Page 45 of Forever Wild
“What else are you doing?”
She shifts the weight of the ball from hand to hand.
“Sit down.” I motion with my head in front of her and hold my hands out. She tosses the ball back to me and I do a sit-up then toss it to her. She does the same, struggling just a little at first like it is indeed the first time she’s worked out in some time.
We finish one exercise and start another. She follows along, watching me and mimicking whatever I do.
She has a grit and determination that I admire and I don’t take it easy on her.
“Okay, I give,” she says eventually. My knee is starting to protest as well.
She’s lying on her back, legs and arms spread out wide, as she stares up at the patio ceiling and catches her breath.
“You’ll cramp up,” I say as I step over her and reach down to take her hands and pull her up. She’s dead weight at first but eventuallygets to her feet with a pout.
“I think I’m good for another six months or so.”
“Day one is always the hardest.” I’m still holding her hands and a little too aware of how soft her skin is and how good she looks covered in sweat.
I drop her hands. “I’m gonna shower. Will you be here when I get out or do you have to get to your date?”
“Oh no, that got rescheduled until tomorrow.”
“Thor already fucking it up,” I say.
“He has to work late. It came up last minute…” She trails off. “Anyway, it worked out because Grace is free and we’re going to hang out this afternoon. I haven’t seen her much since she started her new job.”
“Where’d she end up?” I ask.
“She took a marketing job for a coffee chain.” Everly shrugs. “She seems to like it so far.”
“What are you two going to do?”
“Probably hang out at the pool at her dad’s house.”
“Why don’t you just invite her here?” I ask and motion toward the pool.
Everly’s brows lift and then pull together. “Umm…I don’t know. You’d be okay with that?”
“I don’t mind.” Which is surprising. Why the hell am I offering up my house and pool? I should go in and rest up, maybe call Meredith to catch up. Which absolutely means hook up.
“Okay. Thanks, Jack.” She gives me a grateful smile and then skips off to get her phone from her bag.
I head inside, down a glass of water, and then stare out the window over the sink. Everly has the phone to her ear and she’s pacing aroundthe side of the pool, smiling as she talks.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I ask myself. I let my head fall back with a groan.
I give up watching her like some sort of creep and head to my bedroom. After stripping down, I shower, but I’m too annoyed with myself to do anything. I glance down at my dick, getting hard as soon as the water hits. It’s become a Pavlovian response at this point. Fucking pathetic.
Grace shows up not long after I’m out of the shower, dressed, and heating up my post-workout meal. I hide inside while the two of them swim and lie by the pool.
I’m watching TV and eating chicken and rice when the back door opens.
Everly walks inside. Her skin is golden against her black suit. Her hair is pulled up in a high ponytail and she’s smiling so big that I find my own lips curving up in response.
“You don’t have to hide in here,” she says as she walks into my kitchen and gets a glass of water. “Pizza will be here in five.”
“It’s fine.” I pause the TV. I’m watching game film from last season. She comes over and sits on the arm of the couch.
