Off the Ice (The Penalty Kill Trilogy) (Volume 2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

can’t stand it another minute. I call Levi’s phone, but goes to voicemail. I try to sound cheerful.
    “ Hey, Levi, just wanted to say goodnight. Love you.” On the inside, I’m about to scream to figure out where he is. Oh no, maybe I’m the jealous one and not Levi. I slap my hand to my forehead. I’m acting like a possessive child over a piece of candy. Suddenly, my phone rings. I don’t even look at the display.
    “ Hello.”
    “ I will give you $200 to come get him right now.”
    “ Victor? Take who? Levi?”
    Victor sighs. “I made the mistake when I talked to him this morning that the Christmas lights were still strung on the front porch. He has been here all day, taking down all the decorations, cleaning, and packing stuff into the attic. Don’t get me wrong. I love my son, but he’s driving me insane.” I laugh at him and then I mentally kick my ass thinking anything bad about Levi.
    “Well, he just wants to make sure that you’re okay.”
    “ I know, but please keep him on track. I don’t want him to fall behind in his studies.”
    “ You have my word, Victor.” I smile. He’s such a great man. I hear Levi in the background.
    “ Hang on.” Victor must have covered the phone, and I hear their muffled voices.
    “ Smarty, I’m heading back to campus. Pop’s is throwing me out of the house.”
    I laugh. “You’re smothering him. He knows his limits.”
    Levi sighs. “I’ll see you tomorrow at the scrimmage.”
    “ Deal. Love you.”
    “ Love you.”
    I have to sigh and relax against the back of the couch. I can’t believe that I didn’t trust him. Even for a split second. I know Levi better than that. I get up, shut off the TV, lock my door, and climb into bed.
     

Chapter Six
    Levi
     
    You’re smothering him. Presley’s words have been nagging me since she said it yesterday. Sure, I call him a lot more and I go over more, but that doesn’t mean I’m “smothering” him, right? He needs someone to check up on him. If I don’t, who will?
    No one.
    Exactly. I am not smothering him, Smarty. Shaking my head, I focus on the scrimmage. It’s not really intense, but more like a bunch of guys enjoying playing the game. I still talk trash to McCarthy and it’s still fun, but now it’s because he’s Presley’s brother and not because I want to mess with this head.
    “ Couldn’t take the time to stuff my gloves with gum or cut my laces? You’re slacking, Carr.”
    I grin. “Aw, you do miss me! Presley will be so happy to hear that you want to be my friend. I draw the line at actually hanging out with you, though.”
    “ Shut the fuck up, Carr.” He glares but then lets out a small chuckle.
    The game is easy flowing, but we still get in a decent practice with it. Afterwards, I wrap an arm around Presley’s waist as McCarthy walks up to us. Marley is standing with us as well.
    “Please tell me that you’re here to talk to your sister and not to ask me to hang out,” I smirk. He rolls his eyes and Pres asks what we’re talking about. “Your brother wants to be my friend. Isn’t that right, McCarthy? He even misses my little pranks.”
    McCarthy ignores me completely and looks to the girls. “Mom wants you to call her, Pres.” Smarty tenses beside me, nodding tersely and I wonder what happened now. “Do you want me to walk you to your car, Mar?”
    Marley looks to us and then to McCarthy. “Sure, I, uh,” she pauses for just a second, “I have to talk to you about our sessions anyway.”
    They say goodbye and walk away. That was weird, but whatever. I dip my head down and kiss below Presley’s ear. “What happened?” I whisper.
    She shrugs. “Let’s go get something to eat.”
    Her mood has shifted completely, and I don’t like it at all. Sometimes, I wish I could wring her parents’ necks and make them see the amazing girl in front of them. I wish she could have had parents like mine. Parents that would always be there for her and make her feel like she is a