Page 99 of Wild Ever After
“I was thinking. What if we did the HTPB podcast?” I ask.
“Really?” she asks, mouth full of toothpaste. There’s a trace of excitement mixed with confusion. “You want to do the podcast now?”
“If it will help.” I lift one shoulder in a shrug. I still hate the idea, but maybe it’s the right call. “You’re too talented. I don’t want to see you get fired.”
“No, I don’t think so,” she says. “Thank you, but I can deal with Melody and whatever the fallout is from my boring articles.”
I know it bothers her. She takes such pride in her work. I hate that she’s in a tough spot.
She spits and rinses her mouth and toothbrush, then comes to me and cups my cheeks. “You’re a very good man.”
My throat feels tight, but I manage a smile.
We get in bed and Jade nestles into me, her head and one hand on my chest, like usual. My mind still races long after we’ve said good night. I want to fix this for her, but I don’t know how. Her words keep replaying over and over.You’re a good man.
The thing is, I’m not really sure I am. I’m all right. I don’t kick puppies or make babies cry or anything, but the things I do are for her and the other people I love.
My chest squeezes.
“Hey, are you awake?”
She doesn’t answer and her breathing is slow and even.
“I love you,” I whisper. “I fucking love you, Jade.”
35
I’M PRETTY SURE I DREAMT IT
JADE
“Your schedule is seriously hinderingmy sex life,” I tell Declan, as he packs his bag for another away game. They’ve had three out of town games this week already. I’ve spent more time alone in this bed I’m currently sitting on while I watch him get ready to leave again, than I have with him in it the past five days.
He smiles, then his gaze drops to my bare chest. My body heats at the way he looks at me. I have no room for complaints, really. We were up late last night making up for his absence the two nights prior, but I do sleep a lot better when he’s here.
I stand on the bed and drape my arms over his shoulders. “Call in sick?”
Laughing, he places a soft kiss on my lips and then circles my waist and pulls me off the bed. “I’ll be back tomorrow. Quick trip and then I’m home for a whole week.”
“Seven whole days,” I mutter dryly. Though, truthfully, I’m ecstatic. A month into the season and I don’t know how he does it. I’m exhausted just trying to stay awake long enough at night to answer his calls after every game.
“I gotta go.” He swats my ass playfully. “And you need to shower and get ready for work.”
“I don’t want to wash you off me yet.”
He groans, drops his bag and picks me back up. The kiss is quick but still manages to steal my breath. Dropping me back on my feet, he says, “I gotta go. Call you tonight.”
I don’t follow him downstairs, but I wait for the sound of the front door announcing his departure before I head into the shower.
I use his body wash. If I can’t smell him on me, then I’ll have to settle for smelling like him.
When I get into the office, I’ve no more than set my purse on my desk when Scarlett appears.
“Is everything okay? You didn’t show for coffee.”
“I’m sorry. Declan and I started saying goodbye around six this morning, and, well…it went through coffee.” I sit at my chair and get out my laptop.
“You’re forgiven.” She holds a coffee cup out to me with my name written in black Sharpie.
