Jazzy. What’s up?” Lynlee asks.

We were out grocery shopping and decided to stop by the coffee shop to have a drink with Jenni. What a mistake. Everything that comes out of their mouths strikes me wrong. I’m not going to divulge any details about Levi taking me on the plane. It’s one memory I’ll never forget. He took away all my pain and helped me forget everything negative that’s tainted my soul. He took it all away.

We’ve been home a little over a week, and he’s been working his ass off. Our daily routine is very similar to the one we established in Denver. I join him for a workout in the afternoon, go prepare dinner, and then play catch with him. Our catching sessions aren’t as much fun with Lynlee out there. She actually knows how to run some of the patterns and picks up much quicker on the football lingo than I do. I much preferred it when I would pout and Levi would swoop me up in his arms, hauling me off to the bedroom.

Lynlee nudges me, and I suddenly remember the question she asked me.

“I don’t know.” I shrug. “It’s just Levi has been distant lately, and I think it’s because he’ll be leaving soon.”

“Why don’t you go with him?” Jenni asks.

“Probably because he’s never invited me and has his house full of hookers to get home to.”

“Maybe he doesn’t know you want to go?” Lynlee suggests.

“I told him I love him.”

I hear a barstool dragging across the floor and look up to see Jenni. She grabs my hands and makes me look at her.

“If you’ve told him you love him and he doesn’t ask you to go with him or even try to tell you how he feels, whether it be good or bad, then he isn’t worth your time, Jazzy.”

The coffee shop falls silent, as the topic of our conversation has briskly changed.

“You don’t know that, Jenni. Levi is my brother-in-law, and Jazzy’s like my sister. You can’t jump to conclusions.”

“Lynlee, I understand where your heart is and how tied up you are in the situation, but I’ve been the girl who gives her heart, only to become the ‘as needed’ toy. Don’t do it, is all I’m saying.”

“I’m not going to beg, but I can’t quit loving Levi. I just want to understand why he won’t talk about us.”

“Oh, honey, never even try to understand men, just enjoy their cocks.”

We all laugh at Jenni’s advice. It may be the smartest thing she’s ever said. She is the biggest ditz I’ve ever met, but a true friend and pretty damn knowledgeable, the more I think about it.

“I guess I’ll just enjoy the rest of the days I have left with him.”

“Who knows, he may surprise you, Jazzy.”

***

“Jazzy, where are you?”

“In the tub, Levi.”

“Why are you still in the tub?”

“I’m tired, and Killer is driving me nuts.”

“How?”

“The little bastard keeps chasing my feet. I thought I was starting to like him, but I’ve totally changed my mind.”

“I have a surprise for you.”

“What?”

“You have to get out of the tub to come see.”