Game Winner (The Penalty Kill Trilogy #3) Read online

  Victor picks me up from school, where I wore my Levi jersey all day. I jump into the car, bouncing with excitement. Levi had texted me several times and is ready for us to come up. Victor laughs as we pull away to head to the city.

  We make it to the small diner that Levi likes, and I race to him. Levi’s standing outside and easily catches me in his arms.

  “Missed you too, Smarty,” he whispers in my ear.

  “I hate I don’t get to see you long, but I’m so happy that you’re here right now,” I tell him.

  He sits me back on my feet as Victor comes up and hugs him. We all go in, out of the cold, and enjoy an amazing meal together. I love the laughs we have and the feeling of being part of a real family. Even though my parents and I are still rebuilding our relationship, we’re not there yet.

  The time with Levi is too fast, and I won’t be able to see him after the game because he has to leave. He gives Victor a big hug, and he pulls me away from his dad for a moment.

  “I’m sorry we don’t have a lot of time together, but I love you.” Levi looks deep into my eyes.

  “I love you too.” I kiss him hard, showing him how much I do. “Now, I want two goals from you tonight.” I wink, trying not to cry.

  “I’ll do my best, Smarty.” Levi gives me his sexy grin, and I almost melt right there on the street.

  We head in opposite directions as he goes back to the hotel to be with the team, and I head to Victor to go to the arena.

  The place is packed, and I can’t wait to see Levi on the ice. The game is hard and very physical, but Levi doesn’t give in. Every shift on the ice, he plays as if it’s a playoff game. He’s all over the ice, and he’s amazing to watch. Even though I didn’t get the two goals, I did get one goal and an assist.

  As the game ends, he quickly comes over to the glass where we are and waves to us, winking at me. It never fails, my love for him overruns every time I see him.

  ~

  Once I get out of bed the next morning, more like the afternoon, I still feel sad that I didn’t get to spend time with Levi like I wanted. I’m not sure why I do it, but I call my mom.

  “Presley, so good to hear from you.” In the last few months, she has sounded happier than I ever remember.

  “Are you in town?” I quickly ask her.

  “Yes, why?”

  “You think you could grab some lunch with me? Just you and me.”

  “I’m actually close to the Royal right now. Want to meet me there?”

  I say yes and hang up. I change my clothes because I know that even Mom will not appreciate my jeans and t-shirt and head out the door.

  I valet my car and walk into the Royal. My mom is sitting in the corner, and I just walk past the hostess. Mom stands up and hugs me. My parents and I had a rocky relationship, but it’s been getting better.

  “Okay.” Mom puts a glass of wine in front of me when I sit down. “What’s wrong? Are you pregnant? Are you failing school?”

  I roll my eyes. My mother always jumps to conclusions before I can even say one word. “Nothing like that Mom. I need to get some advice.” I sip on my wine as Mom just looks at me.

  “Oh, okay. What is it?”

  I take a deep breath. “How did you deal with being apart from Dad so much?”

  She seems confused for a second before she asks, “What are you talking about? Do you mean when he was doing his residency?”

  I nod. My dad had to do his residency in Baltimore. It was when my parents were first together before they were married.

  “Does this have to do with Levi and you?”

  I nod.

  “It was tough. We talked on the phone often. Planned trips to see each other. But it was hard being apart. Are Levi and you having trouble?”

  I shake my head. “It’s difficult being away from him. I mean, I know in May I will be there with him in Pennsylvania, but I don’t know how to deal until then.” I hang my head, staring at the table cloth.

  My mom reaches for my hand, holding it tightly. “I have a secret.”

  Puzzled, I look at her. “What’s that?”

  She sits up straighter, smiling brightly. “When your dad was away, I was in grad school. The only thing that kept me from depression was school work and writing in a journal.”

  “Seriously, Mom, my grades are fine.” I slouch down in my seat.

  “Presley, sit up and listen,” my mother says a little firmer. I do as I’m told to do. “This isn’t about grades. It’s about distraction. I know this sounds cliché, but it will go by fast. The time you do get together will be amazing. I promise.”

  Mom’s right. I need some type of distraction and school will be it.

  We order some food and talk. She tells me about Dad cutting back on his practice hours and they’re reconnecting again. I told her that Trevor and Marley are closer than ever and how Levi is doing in the AHL.

  When it’s time to leave, I thank Mom for the lunch and advice. She tells me that we should get together again soon. I hug her before we go our separate ways. When I get home, I sit at my kitchen table, looking at my books. This is going to be my distraction. I will use it to my advantage. I open my first book and started to study. Page by page, I finished all my homework. It takes me well into the evening, but I do. Mom’s advice is right again. It’s a huge distraction. I stretch my tight muscles, and I head to change into my pajamas.

  I look at my blinking phone and gasp. I missed our video chat. I grab my phone and see several missed text and calls from Levi.

  He answers sleepily.

  “Levi, I’m so sorry.” I feel horrible.

  “I was worried.” I can hear him moving around the bed. “I was about to call Trevor, but I must have fallen asleep.”

  “I’m a bad girlfriend. I was doing homework. I didn’t notice my phone was on silent.”

  “You’re not a bad girlfriend. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

  “Go back to bed. I’ll make it up to you tomorrow. I love you.”

  “I have a game, Smarty. I’ll call you afterwards. I love you, too.”

  Even though I still feel bad, I go to bed with a smile on my face, thinking of my Levi.

  ~

  When Monday comes, I have been more prepared than ever before. Yesterday, I worked on my end of semester project. Plus, I didn’t miss Levi’s phone call. I walk into class with a different confidence than ever before.

  Throughout my classes for the whole day, I’m able to answer all the questions and pay attention to every detail. I feel so proud of myself, I decide that I need a pick me up.

  Me: Hey Twin wanna grab some lunch?

  Trevor: Be at the diner in about thirty

  I haven’t spent much time with Trevor, and I’m hoping to change that. I head to the campus diner and wait for him.

  “Hey, what do I owe for the honor of having lunch with you?” Trevor sits across from me.

  “I miss my Twin.” I shrug.

  “You do realize that you haven’t been to any of my games. Hell, Marley makes it to all my home games and she doesn’t even go here.” I can hear hurt from his tone. I’ve always been Trevor’s number one fan, but I’m slacking in that department.

  “Well, I’ve been down because Levi’s gone. But I talked to Mom, and I feel better. Things will be different.” I reach over and pat his hand.

  “It better because Marley doesn’t cheer me on as well as you,” he jokes.

  I laugh out loud. “I’ll be there tomorrow, promise.”

  Trevor nods with a grin on his face. The waitress takes our order. We begin talking about school, projects, and hockey. Trevor is excited that he might go back to Charlotte again. He is hoping that when his season is over at school, they might call him down. The AHL has been keeping a close eye on him. I’m so proud of him. Just like Levi, Trevor is meant for the NHL.

  “I was actually going to discuss something with you, but I wasn’t sure if you could keep a secret from Marley?” I watch Trevor look uncomfortable as
he debates on telling me something.

  “Trevor, what’s wrong? You know I’m here for you.” I’m concerned that there is a serious problem with Trevor.

  “Do you ever think of your…future?” Trevor looks down at his plate of food, picking at it.

  “Trev, you’re worrying me.” My brother doesn’t talk about stuff like this.

  “I’m serious. Do you think about the future?” He looks up at me.

  “Well, yeah, of course I do. But what does this have to do with you or Marley for that matter?”

  “I’m in love with Marley.” He sighs dramatically.

  “I’m aware of that.” I giggle at him.

  “When you moved in with Levi, it really got me thinking, a lot. But I don’t know what Marley would say.”

  “You want to move in with Marley?” Wow, I never thought that my brother would be in such a serious relationship.

  “Um, well, more than that.”

  “I don’t understand.” I’m confused. If he doesn’t want to move in with her, then what is there?

  “I need you to go with me into the city and help me ring shop,” he blurts out.

  “Rings? For wha…oh my God.” It hits me like a brick wall. He’s going to ask Marley to marry him.

  “Don’t go crazy. I want to give her a promise ring. Not engagement.”

  “Well, don’t you want to marry her, and aren’t promise rings a thing of the past?” I don’t know anyone that has given a promise ring anymore.

  “I want to give it to her to show that I promise to be there for her and love her. I think marriage will be the next step, but I don’t want to rush anything.”

  Shock is the only thing that I’m feeling right now. “Did my immature twin brother actually say something insightful?”

  “Hey, I’m insightful.” He acts offended.

  I think about Trevor and Marley, those two are perfect for each other. On top of that, having my best friend as my sister-in-law isn’t a bad thing.

  “Tell me when you want to go into the city, and I’ll be ready. I’m happy for you two.”

  We talk some more about his idea for presenting a ring to Marley, and then he needed to head out for practice.

  When I get home, I figure that I will call Levi and see how his day went.

  “Smarty, you’re calling early. Everything okay?”

  I tell him about my day in class, and that I had lunch with Trevor. “Want to guess what my brother asked me to do with him?”

  “I have no idea,” he says.

  “He wants me to go ring shopping with him for Marley,” I announce.

  “Rings? As in an engagement ring.” Levi has real shock in his voice.

  “He’s calling it a promise ring, but that’s the next step.”

  “Wow, that’s great for them.”

  I don’t say anything because I start to think about how Levi would ask me to marry him. I shake the idea out of my head. No, Levi and I are happy as we are right now. I’m not going to add more pressure to our relationship.

  “Smarty, did you hear me?”

  “Oh, sorry.”

  “I asked who are you taking to the Penguins game?”

  “I hadn’t thought about it yet.”

  “Okay, well I have to go and get my workout in. I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  When we hang up, I sit on the couch, thinking about Levi and a possible marriage. Would he ask me? What would it be like?

  I need to think about homework right now.

  Chapter Eight

  Levi

  Hours later, when I’m laying in bed trying to sleep, I still can’t get over that Trevor is giving Marley a promise ring. I’m happy for them both though. He and Marley seem to be a good match. Thinking about that has me thinking about my own relationship with Presley. We’ve been together a year and I love her, would love to marry her.

  One day.

  Plus, I don’t think that’s in Presley’s plans for a while. She was worried about her independence when we moved in together, and I don’t know if she would feel the same about marrying me. She shouldn’t, but she might. I don’t want to risk a moment like that being tainted by worry.

  Damn it, I sound like a chick. Look at what Presley has done to me! Rolling onto my side, I reach for my laptop, turning on the lamp as well. Maybe she’s online, and I can video chat with her. I really want to see her right now. God, I’m pitiful. Doesn’t matter, though. She’s online, so within seconds, her smiling face is on my screen.

  “I would have thought you would be asleep right now,” she says.

  “I was trying. Why are you still up?”

  “Getting ahead on some assignments.”

  Grinning, I tease her. “Look at you, being such a good student.” Presley rolls her eyes, but doesn’t say anything. “I’m happy about that because that’s why you were up and I really wanted to talk to you.”

  “Levi Carr, are you saying that you miss me?” Her smile is the best thing I’ve seen all day.

  “I’m saying exactly that. Why don’t you tell me something that I don’t know about you yet?”

  Presley takes a moment to think about it. “Would you believe me if I told you that I used to always make my bed?”

  I laugh. “I wouldn’t believe you for a second, Smarty. What happened to you?”

  She rolls her eyes. “Mom used to make Trev and me do it all the time. Once I went off to college, I left that habit behind.”

  I shake my head at her. “Okay,” I sigh. “It’s time I go to sleep. I’ll talk to you tomorrow sometime. I love you, Smarty.”

  Her smile is small. “I love you too, Levi. Night.”

  I’m able to fall asleep soon after my head hits the pillow.

  ~

  Most of our games are on the weekends, so we spend the week practicing. Not being in school still bothers me, some days more than others. It’s so important for me to finish my degree. It’s just going to have to wait. I thought about taking online classes to continue working towards my degree, but I don’t think I would be able to handle both school and hockey. It would have been a heavy course load no matter how many I took, just because of the subjects.

  After my phone call today, I’m very thankful I didn’t sign up for any classes. I sit on this new, exciting information for a couple of hours before deciding that I don’t want to tell Presley just yet. I have a better way for her to find out, and so the first person I call is my father.

  “Hey son,” he answers.

  “Hey, Pops. How have you been?”

  “Really good.”

  “Still feeling pretty good?” I ask.

  “Yes, Levi,” he sighs, and I chuckle.

  “Look, I was calling for two reasons. I have big news.” I pause to collect myself. “I’ve been called up.”

  The last thing I expect my father to do is laugh. “That’s wonderful, son! I’m so happy. I knew you could make it.”

  “Thanks, Pops. I can’t go into too much detail, but I’ll play this weekend. Presley has tickets to that game. I gave them to her the other week and told her to take someone, but last I heard, she hadn’t picked anyone yet. Work your magic to make her ask you. I really want you both to be there and it’ll be the best way to surprise her, if I can keep her from finding out beforehand.”

  Pops thinks about it for a moment. “You don’t think it’ll be suspicious that I want to go see that team play?”

  I laugh. “I said to work your magic. Think of something. She adores you, so I’m sure with a little convincing, she’ll do whatever you want.”

  “All right, all right. I’ll see what I can do. Congratulations, son. You’ll do great. We’re proud of you.”

  Sometimes, it kills me when he says ‘we’ to include my mother. My throat almost strangles me. “Thanks, Pops,” I manage.

  We talk for a few more minutes before he hangs up. He’s got work to do after all. I just can’t believe that in a few days, I’m going to be wearing a P
enguins jersey with my name across the shoulders. This is my chance to prove to myself, my parents, Presley, and the rest of the world that I’m good enough for pro hockey. This is my chance, my only chance.

  But after talking to my father, as if that was confirmation that it’s real, I’m filled with nerves. So much is riding on this game for me. What if I mess it up? What if I screw up so badly that it ruins my chances of playing in the NHL forever? There are so many things that could go well, but so many things can go wrong too. I would be ruined if anything less than great happened.

  I’m almost so nervous that I want to call Presley and talk to her, but that won’t make my surprise work. I’ll have to suffer alone for now. When my phone rings, I almost jump. It’s just Presley though.

  “Hey, Smarty,” I answer nonchalantly.

  “It’s a day like today when I wish you were here, so I could tell you to fuck me and we’d have amazing sex to make my day better,” she says.

  I laugh at how she skipped hello. “God Levi would like nothing more than to grant your wish.” I pause, quit joking, and add, “That bad of a day?”

  “Yes,” she whines. “And where’s God Levi when I need him? He’s in another state.”

  Grinning, I say, “You just confirmed that I am indeed a God. You realize that, right?”

  “Levi,” she gripes. “I’m serious.”

  “All right. Tell me about your day.”

  “It sucked! From the moment I got out of bed, things that could go wrong, did. I’ve got way too much homework to do. I was so buried in it that I forgot to go to Trev’s game, which makes me a terrible sister, and there’s still more homework to do! I should probably go do that instead of whining to you.”

  I smile. “I love you, Presley. Whine to me all you want.”

  “Thanks, Levi. How was your day?”

  “Good,” I say casually. “Why don’t you drive down here to see me for tonight?” That would make her day better and it would calm my nerves.