Page 78 of Forever Wild
“And you?”
“I like the beach, but not as much as I’m enjoying sleeping in.”
I chuckle quietly, and he continues, “I have a full gym here thoughand I’ve been skating a couple of times a week.”
I get the sense he’s trying to reassure me he’s not slacking in the off-season. A lot of guys make huge improvements during their time off, but Ty is one of the most dedicated players I know. It never crossed my mind to worry about him slacking this summer.
“That’s great. The season will be here before we know it.”
“Yeah.”
There’s a short silence while I wait for him to tell me the reason he’s calling. Neither of us are big on idle chitchat. We’re friends, but we don’t call each other to bullshit. Unless this is a check up call.
“Need something or is this just part of an emergency phone chain to make sure I’m not sitting around feeling sorry for myself?”
“Nah.” He chuckles. “We gave up on that when you stopped answering our calls.”
“I answered today.”
“Which is how I know you aren’t still moping around.”
“I wasn’t moping. Did Ash say I was moping? I’m going to kick his ass when he gets back.”
He’s still laughing quietly at me, and the sound is a reminder of how much I miss my teammates. It’s the first summer they’ve all left. Usually one or two stick around and we get together to work out and skate, occasionally hit up the bars together. But now that they’re married and starting families, things are different.
“No, I was calling about Ev.”
The panic I was feeling earlier resurfaces. Why is he calling me about his sister?
“What about her?” I ask carefully.
“Have you seen her around at all?” he asks, then adds. “She’s barely returning my texts lately. I must have texted her a dozen times lastnight and she didn’t respond to any. Not even when I sent a picture of Charlotte. She always replies to cute baby pics.”
I chuckle softly, then remember where she was last night. With me. “Using the baby. Smart.”
“Yeah.” He tries to laugh, but it’s forced.
“I’m sure she’s fine. I wouldn’t worry.”
“You’re right. Fuck. I hate being so far away from her. Have you seen her at all this summer?”
I breathe a sigh of relief, but only for a moment because the very woman he’s calling about walks outside in a bikini that is meant to make men fall at her knees. Which is exactly what I’m considering doing.
“Yeah, I’ve seen her.” Fuck me, have I seen her. The top of her bikini stretches over her full tits, and I know just how they look and taste. The weeks spent in the sun have left her skin tan and her blonde hair lighter. She has the sassy glint in her eye that was missing while she was sick. I’m relieved to see her back to normal.
“Hey!” Brian is way too fucking happy to see her. Everly’s lips twist into a smirk at me before she walks over to him. I’m going to regret telling her I didn’t like him looking at her.
“She actually just showed up here,” I say before Ty hears her voice and my cover is blown.
“Everly is there?” he asks; the question has a hint of accusation in it, or maybe that’s just my guilty conscience.
“Yeah, she’s been coming by to use my pool.”
He laughs, short and loud. “That sounds about right.”
“Who’s she talking to?” Tyler asks.
“My trainer.” My jaw clenches. “He has a thing for her.”
