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)
“So what are you going to do about Tanner?”
“I’m not going to do anything, because he’s never going to know. In less than a month, Levi will be back in Colorado, and that will be it. This was just… We have a strong physical connection, and we let ourselves get carried away.”
“So it’s just physical? You don’t have feelings for him?”
I shook my head. “It doesn’t matter if I do. It could never be more for so many reasons.”
“You mean Tanner?”
“Well, yeah. But that’s not the only reason. Levi leads a very different lifestyle than I do. He’s a pro athlete who travels half the year, and I have a son who is in school here, and planting roots for him is my priority. I also don’t want to confuse Alex.”
“I don’t know, Presley. That all sounds logical and smart, but the heart doesn’t always do logical and smart. I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I won’t.” I couldn’t say the words with enough conviction to believe them myself, so I knew Harper wouldn’t buy it.
“I have to go, but I’m calling you later so we can talk about this more.”
I smiled half-heartedly. “Okay.”
“Let me know what lover boy says about the shoot.”
I laughed. “I will. And thanks for everything, Harp.”
***
“Why don’t I go pick up Alex from camp so you can keep doing what you’re doing? I’d say I’d take over, but my idea of decorating is a few footballs and some signed jerseys pinned to the wall.”
I smiled. Not only had Levi agreed to be in the photo shoot, he’d also spent the entire afternoon helping me stage bookcases and mantels so they’d look good for the photos. We painted Mason jars and filled them with fresh flowers, went to the used bookstore and bought color-coordinated books to display on shelves, and now I was busy trying to fill in the nooks and crannies with the best pieces from all over the inn.
I set a pale blue vase on top of the mantel, then shook my head and took it down. “Thanks. That would be great. This is going to take me a while.”
“No problem.”
“Do you mind if I move things around in your room after I finish up here?”
He shook his head. “Have at it. Leave anything heavy that needs to be moved for when I get back.”
“Okay.”
The plan was to do the photo shoot first thing tomorrow morning. Harper and I had gone back and forth over text and decided the best areas to focus on were the living room, the outside front of the inn, and my bedroom and Levi’s. So after I figured out what would go where in the living room, I took some leftover shelf décor to Levi’s bedroom to see what I could do about dressing it up. A Broncos duffle bag sat on the dresser, so I grabbed it and went to zip it closed, figuring I’d hide it in the closet for now. But as I rounded the zipper at the corner, a box stuck out. I attempted to tuck it neatly inside, only to realize it was a giant box of condoms. Not only that, underneath the mega box was a second box the same size. Both unopened.
My heart sank. One of these boxes would have lasted me the past five years. Actually, that was being generous. I could’ve probably stretched the box to last the final year Tanner and I were together and the years that followed. It was a stark reminder of just how different my lifestyle and Levi’s really were. He probably blew through these in a month while on the road. That made me feel a little queasy, yet I just stood there, staring down at the box.
I was so lost in my head that I didn’t hear Levi until he was in the doorway.
“Hey. Alex wanted to eat over at his friend Kyle’s. I texted you, but you didn’t answer, so I made an executive decision and dropped him off.”
I turned with the box of condoms still in my hands. “Exactly how long does this supply last you? Just preseason, or a few weeks in?”
Levi’s eyes dropped to my hands, and his brows dipped. “You think I’m stocking up for when I get back on the road?”
I shook my head. “It’s none of my business. I really don’t want to know what you do on the road.” Suddenly feeling awkward, I shoved the box back in the duffle bag. It still didn’t fit. “I wasn’t snooping. I tried to zip the bag to put it in the closet, and they were sticking out.”
Levi walked over. I’d been avoiding looking at him, but I felt his eyes on me.
“What?” I finally said.
He gently took the box from my hands and tossed it on the bed. “I bought them today. I wasn’t stocking up for when it’s time to go back to work. I figured I should hide them since Alex already found a belt and asked questions.”