Breakaway (Penalty Kill 1)

I get on my tiptoes and ask, “Levi, tell me what’s wrong? Please.”

“Will you do me a favor?” I nod. “No matter what happens, please know I love you and I always will.”

“I know how much you love me and you better know how much I love you.” I kiss him. He kisses me back, hard.

“I know, Smarty, but just promise me you’ll remember that.” I pull back and look at him. Even in the dark corner, I can see the seriousness on Levi’s face. I’ve only seen that look on him when he is on the ice.

“I promise, Levi.” I’m getting ready to make him tell me what is wrong, when he stops me.

“Nichols just walked in and I need to go kill him. I will find you in a little bit.” He kisses me. When he walks away, it almost feels like that is our last kiss. I don’t know what is going on, but I need to find out. I go back over to the bar and grab another beer. I figure I should find Marley. I’m sure that she has found some guy, by now.

I walk around the room when I finally see her with a bunch of girls. I roll my eyes at the wave of Puck Bunnies standing there. Marley is far from a Puck Bunny and I’m curious on why she is there talking to them. Then again, Marley’s so sweet and she knows everyone.

“Hey, Mar.” I walk up next to her.

“Hey, what’s going on with Andrew and Levi?”

I shrug. “I really don’t know. Levi just went off to talk to him. Why? What do you know?” Marley pulls my sleeve and we head out to the back porch.

“Well, I’m not sure. Those girls I was talking to said Levi and him got into a massive fight before the game, but no one knows why.” I know Levi and Andrew are having issues, but I figure it has something to do with the way that Andrew was playing.

“I know Andrew is playing like shit and back talking Levi, maybe that is it?”

“Well, maybe.” Marley shrugs. “Let’s go find Levi for you and maybe he can introduce me to someone who’ll become my rebound guy.” We laugh as we walk back towards the door. That is when we hear some arguing. Marley tugs my sleeve and guides me to the noise.

“Marley, I don’t wanna-” Marley shushes me and guides us down the back stairs and over to the corner of the porch.

“It’s Levi,” she whispers. The back porch is pitch black and no one can see us crouching down, peering around the corner. I can see Levi’s profile and he is yelling at Andrew.

“Shut the fuck up, Nichols. I can’t fucking believe you ran to McCarthy. You’re suppose to be my friend and teammate.” Levi’s voice sounds lethal as he yells at Andrew.

“Oh, poor, poor Captain Carr and his little Puck Bunny can’t live happily ever after,” Andrew mocks Levi. I’m confused on what Andrew would tell my brother. Maybe hockey plays, but what do I have to do with it?

“I’m going to ignore that because you’re a fucking moron to start with and you’ll never get anyone as good as she is,” Levi hisses at him.

“Well, I’m sure I want a relationship to start out based on lies,” Andrew says back with a chuckle.Lies? What is Andrew talking about?

“Nichols, I’m on the verge of pounding your face in. Shut the fuck up! You don’t know what you’re talking about. I love her and you’re big ass mouth will ruin it all.” I silently gasp as Levi tells Andrew how he feels about me. I can’t help feel my heart swell from those three words.

“Love?” Andrew scoffs. “You love her? Does she even know you’re using her?”Using me? Why would Levi use me? “I bet you don’t have the balls to tell her the only reason you are dating her is to piss off McCarthy.”

“What?!” My voice comes out before I can stop it, and I jump around the corner. The motion lights come on, and I see the shock come over Levi’s face. “You’re dating me to piss off my brother?” I feel Marley standing next to me. My blood is boiling with anger and hurt. “Levi, that isn’t true, right?” I wait for him to answer. “Levi?” The tears fill my eyes as I watch Levi push his hands through his hair.

“Presley, let’s talk-” I slap him right across the face. I can’t believe it’s true.

“You fucking bastard!”

Andrew laughs at him, and I shove him. I shove him so hard that he stumbles back.

Marley grabs my arms, but I shake her off. I stick my finger right in Levi’s face. “Don’t ever call me. Don’t ever speak to me again. How could you do this to me?”

“Presley, please listen to me.” I don’t. I turn, and I run. I’m so thankful I have flats on and there is no snow on the ground as I run faster than I ever have in my life. I hear Marley and Levi yelling for me, but I can’t stop running. Levi, the one person who I gave everything too, lied to me. He used me to piss off my brother. Why? I don’t know how long I run, but I keep running. Finally, I slow and look around. I have no clue where I am. Thank god my phone is in my pocket. I turn it on and call the one person I know I can trust.

“Presley, where are you?” Trevor asks right away. I break down. I hear Trevor telling me to calm down and to tell him where I am. I finally see street signs and tell Trevor through my tears. “I’m close. Just stay there.”

I sit on the curb and just cry. My heart is broken. Trevor’s truck pulls up within minutes. He jumps out and runs to me. I stand and he wraps his arms around me.

“Please, don’t say I told you so,” I say to him through more tears.