“Not in public” She starts to skate away. Slowly, but she’s skating, nonetheless. Until she looks down, though.
Scarlett’s feet slip out from under her, and I reach my left arm out to catch her, pulling her in so that her back is to my chest.
“Careful, Princess.” I whisper in her ear as I start to guide us back to the bench.
Stepping off the ice, I help Scarlett before we begin to walk back toward the locker rooms but once I look up, I stop in my tracks, my face dropping.
Standing in the middle of the hallway is none other than my father.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
LEVI
What is he doing here?
He hasn’t spoken to me once since I got injured, and he just shows up here?
I subconsciously pull Scarlett into me, a protectiveness racing through me as I stare at the man in front of us.
Scarlett looks up at me confused before looking back at my dad and recognition dawns on her face.
“So, I see you’re finally back on the ice,” he nods his head slowly, menacingly. “Finally ready to stop overreacting about a little hit?”
I don’t speak, just watching him as he glances around. “I mean, really, Levi. You should be stronger than that. It was quite embarrassing to watch.”
My jaw clenches, my body tensing as he continues to berate me.
His eyes land on Scarlett. “And who’s this?”
“She… uh,” I pause, not feeling comfortable letting my dad into this part of my life. The part that is justsogood.
Scarlett steps in front of me further in a protective stance, and she reaches her hand out toward my father. “I’m Scarlett.”
He scrunches his face, as he looks her up and down.
“I see,” he says, not reaching out to shake her hand. “And what is it that you do, Scarlett?”
Scarlett falters, her arm dropping back into her side. “I’m a Pilates instructor.”
Huffing, he turns back to me. “So, this is why you needed time off, Levi? I thought that I brought you up better than to get distracted. Especially by a woman.”
“She’s not a distraction,” I whisper, my anxiety growing by the second.
He laughs sarcastically. “No? You just spent a couple of months off, gallivanting around rather than being on the ice and training to be better? Training to be the best? Honestly, Levi…”
Scarlett looks back at me, a fire igniting in her eyes. “He’s worked extremely hard to get back on the ice. I’d say that he’s certainly focused enough.”
My father regards her with mild interest. “You think you know what all this takes?”
“Not at all,” Scarlett straightens her spine. “But I understand how hard he works. Levi is an incredible hockey player, and he deserves to have you see him as such.”
My heart stops at the praise. At having someone defend me like this. I’ve never had someone, other than my sister, really be in my corner like this. And I only hope that I can have this forever.
My father’s silent as he stares at Scarlett. “I hope you know that Levi will end up leaving you. He doesn’t know what it means to stick around.”
At that, my dad turns, walking down the hall and I watch as he leaves.
Scarlett spins around, arms reaching toward my face, hands cupping my jaw as her eyes search mine. “Are you okay, baby?”
