Page 221 of So This Is War
“But either way, I told him about the job. He was a little uneasy about what I would be drawing, but he did tell me I did beautiful work. He congratulated me, then gave us his blessing. Called you a good guy.”
“Did he now?” Levi says, puffing his chest.
“Oh yes, seems like he might be a fan. Then again, not sure he’d ever show it.”
“I’ll take a secret fan as long as you remain my number one.”
“Always,” I say as I lean in again. “Forever and always, Levi.”
“Never forget it,” he says as he kisses me again, and this time, the kiss bounces all the way down to the tips of my toes.
After ditching him at a bar, never in a million years did I imagine I’d end up here—being loved and cherished by Levi Posey. I was looking for one night of fun, and he’s offering me an endless eternity of love.
Epilogue
LEVI
“Levi, are you really going to be on your phone right now?”
“I’m sorry,” I say as I set my phone down, worry etching through my chest. I blow out a heavy breath. “OC sent an article. A damning one.”
“Is it about the expansion team?” Wylie asks.
I nod as I grab a box from under the Christmas tree. “Yeah, he’s freaking out. Rumors are swirling about what might happen and since we heard there’s a possibility Rivers might come back, he’s nervous he’s going to be traded at the end of the season.”
“Well, nothing is set in stone.”
I wince. “The article was written by a reputable source. Looks like the team could be collecting some serious bad blood.”
“What do you mean?” she asks, thankfully being amazing as I hand her my favorite Christmas present I got her. Last thing I want to do is talk about the team on our first Christmas, but OC is freaking out.
When we heard of the expansion team, the San Francisco Rogue, a few years ago, we never thought much of it, but with a heavy set of investors, willing and ready to throw down cash for the toughest position players, there was some worry that started to develop. But OC recently has ramped up that worry.
“The owners are a collective who want to win. And they will do it any means necessary, meaning, they’re looking for the best of the best. The ones who are willing to do anything to win and I mean anything. Cheap shots, hell on ice type shit.”
“But that’s not OC, so why is he worried?”
“Because Rivers might come back and if he does, that makes OC a free agent and given his talent, the Rogue would be dumb not to scoop him up.”
“Oh . . .” she stares down at her present. “That would be sad, I really like OC.”
“We all do.” I drag my hand over my face. “Shit, babe, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have looked at that text in the middle of our Christmas.”
She smooths her hand over my bare chest and says, “It’s okay. It’s one of the reasons why I love you, because you care so much about your friends, even if it’s on a freaky close level.”
I chuckle and pull her onto my lap. “Okay, blocking that out, now open your gift.”
I kiss her neck and while she giggles, she unwraps the present I got her. She parts the jewelry box open and gasps.
“Levi, oh my God. I love it so much,” Wylie says as she stares down at the gold necklace I got her.
Bing Crosby croons in the background about a white Christmas that, unfortunately, we don’t have. Now, a rainy and cloudy Christmas, Vancouver went all in this year.
We’re spending the morning here, just her and me, in front of our Christmas tree that we decorated together, opening presents and eating the cookies we made last night while we ate bolognasandwiches with potato chips between the slices. It was Wylie’s personal touch, which I had never done before, but after the subtle combination of the soft and crunchy, I know I’ll never go back.
Later this afternoon, we’re heading over to her dad’s, where we plan on exchanging gifts and having dinner. We’ll also be mingling with Giselle, who’ll be stopping by as well.
Yeah, Giselle, the flight attendant.
