Levi lives a couple of miles away from the city in a house he purchased five years ago. It could easily fit a family of six, but when I asked him about the size, all he said was the investment would be worth it in the long run. Maybe he's right. I've been throwing my money away renting a damn penthouse since I got signed to the Cyclones.

"Your first Friendsgiving with us," Levi says by way of greeting. An apron is tied around his waist, and the entryway smells fucking amazing. The dining room to the left holds one of those elaborate tables that could fit about twenty people. A runner is draped across it with decorative chargers and fancy china, candelabras already lit and glowing down the center. "Nice of you to join us. I wonder why you had a sudden change of heart."

"You act like I chose not to attend because I'd rather stay home and watch football or something." I follow him into the kitchen and linger by the island while he checks one of his ovens harboring the turkey. "You're the one that decides to host these Friendsgiving's on Thanksgiving day. I've always spent the holiday with my family."

"And yet this year the moment Aria decides to attend you jumped through hoops to be here."

"Levi—"

He throws his hands up, which are protected by oven mitts. "Hey, I'm not complaining. I'm happy you decided to come, and I'm thrilled for you and Aria, too, even if you won't admit you're together. It's pretty damn obvious at this point."

As he bastes the turkey, I pour myself a glass of scotch and take a tentative sip before I reply, "I'm not sure if she wants everyone to know. She's terrified of losing her job, and for good reason. Aria is... Well, this is new for her. I don't want to scare her off before we begin, you know?"

"Trust me, I get it. Can you pass me that pan of mac and cheese?" He points to a tinfoil pan, and I gratefully oblige, thankful for the subject change. "This is going to be your first time trying a Black man's mac and cheese. It'll change your life."

I arch a brow, eyeing the pan. "Is it really any different than a white person's?"

He chuckles. "Trust me, it is. I grew up with my mom making it her way and my dad making his. My dad's was by far the superior batch. We used to—"

"Is dinner ready yet?" Mila bounces across the tiled floor, her hair tied up into pigtails with festive ribbons. She inhales the aroma of the kitchen, eyes gleaming. "I'm starving."

At the age of seven, Mila is a little firecracker. She's feisty and is a spitting image of her brother. While Levi and her share the same deep tan skin with honey-brown eyes, Levi's hair has a curlier texture, and Mila's is pin-straight, taking after their mother.

"Not yet," Levi says. "Why don't you go ahead and put the silverware on the table?"

"But—"

"No buts," he warns with a sharp glare. "If I'm making all of this food for everyone the least you can do is help finish setting the table."

Mila grumbles, but she does what her brother instructs and grabs a fistful of spoons and forks. When she's gone, I run my eyes over Levi, who normally is calm under pressure, but tonight he's showcasing his nerves. His shoulders seem tense, and he's tapping his foot on the ground like a madman.

"You know I came over early for a reason, right? I wanted to check on you before Aria and Esme get here. Are you sure you're ready for this?"

He releases a deep sigh and moves to pour a glass of scotch for himself. "Honestly? I'm not sure. I thought turning her down last year was for the best, but every day since I've felt like I fucked up."

"Do you honestly think she'd have a problem with you being Mila's caretaker?"

The expression he sends my way is one of warning. "You know why I turned her down, Connor. Between keeping up with Mila's doctor's appointments and hockey, I don't have time for anyone. Settling down seems like a great idea, but I know I wouldn't be able to dedicate the time needed to make Esme happy. Plus, Mila wouldn't be okay with someone else coming between us. I'm all she has. I'm not going to ruin that."

I can't imagine what Levi and Mila went through as they tried to navigate living a life with just the two of them. At a young age, Levi had to step up and be a father and mother figure for Mila, and that's a pressure all in itself. Between him and Cal, I feel very blessed to have grown with up parents who loved me and would do anything for me.

A pang of guilt zings through my chest that I'm not there with them today.

"I'm not saying what you chose was wrong," I say, taking another swig of scotch, "but at some point, Levi, you have to put what you want first. It's fucking admirable what you've done to step in and be there for Mila, but you matter too, and if you're interested in Esme, you should make a move before someone else does. You'll never forgive yourself if she finds someone else."

Levi scrunches his nose up as if he's never considered that before, and maybe he hasn't. He's the type of guy who would take the shirt off his back for anyone, so focusing on himself has never been in the realm of possibilities. I've learned a lot from him being my best friend. If he has to learn selfishness from me then so be it.

"Right now, my focus is on making sure this turkey isn't dry. It's time to baste."

***

Levi isn't quick enough to answer the doorbell.

Mila races for it, throwing it open dramatically just as Levi skids around the corner. "Welcome to our home!" She sings.

Aria, Esme, and Ana stand on the porch, their faces decorated in shock, but Esme... Her brows fly to her forehead before her eyes shoot to Levi's. I don't know Esme well enough, but I can read expressions, and right now... Yeah, she thinks he has a kid he never told her about. She's partly right, but not completely.

"My sister," Levi blurts, reading her expression too. "Uh, Esme, this is Mila. My little sister."

A flicker of...understanding washes over Esme before she smiles warmly at Mila, extending a hand to her. "It's nice to meet you, Mila."

I can't focus anymore on their conversation when Aria looks so damn good.

She's in an emerald green sweater dress that clings to her small, delicate figure just right. There's a pair of tights beneath it, and I become excited just thinking what her skin will feel like beneath the fabric when I tear through them with my teeth.

"Is Cal here?" Ana asks as she removes her coat. "Sorry for intruding without notice, but I didn't give these two a chance before I hopped in the car with them. I have...things to discuss with a certain asshole hockey player."

"He's not here yet," I respond for Levi who is watching Mila and Esme interact like his entire life depends on it. Maybe it does.

Aria closes the distance between us and hooks her arms around my neck before she leans in for a kiss. She's kissing me in front of her friends, in front of Levi, and the pure burst of joy that floods my veins is enough to give me a high.

Now that I know she's okay with others knowing, I gladly run my hands down to her ass and squeeze it. "You look incredible, baby," I whisper into her ear. "I'm going to be very distracted during dinner."

"I could say the same," she whispers back, dragging a hand down my chest.

"You could have waited until you guys were alone," Ana drawls.

"Shut up, Ana. Let them be happy." Esme's cheeks burn a bright red when Levi steps up to help her out of her coat. "You have a beautiful home, Levi."

"Thanks. I bought it a few—" His eyes become feral when he gets a look at the dress beneath her coat. A skin-tight satin mini dress exposes her long, slender legs with a slit leaving little to the imagination. "I bought..." He shakes his head, attempting to collect his thoughts as I attempt (and fail) to hold back a laugh. "I'm just, ah, gonna hang this up."

The timer dings just as Levi disappears into the hallway.

"I'll whisk the batter!" Mila calls to him, sprinting for the kitchen.

When it's the four of us remaining, Esme elbows her sister in the side. "Oh my god. I cannot believe you convinced me to wear this scrap of fabric tonight! There are kids here. Levi's little sister!"

"It worked, didn't it?" Ana examines her fingernails as if she couldn't care less about her sister's meltdown.

Aria twists around in my arms to say, "Is that why you're wearing a scrap of fabric as well, Ana? Hoping to impress a certain brooding hockey player?"

She scoffs. "Please. I don't need to impress anyone. Cal is allergic to women, anyway. Even if I were trying to elicit a reaction from him, it wouldn't work."

Two pairs of footsteps echo down the hall, and Levi reenters the hallway with a new sense of self-control, followed by Cal, who halts directly in his tracks at the sight of Ana. His eyes drag down the length of her exposed legs before they travel up her full-sleeve tattooed arm, and then finally to her hair, which is pinned back to frame her face.

Ana can act as tough as she wants, but none of us miss the way she gulps under his scrutiny.

"Fuck are you wearing?" He grunts, lip curling in disgust.

She rolls her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest, which only makes her breasts on more display to him. "It's called a dress, Cal. Girls wear them to dress up for occasions."

"You don't wear dresses," he retorts.

"How would you know that when you've only seen me in a physical therapist's office?"

"Because on your—" He curses under his breath, gripping the case of beer he's holding with white knuckles.

Ana's grin stretches from ear to ear. "On my...what? Social media? Are you stalking me, Cal?" When she's met with silence, she takes a step closer to him, causing his body to tense up. "I'm under contract, you know. I have to be careful about what I post. My more enticing outfits are kept off the socials. More for my countless suitors to look forward to."

His eyes darken just a fraction. "Countless, hm? And just how many is that?"

"That information is only privy to my suitors, Cal. And before you go down the rabbit hole and attempt to find them, you won't. I don't post them, either, but something tells me you're already aware of that."

The tension in the room seems unbearable. With the way Cal's chest is heaving up and down, nostrils flaring, I feel as if I'm invading a private moment.

Levi steps forward to break the silence until suddenly, the front door bangs open. "Daddy's home!" Matti shouts. A few seconds later, he enters the room with two large bottles of wine in his hands. "Who's ready to get... Woah. What'd I miss?"

"First, never refer to yourself as daddy in my presence ever again," Levi mutters and takes the wine from him. "Secondly, you missed nothing. I was just about to tell everyone to make themselves at home. There's alcohol in the kitchen and the game is on TV in the living room."

Matti curses under his breath. "Why do I always miss the good stuff?"

Author's Note:

I LOVE LEVI SO MUCH.

He's such a sweetheart!!!!!

UGH.

Who's story are you most excited for?

Levi's or Cal's?

PLEASE COMMENT AND VOTE <3

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