We sit in silence for a moment to catch our bearings before I decide it’s probably time to get cleaned up.
I stand, feeling cold after losing the warmth of Levi. Finding my clothes, I quietly get dressed, feeling Levi’s gaze watching me the entire time. I turn to meet his crystal blue eyes, his golden skin lightly coated in sweat.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, Levi.” I don't wait for him to respond as I walk out, moving to my room. I gather all my things for a shower, and I can’t stop thinking about how I don’t think I’ll be able to give up what we have after we leave the lake house, and I see the lines starting to blur as to why I put up that boundary in the first place.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
LEVI
It’s our last day here as a group until it goes back to being just me and Scar. And if I'm being completely honest, I can’t wait to have her all to myself again. I’m sick of sharing her.
We’re all outside huddled around the fire. I look out over the dock, the moonlight shining off the dark surface of the lake. A soft glow comes off the flame, keeping us warm even with the cool breeze.
There’s a Bluetooth speaker resting on the grass, a random mix from Moore’s phone playing softly.
I’m barely following the conversation, their voices fading into the background noise as I play with the label on my beer. When someone say my name, I jerk my head in their direction. “What?”
Gigi raises an eyebrow at me, gesturing toward me. “Your shoulder.”
My brows draw together, confused. “What about it?”
Gigi rolls her eyes at me. “How is it?”
Steele speaks before I’m able to get a word in. “Yeah, man. Do you think you’ll be back in time for the season opener?”
I feel like I’m starting to curl in on myself, growing anxious. I don’t know if I’m going to be ready for the first game of the season. It always feels like I’m going two steps forward, one step back. I glance at Scarlett across the other side of the fire, needing some help to fend off their questions.
I see her pretty, green eyes scan my face, taking in my emotions before she turns back to the group. “He’ll be ready.” She says, with a strong sense of finality in her tone.
My eyes widen, but she flashes me a bright smile that almost instantly calms my fears.
Taylor scoffs, leaning forward in his seat, nursing a beer between his hands. “You really think you’ll have him ready to play by early October? We’re already halfway through July.” He arches a brow at Scarlett in a challenge.
She narrows her eyes. “In fact, I guarantee it, Cole.”
They stare each other down for another few moments before Taylor relents, throwing an arm up in surrender. “We’ll be holding you to that, Quinn. We need him.”
Scarlett nods, speaking quieter this time. “I know. He wants to be out there with you guys, and I want that for him too.”
The guy’s nod, and I lift my beer for a sip and sink back into my own head, the stress creeping back in. But I can’t help feeling some sense of pride at her confidence in me.
I hear her footsteps before I feel her stop in front of me and I look up to find Scarlett gazing down at me. A fluffy blanket is wrapped around her, her wavy brown hair framing her face. Her cheeks are flushed from the heat of the fire and she looks like pure perfection.
She juts her chin to my lap and my eyes snap to the rest of the group who pay no mind to us. I give her a small, barelythere nod and she takes a seat across my thighs, leaning her back against my chest. I bring my hand to grasp her hip, squeezing softly as she wiggles to make herself comfortable.
I feel the blood rushing south, making me scrunch my eyes shut trying to will it away.
The rustling of bags being opened makes me open my eyes, and I glance toward Gigi and Bennett as they open a bag of marshmallows.
“S’mores?” Gigi asks without looking up, making Scarlett perk up from her spot in my lap, a soft smile lighting up her pretty face.
Each of the guys, as well as Gigi, take a marshmallow and a skewer before passing the rest along.
I offer a marshmallow to Scarlett before taking one for myself. I watch as she spears it on the skewer before holding it out over the fire.
I start to get my own ready when I hear a small gasp from Scarlett making me look up.
“I love this song.” She sighs happily as the opening beats from I Need A Doctor plays. As the first verse begins, she starts to nod her head to the beat, mumbling along to the lyrics. A soft smile graces my lips at the sight of her, so carefree.
