Page 2 of Wild About You
She puts one foot in front of the other. With each step her strides get a little more confident. There’s an awkwardness between us that wasn’t always there. In my quest to get away from home and make something of myself, I haven’t always done the best job of staying in touch.
“Hey, Ev,” I say, before she disappears into my room.
She pauses and glances over her shoulder but doesn’t speak.
“It’s good to see you. I like your hair.” The blonde strands are longer, hanging down her back. In the six months since I saw her last, Everly has changed a lot but that feels like the least confrontational thing to point out. She’s skinnier—too skinny, her makeup is heavier, and I spotted a rose tattoo along her wrist I’ve never seen before.
Normal, teenage girl things, I guess, but it’s the combination of all those things mixed with the defeated look on her face that’s kept me from turning her away or packing her up in my car and driving her back home myself.
That look disintegrates as she rolls her eyes at me and walks into my bedroom. She slams the door for good measure.Good talk.
I let out a long breath and groan as I try to get comfortable on the couch. It’s just one night. There’s no way she’s serious about living here. I’m not in any position to take care of her, even if she is almost an adult. My life is routine and structured down to what time I go to sleep each night and when I eat every meal.
And our mom would never go for it. She might not be the world’s greatest parent, but she couldn’t possibly be okay with her underage daughter dropping out of school and moving out of state. Although when I tried to call to let her know Ev was here, she didn’t answer. An uneasy feeling settles on my chest.What the hell did you do, Everly?
Whatever happened, everyone just needs a night to cool off. She’ll wake up, talk to Mom, have a change of heart, and want to go back home. Then I can have my apartment and sanity back. Just one night.
2
NOTHING HAS GONE ACCORDING TO PLAN
TYLER
One month later
“Ev!We gotta leave in five minutes!” I yell as I step into the apartment.
I pull off my sweaty shirt and roll my neck to work out a kink. The extra mile on the treadmill this morning did not loosen up the knots and frustration like I hoped.
Tripping over my travel bag, I curse as I move it out of the way. The team had an away game last night and didn’t get back until late. I really wanted to sleep in this morning, but that couch had other ideas for me. I need a shower, breakfast, and I have five—no, make that four now—minutes to do it in.
“Ev!” I bang on the bedroom door twice. “Ev, you can’t be late again. You have to—”
My sister pulls the door open and shoots me a death glare. “I’m up. Stop yelling. Gosh, you’re such a grumpy old man these days.”
I’m only twenty-two. Not the youngest in the NHL, but the youngest guy on the Wildcats roster. But let me tell you, there is nothing like a teenage girl to make you feel old as shit.
“Homework done?” I ask as I toss my shirt in the hamper.
“Yeah.”
“Even the paper for English class?”
“Yes.” Her tone borders on exasperation. “Declan helped me with it last night.”
“I brought back bagels. Grab something to eat. I’ll just be a minute,” I say before shutting the bathroom door.
I turn on the water and step under the spray, wincing as the cold water blasts me. Awesome, no hot water.
I squeeze my eyes shut and rush to clean my body and hair. I should have taken a shower at the rink after my morning workout, but I was in a hurry to get home and make sure Everly was up and ready to go. It’s her first week at a new high school and it has been an adjustment trying to juggle everything. Especially while on the road. She’s had three tardies already this week. It’s Friday. Thank fuck.
I’m out of the shower thirty seconds later. I wrap a towel around my waist and weave through the mess in my room. Clothes, not mine, are strewn everywhere—the bed, the floor, there’s even something lacy hanging over the lampshade on my nightstand. I shudder and walk into my closet to get dressed.
More of her shit is in here, but since my wardrobe barely takes up a third of the large walk-in closet, I don’t mind…much. For a girl who didn’t bring a lot with her, she has managed to really spread it out.
I need to talk to her about keeping things cleaner. It feels hypocritical since I’m not exactly the picture of organization, but with two of us, the apartment is starting to feel like a hovel.
Funny how it’d felt like a palace when I moved in. I’d never had my own place. I shared small, crappy houses or apartments with teammates while I was playing in the juniors. It still seems crazy that this is all mine. Sure, it’s only six hundred square feet and I’m just renting for now, but up until Everly showed up, it was the first time I had my own space. Something that was just mine. I miss it.
