Page 134 of Forever Wild
“I don’t know. I guess I thought you might not like it. I’m sorry if it was crossing a line. I could tell he was lonely and when we left, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. He loves you. I know it doesn’t change what he’s done or make it easier to forgive him, but he does care about you despite his actions.”
“I forgave him a long time ago. It’s just…he’s all I have, you know?”
“That’s not true. You have me.”
“Did he really send you old photos of me?”
“You really grew into your nose.”
I bark a laugh and damn does it feel good.
“I brought you some more clothes in the car and a cooler with your meals.”
“Thank you.” Making sure I had my food was the last thing on my mind. “I guess I need to check in with the team and figure out how I’m going to manage everything this week. What time do you have to head back today?”
“Whenever.” She’s quiet. Too quiet.
“Ev?”
“I don’t want to go.” Her shoulders are pulled back and she lifts her chin, a clear sign she’s about to say something I won’t like. “I talked to Heather this morning. She told me to take all the time I need, and honestly even if she hadn’t said it was fine, I’d still want to stay. I am where I am supposed to be. I love you. It’s okay to need people, Jack. It doesn’t make you less capable. I want to be here. Let me do that for you like you do for everyone else.”
“I do need you.” I wrap my arms around her. “More than you know, but your job is important.”
“So is yours,” she says. “I can be here this week with your dad while you have practice or games.”
I shake my head, already hating the idea, but she charges on.
“I will keep you updated, hourly if you want, and you’ll still be here when you can.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not. I’m offering. Actually, no. Not offering. Demanding. I’m going to do this for you because I freaking love you, okay? I’m not confused about my priorities or what’s important. A job is just a job.”
“By your own account, then I should stay.”
“Your team is family.”
I pull at my hair. I hate this. My burden feels like hers.
“Also, I like your dad.”
“He’s cranky and irritable, and that’s probably going to increase as they wean him off the meds.”
“I know how to handle cranky and irritable.”
She means me and well, fair, I guess.
“I promise I will take care of him.”
“I’m not worried about that,” I say, linking our fingers together. “It’s just too much. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“Nothing. You’re just lucky.” Her full sass is back and it’s as comforting as the kiss she places on my lips.
“I should have checked on him more,” I say it out loud so maybe my guilt will ease, but it doesn’t.
“He could have checked in more with you too.”
“I tried a dozen times to get him to go to rehab.”
