Breakaway Read online

  Would hurting Presley hurt McCarthy as much as I want? Or just piss him off? Both? Either way, I’m going to try.

  I can remember that day. It’s still so fresh in my mind. I came into the house and threw my things on the floor.

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Mom,” I said, regretting it already. “I’m sorry.” I sat at the kitchen table beside her and she took my hand in hers.

  “What’s wrong, Levi?”

  “It’s nothing, Momma. How are you feeling?” I asked, squeezing her hand as gently as I could.

  She settled her eyes on me and waited. She wasn’t going to answer my question without me answering hers first.

  “I lost my captaincy.”

  “Oh, baby,” she cupped my cheek. “I’m sorry. Want to talk about it?”

  “No, Mom,” I gritted and instantly hated myself for it. “How are you feeling?” I asked again. She looked so tired. She’s always looking so tired. Frail. Sick. She looked that way because she was.

  “I love you, Levi,” she smiled, her eyes looking into the distance behind me.

  “I love you too, Mom.”

  “I don’t know what happened, but keep playing your best. I’m sure you’ll regain your Captain status soon, son. You’re going to be a history making player, I just know it. I’ll support you and be here for you all the way.”

  She lied. She couldn’t do those things if she wasn’t here. I helped her to her room, tucking her in as if she was a child and kissing her cheek. She told me that she loved me again, but she was asleep before she heard me tell her that I loved her too. Mom had already left us when we woke up in the morning. I miss her so much.

  All my bad luck started withhim moving to town and whether I should or shouldn’t, I blame him. The day I lost my captaincy, I disappointed my mom. My mom was so sure that one day I was going to be huge in hockey. I failed her and continue to fail her today. Part of me wishes that I had waited a couple of days to tell her, so when the inevitable happened, I wouldn’t have disappointed her.

  She wouldn’t have known.

  It doesn’t matter now. I need to focus. Presley is my key, and I need to figure out the perfect way to use her to my advantage. The question is, how? By the time I get in my car and back to the house, I haven’t really gotten anywhere. Nichols is sitting on the couch watching TV and he looks my way when I come in.

  “Hey, can I talk to you for a second?” he asks.

  Really. He wants to do this now? I sit in the recliner and say, “What’s up?”

  “Look, I shouldn’t have said anything in front of the guys.”

  “Don’t worry about it, Andrew. Just work on your game. I’m going to bed, it’s been a long day.” I’m almost to my room when I get a thought. “Hey, what do you know about McCarthy’s sister?”

  He shrugs, his focus back on the TV. “Why?”

  “Just wanted to see if you knew anything about her.”

  Andrew turns his head and grins. “You aren’t fooling me, Levi. Admit what you’re up to and I’ll tell you everything I know about her.”

  I quickly debate it. With how things have been on the ice lately, I don’t know if I should trust him. But he’s been my friend for three years now so...

  “We both know how much I hate McCarthy. I’m just...having a little fun.”

  “Thought so.”

  “Well?” I ask when he doesn’t say more.

  “Sorry, man. I just know that she’s friends with the blonde chick Jere dates, she went to a different high school than McCarthy, and that she sticks to his crowd.”

  I wasted my energy for him to tell me something that I already knew? I don’t even answer. I just go to my room and go to bed.

  ~ ~ ~

  I’m thinking about Presley. It’s been two days since I’ve talked to her. I’ve been thinking, maybe if I could convince her to skip any plans she has with Trevor and spend time with me instead, I could get under his skin that way. Do that a couple of times, sweet talk her into thinking it’s all about her, sleep with her and then ditch her. He’ll be pissed that she chose me over him and that I slept with her then left. Yeah, I’ll be playing Presley, but there’s no doubt in my mind that with as hot-blooded as she is, she’ll bounce back in no time. Not too much damage done to her, right? I don’t want to hurt her too badly, but she’s my ticket.

  I don’t have anything to do today, so I decide to make a phone call. I haven’t talked to Dad in a month and it’s past time to call.

  “Hey, son,” he answers before he begins coughing.

  “You alright, Pops? You don’t sound too good to me.”

  “Just a little cough. How have you been, Levi?”

  “Fine. Staying busy?”

  “Fishing for information?” he asks.

  I laugh and so does he. “C’mon. Are you going to make me beg to find out what you’ve been up to?”

  “Maybe,” he coughs, practically a hack. “You know it’s not much these days. I’ve been hunting by the pond, though.”

  “I bet you have.” He loves it so much. He would take me all the time when I was younger. “Kill anything?”

  “Of course, you know I do.”

  I chuckle. “I know.” A silence looms around me for just a second, but it’s long enough for me. “I’ve got to go, Pops, but I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”

  “Alright, Levi. Don’t be such a stranger.”

  “Okay. Later.”

  “Bye,” he says and I hear the click on the other end.

  I’m a sucky son. I know this. First, I let down my mom and then my father. He’s in good spirits, for the most part, but I don’t go around or call as often as I should. He’s retired and living his days back home, fishing or hunting every chance he gets. I need to go see him, but I hate doing that. Going home is hard because Dad has Mom’s things lying around just as they have been since she died. Dad didn’t throw away hardly any of her things.

  Any time I step foot in that house, I’m bombarded with the memories of the day before she died and the week afterwards. All of it was hell. Why would I want to revisit that? I don’t know how he can still live there. I shake my head to rid myself of the thoughts. It doesn’t work as effectively as I wish, so I head to the practice rink.

  The ice has always felt like home to me. The chill in the air, the blades of my skates slicing into the ice, the slap of the stick hitting the puck, all of it. It’s home. Today, I just want to skate. I want to race from one end to the other and then glide to a stop. I haven’t been on the ice five minutes when my phone rings. I take it from my pocket and see that it’s Sunny.

  “Hey there, Sunny. How’s it going?”

  “Levi, I need you,” she says softly and desperately.

  “What’s going on, Sunny?” I ask, coming to a stop.

  “Nothing major, but the fact that my parents decided to show up and you know how they are. I need you to go out with me to dinner with them tonight.”

  “Sunny,” I begin.

  “Levi Carr, after all the places I’ve gone with you so you would have someone attached to your hip, you better go get yourself ready.”

  “Why do you even need me there?”

  “I, um, I may have told them that we were still dating.”

  “What?” I ask mixed with anger and disbelief.

  “Well, ever since they showed up that one time when you stayed the night, they thought I was dating you. All you have to do is pick us up and take us to the Royal. You’re perfect in their eyes, Levi. C’mon. Please? For me?”

  I groan. “This is the last time I’m spending time with your parents. You roped me into lunch with them that time and I won’t do it again after this. Understood?”

  “Perfectly. Thank you, Levi.”

  “You just better be glad that you’re my favorite,” I say before I hang up. Great. Could this day get any better? So much for relaxing at the rink. On my way back to the house, Sunny tells me to pick her up in half an hour. She sure is cutting i
t close. I shower in record time and even wear a button up shirt. I hate shirts like that, but based on that one time I did meet her parents, they are prim and proper. If I’m going to play Sunny’s boyfriend, I’m going to do a good job of it.

  Gavin and Andrew are in the living room when I step out of my bedroom. They whistle.

  “Where are you going looking like that?” Andrew asks.

  “Sure are lookin’ sharp, Levi,” Gavin chuckles.

  “Shut up.” I fidget with my collar. “I’m taking Sunny and her parents out to some restaurant. The Royal? Damn girl has me tied up in things I didn’t ask for.”

  “Ooh,” the guys say in girly voices.

  “The Royal?” Andrew asks. “I think that’s over in JWU territory.”

  “Oh, yeah. It sure is. Good luck, man,” Gavin says with a shake of his head.

  Great. Just great. “I’ll catch up with y’all later.” I’m dreading this the entire ride over to Sunny’s. I’ve got to be on my best behavior because that’s how I behaved last time, and I’m sure that is what her parents are expecting. I’m standing outside of her door, and I knock. Sunny opens the door and looks relieved to see me.

  “Levi!” she exclaims, hooking an arm around my elbow and dragging me inside. I see her parents in the living room, standing. “Mom, Dad, you remember Levi, right?”

  “Of course,” her father states, holding out a hand, which I promptly shake.

  “How have you been, Levi?” her mother asks.

  “Great, thank you. It’s nice to see you again. Shall we be on our way?”

  “Absolutely,” Sunny smiles. She’s probably as ready to get this over with as I am. The ride to the restaurant is quiet, not out of the ordinary compared to the last time I was in a car with these people. I keep my hand on Sunny’s knee to show affection. It’s not until we sit down at the table at the upscale Royal that her parents start a conversation. It’s Sunny and me on one side and her parents on the other.

  “How are your studies, Levi? A chemist, right?”

  Wow, I’m surprised that her mother remembered that. “Yes, ma’am. Everything is going smoothly.”

  “That’s wonderful,” she comments, looking over her menu.

  “What about hockey?” her father asks.

  “That’s going great, sir. I can’t complain.”

  “He’s doing really well this season,” Sunny inputs, placing a hand on my forearm.

  The waitress comes to our table to take our order. I pick something at random and it’s then that things go downhill.

  Her father gets the most serious look on his face, and I become slightly uneasy. “Sunny has been telling us that things have been getting serious between you two,” he states with conviction.

  I look at Sunny. “Oh?” She squeezes my hand.

  “Is that correct?”

  God, this man is intimidating. He’s practically staring me down! “Um, yes,” I say with a clear of my throat.

  “What are your intentions?” he asks calmly as the waitress sets our plates of food in front of us.

  “My intentions?” Oh, no. He can’t seriously be asking me if I am going to marry his daughter. This isn’t even real! What kind of shit has Sunny gotten me into?

  “Daddy! Let’s enjoy our meal, please,” Sunny begs.

  “We would like to know,” her mother says with a smile in my direction as if she has an ounce of pity for the directness of her husband.

  Hopefully this will put a stop to it, but I don’t think her father will approve. “Sunny and I haven’t discussed anything too far in the future. We’re just enjoying the here and now.”

  “Exactly,” Sunny chirps in agreement.

  Things fall silent as we eat, and I’m grateful. I’m on edge thanks to her father, and I’m ready to get out of here. Sunny begins to fill the void by talking about her schoolwork and even holds my hand that’s sitting on the table. She doesn’t have to make it look too real because after this, we’re “breaking up.” I still can’t believe that she’s dragged me into this.

  “What are your plans for your birthday, Sunny?” her mother asks.

  “Levi and I were thinking about going on a weekend trip,” she lies easily. “Isn’t that right, Levi?”

  “Yeah,” I answer quickly. “It’s a surprise. I know how much my girl loves surprises,” I smile at her and kiss her temple. This is so ridiculous! I don’t even know when Sunny’s birthday is and I’ve known her for what? A year and a half? My eyes find a waitress as she’s walking a small group to a table. Oh, great, this day just keeps getting better. Presley is with Trevor and I’m guessing their father, based on the similarities.

  Her mouth is hanging open and she probably caught that little kiss to Sunny. For Sunny’s sake, maybe she’ll just ignore that we are even here. Ha! Presley tugs hard on Trevor’s sleeve as he pulls out a chair. He turns towards her and she nods her head in my direction.

  “Levi?” I glance to Sunny and she says, “My mom asked what your parents do for a living?”

  My parents? I don’t want to talk about this! “My old man is retired,” I manage before McCarthy himself walks up to our table and lays a hand on my shoulder, squeezing hard.

  “Carr! It’s been a while, man! How have you been?”

  I want to groan. “Hey, Trev, I’m doing well. I’m kind of in the middle of something important. We’ll catch up later?”

  “Oh, c’mon now, Levi,” he squeezes even harder. “We’re old pals! Surely you have time for me.” McCarthy has the nerve to grin. I glance over to where they were sitting, but I only see the man. Where’s Presley? “Where are my manners?” he exclaims fakely. Trevor holds out a hand to Sunny. “You must be one of Levi’smany girlfriends,” he says when Sunny reluctantly shakes his hand. He turns to her parents and says, “And you two are?”

  “Her parents,” Sunny’s mom says in shock.

  My anger builds at how McCarthy couldn’t just stay at his damn table. I’m trying to do Sunny a favor and it blows up in both of our faces.

  “Going the extra mile with this one, huh, Levi? Didn’t know you were serious with anyone. And here I thought we were best friends!” He laughs. Laughs!

  “You don’t know what you’re talking about, McCarthy, so take your ass back to your table, okay?” I grit and shove his hand off my shoulder.

  “We’ll catch up later. No doubt about that. Nice to meet you all.” He ends with a nod to everyone. I watch as he walks proudly back to his table and I see Presley glance this way. She looks upset and I’m sure that anger is going to be her next emotion. Presley doesn’t seem the type to let something hurt her for long. She seems like the type to get pissed about it instead of wallowing in hurt.

  Before Sunny or I can explain anything, her father calls for the bill. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is said as we walk out and I drive them back to Sunny’s place. Her parents are first out of the vehicle and I reach over to squeeze Sunny’s knee.

  “Sorry, but at least now, you have a reason to break up with me,” I chuckle.

  “Yeah, but there were easier ways. Thanks anyway, Levi.” She gives a little smile and gets out. Instead of driving home, I go back to the rink. I assume my plan sort of worked. Definitely not how I wanted, though. I lay on the bench and think. You know what, I’ll just go to Presley and tell her that the dinner was a favor and that was it. I was simply helping out a friend. Nothing out of the ordinary and I wasn’t with someone else even though it looked that way. I’ll go over, explain what happened, and apologize. I don’t know what I’ll be apologizing for, but it can’t hurt.

  With a plan, I go over to Presley’s. She’s not home, so I sit at the top of the stairs to wait. It takes two hours before I see her and as if the world hasn’t damned me enough today, Trevor is with her. Can’t I have a little leeway? Apparently not. I sigh when the twins catch sight of me at the same time. They walk up the stairway, and I stand. It’s then that I notice that Presley has a hold of Trevor’s arm, as if she’s keeping hi
m from charging me.

  They stop two steps below me.

  “What do you want, Levi?” Presley asks, glaring at me. There’s the anger I predicted.

  “Can I talk to you alone?”

  “Are you kidding me?” Trevor bursts.

  “Oh, calm down. You don’t know what the hell happened, McCarthy.” I turn my attention back to Presley. “Please, Presley?”

  “She isn’t going to talk to you, jackass.” Trevor is fuming. “Now move so she can go home.”

  “Presley?” I ask softly. She hasn’t taken her eyes off me, and I take that as a grain of hope. “At least allow me to explain myself and then you can kick me out, if you want.”

  “Move, Carr,” Trevor says again, but I ignore him.

  She squares her shoulders, and it’s then that I know I’ve lost this battle with her. She shakes her head and pushes past me, entering her apartment quickly.

  “I could so kill you right now. This isn’t over, Carr.” Trevor shoves me to the side and disappears inside with Presley.

  Ugh! This is not about to be over. I’ll go ride around for a bit to allow enough time for McCarthy to leave and then I’ll talk to Presley. I quickly go down the stairs and walk through the parking lot to my SUV. I’ve got to get gas and pick up a couple of things from the store anyway. I run my errands and take my time. All I want to do is at least tell Presley what happened and then let her make up her mind. She can’t - well, she can, but I don’t want her to go based on what she saw. I don’t want her to give up on me yet.

  Standing outside of Presley’s door, a sliver of apprehension runs through me. What if she won’t give me a chance? What if she slams the door in my face? I shake my head at these pesky thoughts and knock twice. I notice a peephole on the door, and I wonder if she actually uses it. I hope not, for my sake.

  The door swings open, and her curious expression turns hard and angry fast. She goes to close it, but I stick my foot in the door and hold out my hand to stop her. Presley’s looking fine with no bra in a skimpy tank top that looks like it could be made of silk with matching shorts. Catching my appreciating eyes, she steps behind the door so only her head is peeking out.