She shook her head. “I wasn’t thinking you were doing anything to make him feel that way. But I know how my son can be. Sometimes he gets ideas in his head, and he becomes so focused that he can lose track of reality.”
“I don’t want to hurt him. Things between us are good right now, on a friendship level. And he’s spending a lot of quality time getting to know Alex. But there really is no chance we’ll be getting back together.” I looked down into my tea. “My heart belongs to someone else, but even if it didn’t, I wouldn’t be interested in rekindling a romance with Tanner.”
Shelby was quiet for a moment. It looked like she might’ve been deliberating saying more. Eventually, she set down her teacup.
“Have you…spoken to Levi lately?”
I shook my head and frowned.
“This whole situation between my boys is very confusing. I’m never sure what I should say and what I shouldn’t. I’m supposed to be loyal to both my sons, but I’m keeping a secret from one, and I hate to see either of them hurting. And you, Presley. I know it probably seems like I’ve not been the friendliest person since you came back, but I believed some things that I never should’ve, and for that I’m sorry. You were always like the daughter I never had, and I care about you deeply. I don’t want to see you hurting either.”
“Thank you. And I’m sorry you’ve been put in the middle of this mess.”
Shelby was quiet for another moment. Eventually, she sighed. “Levi called me last week. It was the evening Alex was over because you and Tanner had gone out with some old friends. Alex told Levi he was over because his parents had gone out on a date.”
My eyes widened. “Oh no.”
Shelby nodded. “When I got back on the phone, Levi gave me the third degree. I told him Tanner was the one who’d called it a date, and I wasn’t sure if that was what you considered it. But he sounded pretty upset.”
I felt sick that Levi might think Tanner and I were together so soon after he left, that our relationship had meant so little to me that I could move on that fast—especially with his brother. But I also found Levi’s reaction confusing.
“He was the one who broke things off with me.”
Shelby reached across the table and squeezed my hand. “I didn’t mean to upset you. I just thought you should know—not only because of Levi’s reaction, but also because clearly Tanner is feeding Alex some things that aren’t exactly the truth. I wouldn’t want him to think his parents were back together, only to be let down.”
I nodded. “Thank you for telling me. I appreciate it.”
After Shelby left, I went to my room to take a shower. But rather than turn in, I decided to wait downstairs in the living room for Tanner to come home. It was time the two of us had a little heart to heart.
***
“Hey.” Lips touched my forehead. “You must’ve fallen asleep.”
I rubbed my eyes open to the sight of Tanner. “What time is it?”
“It’s almost midnight.” He smiled. “You know, you’re cute when you drool.”
I wiped my face as I sat up. “I was not drooling.”
He chuckled. “You want me to carry you to your room, sleepyhead?”
“No, I was waiting up for you.”
“Oh yeah?” He grinned. “I like the sound of that.”
I frowned. “Let’s go into the kitchen to talk. I need some water.”
While I was at the sink letting the water run cold, Tanner came up behind me. He stood close, and a hint of something sweet wafted through the air. I turned and sniffed. “You smell like perfume.”
Tanner’s eyes didn’t quite meet mine when he spoke. “Jack’s wife hugged me goodbye when I left.”
It made sense, and I had no reason not to believe him—that is, except for his prior track record—yet for some reason, I sensed he was lying. But unlike when I’d smelled perfume on him years ago, I didn’t really care if he’d been out with another woman. In fact, it would make my life easier if he were with someone else.
“Why don’t we sit down?” I said.
We settled in at the kitchen table. I took the same seat I’d sat in earlier with Shelby, but rather than take the seat across from me like his mother had, Tanner took the seat next to me. He also scooched his chair closer, so we were practically on top of one another.
Then he took my hand. “What did you want to talk about?”
I untangled my fingers from his. “This, Tanner. You’ve got to stop doing things like taking my hand and putting your arm around me, especially when Alex is around. I don’t want to give him the wrong impression.”
Tanner frowned. “Fine.”
“Also, I called your mom tonight when I realized I’d never reserved a room for your dad’s jersey-retirement ceremony. She told me you’d booked a suite for me, you, and Alex.”
“I thought it would be nice if the three of us stayed together as a family. The suites usually have a couch, and I figured I would crash there. You and Alex could take the bed.”
I didn’t want to drag his mother into this, so I didn’t mention the version that she’d told me earlier.
“I’m not comfortable sharing a room with you, Tanner.”
His face wrinkled, as if he were genuinely perplexed. “Why not? It’s not like I haven’t seen you naked before.”
“That’s not the point. We’re not a couple. I feel like we’ve finally gotten to a good place in our relationship, but if you keep insisting on pushing us to a place I don’t want to go, things are going to go off track.”
“Fine. I’ll call the hotel tomorrow and book you a separate room.”
“Thank you.”
“But I’m still not giving up on us. Eventually we’ll be together again, because we’re meant to be.”
I sighed. Sometimes it was like talking to a wall. “No, Tanner. We’re not.”
“We’ll see.”
It was pointless to have this conversation yet again, and my sleep was more important. “I’m tired. I’m going to go to bed. Goodnight, Tanner.”
“Goodnight, sweetheart.”
CHAPTER 31
* * *
Presley
The next week flew by, and before I knew it, I was stepping off of a plane in Denver and checking into the Four Seasons Hotel near the stadium. Just being in the same city as Levi had me on edge, and I found myself looking over my shoulder and all around every two minutes, even at the check-in desk.
Shelby had flown in yesterday, but she was waiting in the lobby when we arrived. She walked over and stood next to me as I waited on the clerk to give me a room key.
“He’s not staying at the hotel.”
“Who?”
She smiled. “Levi.”
I sighed. “Am I that obvious?”
She bumped her shoulder with mine. “Well, you’re scanning the room better than a Secret Service agent waiting for the president to walk in.”
I smiled sadly. “And here I thought I was being so nonchalant. Thank you for telling me. I do feel like I can relax a little knowing I might not accidentally walk into him. At least now I can concentrate all my worry on leaving The Palm in the care of the woman we hired to clean only a few weeks ago.”