Malicious Novel – My boyfriend, Levi forbade me from going to Vegas out of fear of hurting his reputation and yet he was sneaking women into his hotel room. He was worried about me but he was the one who couldn’t keep his manhood in his pants. I stared at the blond woman who had just stepped out of the door behind Levi. She kept her face turned away from the camera, but I knew who the girl was. She was just the one thing he couldn’t quit. I couldn’t think straight. Memories of the times he had been caught cheating before overwhelmed me. Memories of the promises he made and the tears he had shed begging me to give him another chance. I stopped moving and took a deep breath. I wasn’t going to sit in the house and wait for him while he drilled her. I was going to Vegas.
I WOKE AND JUST LIKE the day before, I stared up at the ceiling. No getting out of bed and hitting the ground running for me. I had nothing on my schedule for the day. I didn’t really need to do any shopping. I would go the day Levi got back. That way everything would be fresh. That meant my day was clear. I sighed, rolling out of bed with very little enthusiasm. I was regretting my decision to stay behind. I should have gone to Louisiana with Levi. At least then I would have something to do. Although I knew how the away games worked. I would be left alone in the hotel for almost the entire time. He would be doing press, training, playing, more press and then more press. I thought about going over to the greenhouse and picking up the painting.
I was going to hang it in the living room where it would be in full view from the couch. I couldn’t quite muster the energy to do that just yet. I was going to be lazy and kick around the house for a bit. I checked my phone and found a message from Levi. He had sent it around three this morning. I couldn’t help but smile as I read the message aloud. “We won, of course. I scored two touchdowns, which I’m sure you saw. I love you and miss you.” He must have been out celebrating with the guys, judging by the time of the message. I probably shouldn’t do it, but I called him anyway. His phone would likely go straight to voicemail, which was fine. I just wanted to leave him a quick message letting him know I loved him and was thinking about him. When voicemail picked up, I was a little disappointed I wouldn’t get to hear his voice. “Hey, baby, I love you. I got your message. I’m so proud of you. I’ll call you later. Rest and enjoy a little relaxation today.”
I put the phone down and started a second cup of coffee. I wasn’t interested in making a big breakfast and opted for a bowl of cold cereal. It was so much easier than the eggs and smoothies I usually made every morning. My phone rang and I almost jumped on it with the hopes it was Levi returning my call. “Hello,” I answered in a sultry voice. “I’m not him,” Alexus said. I pulled my phone away and looked at the screen to verify what I already knew. “Hey you! What are you doing up so early?” “I couldn’t sleep.” “Did you go out last night?” “For a bit. We were all kinds of tired and turned in early.” I had a feeling she was trying to make me feel better. “Don’t lie. You better be having fun.” She giggled. “We are definitely having fun but it would be so much better if you were here. I’m so bummed that you are not.” “What are you guys going to do today?” I asked, staring down at my cereal. “I think we are going to do a little shopping and then hang out at the pool.”
“Do you have tickets for a show tonight?” I questioned. “Not tonight. Tonight we are going to hit some of the clubs.” Again, a feeling of jealousy tore through me. “Are you going to wear that new dress?” “I am,” she said with a laugh. “How are you doing?” “I’m good,” I assured her. “I painted yesterday and I think I’m going to go back out today.” “Are you sure you’re doing okay?” “I am. Thank you for asking. Now, don’t worry about me. You girls go out and have fun.” “I’ll be thinking about you the whole time,” she said. “Thanks. Have fun.” After her call I felt worse. It wasn’t her intention, but hearing that they were having a good time just made me feel even more melancholy. I was supposed to be there. I was supposed to be sitting in a lavish hotel with my best friends and drinking mimosas by the pool. Instead, I was at home alone—as usual. I dumped out the rest of the cereal, rinsed the bowl, and put it in the dishwasher. I turned on the TV again, hoping to find some highlights. He would quiz me when he got home. He would ask me questions about the little details of a catch and what he did when he scored a touchdown. A good girlfriend would have watched the game.
I had been a distracted girlfriend. I wouldn’t let it happen again. I saw his coach and knew I was on the right track. I flopped down on the couch and waited. Soon enough, Levi’s face came on the screen before it cut to an obviously surprise interview at his hotel. He hated when they did that. I shook my head, angry on his behalf. The reporter stuck a microphone in his face. A camera zoomed up on him, giving viewers a very up-close and personal look at those baby blues that had not only captured my heart, but the hearts of the nation. The camera zoomed out a little, a door directly behind him. The reporter started to ask him a question but I didn’t hear it. I couldn’t hear anything except for a loud buzzing sound in my ears. I stared at the blond woman who had just stepped out of the door behind Levi. She kept her face turned away from the camera, but there was no denying it was a beautiful female wearing a very tiny dress. It was the proverbial walk of shame, right out of my boyfriend’s hotel room. I stared at the number on the door behind him. There was no denying what I saw.
It was his hotel room. He couldn’t tell me it was the camera angle that caught the room next door. He couldn’t claim it was his publicist or anyone else. Even without all of that, it wouldn’t matter. I knew who the girl was. She was like a bad rash. Every time I thought she was out of our lives, she popped back up. I couldn’t understand why she wouldn’t just leave us alone. I knew he didn’t love her. He loved me. She was just the one thing he couldn’t quit. She was an addiction. I sat forward and rubbed my face. Levi’s voice filled the room, overwhelming my thoughts. I didn’t want to think about him or her or them together. I reached for the remote and turned off the television. I couldn’t hear his voice another second. I didn’t want to risk seeing her walk back into his room. “Why, Levi? Why?” I jumped to my feet, suddenly feeling extremely sick. I raced down the hall to the guest bathroom and threw up the little breakfast I had eaten.
Once I was sure the nausea had passed, I got to my feet and splashed cold water on my face. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. I looked into my own hazel eyes. I had zero makeup on. The freckles that were scattered over my nose and cheekbones were evident. Levi always told me he loved my freckles. Was he lying? I had been through this before. I felt the sting of betrayal and immediately questioned my own looks. I felt insecure and had gone through a whole phase of trying to lose weight and be prettier for him. Then there was the next time and I realized it wasn’t anything I’d done. It was him. He told me it was him. He convinced me I was beautiful and everything he wanted. He promised it would never happen again. He claimed he was weak and couldn’t resist the temptation. The woman had flattered him. She’d told him everything he wanted to hear. She had smooched him. She had plied him with alcohol until he couldn’t resist her.
That had been the story then and I’d bought it. I forgave him. He made a million promises and I believed him. It was the fame. It had been a confusing time. The instant celebrity had been overwhelming for him. I accepted his excuses and we vowed to move forward. We promised each other we would never let anyone come between us. “Oh!” I shouted and slapped my hand against the mirror. The thing shattered, cutting my hand. I felt no pain. I felt nothing. I was so pissed and hurt on a level that physical pain couldn’t come close to touching. I walked out of the bathroom and headed for our bedroom. I was so pissed. I wanted to smash everything. I wanted to break windows and slash tires. I was tired of feeling hurt. I couldn’t be hurt anymore. I felt nothing but white-hot anger. He forbade me from going to Vegas out of fear of hurting his reputation and yet he was sneaking women into his hotel room. He was worried about me and he was the one who couldn’t keep his manhood in his pants. I couldn’t think straight. Memories of the times he had been caught cheating before overwhelmed me.
Memories of the promises he made and the tears he had shed begging me to give him another chance. I was a fool. I didn’t know what to do with myself. All I knew was I didn’t want to be sitting at home all by myself while he drilled that woman. No wonder he didn’t want me to go. How many times had he done this? Had this been going on the whole time? I stopped moving and took a deep breath. I wasn’t going to sit in the house and wait for him while he drilled her. I was going to Vegas. He couldn’t stop me. I still had my ticket. I was hoping I could get a flight out right away. If I couldn’t, I would charter a lane with his credit card. He gave me the card in case of emergency. In my opinion, this was an emergency. If I didn’t go to Las Vegas, I would find myself in New Orleans.
If that happened, I was sure to embarrass him. I was sure to create a scene that would have the tabloids talking for years. They thought Tiger’s wife lost her mind. I was feeling downright vindictive at the moment. I would rip the woman’s extensions out and Levi, oh boy, I wasn’t sure what I would do to his cheating hip. I stomped back out to the living room and snatched my phone to call the airline. I was in luck and managed to get my ticket changed, for a fee, to a flight leaving in two hours. With my travel arrangements made, I went back to our room to pack. I grabbed my luggage from the bottom of the closet and yanked a few of my skimpiest dresses from the hangers. I would steam them when I got to the hotel.
I packed with no rhyme or reason, tossing panties and bras in along with a few bikinis. I looked over my shoulder as I walked out of the bedroom. I didn’t bother making the bed or doing any other housework. I stomped right out the front door and tossed my bags in the car before speeding away. I couldn’t get the image of him standing outside his hotel room out of my head. The betrayal cut deep. Near cutting out my very soul. I was going to go to Vegas and have fun. I was going to drink and dance and party like the twenty-five-year-old I was. For just one weekend, I wanted to forget the rules. I didn’t want to be Levi’s girlfriend. I wanted to be me. I wanted to be irresponsible and wild. – THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN , jerking me out of the thoughts that had consumed me. My heart was shattered. My head was in a fog. I was angry with myself, him and her. Most of the blame rested on Levi’s shoulders. The rational side of me knew that, but the other part of me blamed myself. I shouldn’t have let him go alone. I should have insisted I go with him. It wouldn’t have changed anything. If a man wanted to cheat, he would cheat. That’s what Alexus had told me over and over. She had been there for me through the last ordeal.
She had been the one to dry my tears and tell me I was worthy. I hated the idea of her and the rest of the world finding out he didn’t think I was worthy. It was a serious blow to the ego. I walked through the airport, trying to keep my attention on where I was going instead of getting caught up in my broken heart. I was not going to bring my grumpy hip to the party and ruin it for all of them. I was going to have fun. Period. Levi was not going to ruin this for me or the girls. His inability to be faithful was his issue. No matter how many times I told myself to stop thinking about it, I couldn’t stop. My stomach was in knots. I caught a cab to the hotel where I had booked the suite for us long ago, before I knew Levi was going to pull the rug out from under my plans. I remembered the last time I had been to Vegas. Levi and I had been picked up in a limo and given the first-class treatment. It had been fun, but looking back, I remembered feeling very on edge. We had been attending a party for the sports drink he was the face of. I had never smiled so much in my life.
The trip had been a success from a PR standpoint, but I had been miserable by the end of it. The taxi pulled to a stop in front of the hotel. A doorman hopped out to open the door for me. I had just made it inside when I got a video call from Alexus. I was suddenly feeling giddy. I couldn’t believe I was here. It was going to be the best surprise ever. It had taken a lot of self-control to keep from calling her and telling her I was on my way. I was not good at surprises. When I bought gifts, I usually gave them early because I couldn’t keep it a secret. I looked around the lobby, trying to find a quiet corner. I leaned against a far wall, making sure there was nothing around to give away my location. “Hi,” I answered the call. Their three faces crowded into the screen. “We miss you!” they shouted at once. I winced and quickly turned down the volume when I saw people looking my way. “I miss you guys,” I said. “You all look like you are having fun.”
“How are you?” Alexus asked. “Are you painting? Where are you? That’s not your house.” “I’m fine,” I said, evading her question. “I’m so bummed I can’t be with you guys.” “We are too,” Morgan said. “We want you to be here. We need to get drunk. Hop a plane and just get your hip here.” I put on an exaggerated sigh and pouted. “I wish I could. This sucks. I’m sorry I can’t be there.” “We are going to have a girls’ day when we get back,” Alexus said. “If you or a certain someone doesn’t agree, then we are going to kidnap you and drag you out. We need girl time.” I offered them a sad smile. “I give you permission to kidnap me.” “I’m going to call you again,” Alexus said. “We’ll video chat and it will be like you are with us.” “I would appreciate that. You girls go, have fun.” They all waved before the screen went black. Now I knew they were in the room. I walked to the front desk and gave my name before handing over the platinum card which always opened doors. I was giddy with excitement. I knocked on the door of the suite and waited.