Game Winner (Penalty Kill 3)

“Name it.”

“Please, always be there for me. You’re the one person that keeps me grounded. Not that I don’t love Marley or anything, but you can keep me in line like no one else can.” My twin looks me right in the eyes, and the seriousness in his tone is clear.

“I swear to you, I’ll always be here for you no matter what.” I hug him tightly and we stay like that for a moment.

“Come on.” He turns, throwing his arm around my shoulder. “We need to celebrate you becoming a lawyer.”

I smile at him as we walk back into the bar.

Chapter Fourteen

Levi

I’m leaning against the bar as Marley, Presley’s parents, and Trevor engage in another game of pool while Pops is sitting next to me on a barstool. Presley returns from the restroom, and I pull her so her back is to my chest, so we can watch the game.

“Everything okay with McCarthy?” I lean down by her ear and say in a low voice. I noticed that he didn’t look particularly thrilled with Presley’s news, and then they disappeared outside.

“Yeah, we’re fine. Thanks for tonight.”

“Welcome. Are you sure everything’s good?”

Presley turns to face me with a laugh. “Yes, I’m sure. He’s my brother, my twin, and we needed to talk.”

“Pres,” Trevor calls, gaining her attention. “Come play. Marley is making us lose.”

She hands me her beer as Marley playfully hits Trevor before coming over to join us. Pops starts a conversation to learn more about her. Presley is laughing at something her mother said and they look like a happy family. I don’t think I’ve ever seen them so relaxed around one another.

“So, Levi,” Marley starts, catching my attention. “How’s your head?”

“I’m recovering, thanks for asking. Hope to be back in action soon.”

“Good because you were a jerk before.”

Pops laughs and says, “Yes, he was. And let me assure you, Marley, we didn’t raise him that way. That was all him.”

Marley snickers, but I just shake my head at them both. “Well, I’m back to being sweet and loveable, so-”

“Sweet and loveable? What are you talking about? You’ve never been either of those things,” Trevor jokes as they make their way back over to us.

“Maybe not to you,” I tell him, grabbing Presley’s fingers to pull her to me as a show of who I am that way with. “Tonight could even serve as evidence, isn’t that right, Smarty?”

“Eh.” She shrugs as everyone laughs. “I’m hungry. I didn’t ever eat dinner.”

“Well, it’s getting late, dear. We should probably head home. Levi, get some food in her,” her mother instructs.

I nod and then Pops makes a similar statement. They start hugging Presley, congratulating her once more, and then the parents leave us. I already ate, but I could eat again.

“Do you two want to come with us to get something to eat?” I ask. “We could go to the diner. Haven’t been there in a while. Or to wherever Pres wants to go.”

Marley and Trevor exchange glances as if they are silently deciding whether or not they want to come with us. But then Trevor turns to his sister with a smile, agreeing to join us. Presley rather go to some place closer, so we head to a restaurant a couple blocks away. Once we sit down, I find myself leaning back and listening to the conversation instead of participating. I’m thrilled about Presley moving closer and that she’s going to be able to start law school early. She gets to jumpstart her dream, to go after something she’s striving for, and I know she’ll succeed. I’m excited to watch that happen too.

Observing Presley with her brother and her friend, laughing and smiling, she’s happy. I don’t know why the thought strikes me like it does, but it’s demanding that I pay attention to this moment. I want her to be happy. All the time. For the first time, for a split second, I wonder if she’s going to be happy in Pittsburgh away from this, her family. She’ll be closer to me, but she’ll basically be by herself. I know this has always been what she wanted, so maybe I’m worrying over nothing.

And while I’m watching, I also realize that I want her to be with me. Happy and with me. It’s not a new revelation, of course. There’s just something about this moment that seals the deal for certain on what I see in my future.

“Levi?” Presley says, bringing me back to the present. “Are you listening?”

“Of course,” I lie.