Page 103 of Forever Wild
“No. I’m still mad at you.”
“I’m sorry. Come home with me. Let me make it up to you.”
I know it’s the wrong thing to say as soon as the words leave my mouth. The shield she had up earlier returns.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“I shouldn’t have pushed you away like I did. I wish I had a better reason. This is new territory for me.” I’ve never wanted someone like I want her. It feels selfish and messy. I don’t know what I’m doing, which Ireallyhate.
“You should have talked to me.”
“Would you have listened?”
She sighs like maybe she knows she’s stubborn, but she still wishes I would have tried to have a real conversation instead of making the decision for her, like so many other people in her life have done. Honestly, me too, but I’m not going to make that mistake twice if she’ll give me another chance.
The lights in the club come up, indicating it’s closing time. I pull up my boxers and pants and tuck myself away as Everly finger-combs her hair so it doesn’t look like I just had my hands in it.
“When do you go back?” I ask.
“Tomorrow.”
Fuck. There’s a small, asshole part of me that wishes I had asked her to give up everything and stay here with me to see where this could go. Is that the choice that would have changed everything?
All I know is she’s going to leave again before I’ve convinced her to give me another shot.
“Can I see you before you go back to Briar Lake?”
“I don’t know.” She bites on the corner of her lip, staring at me with her brows pinched together like she’s working out a problem. The problem being me.
“Tell me what you want or need. Whatever it is, I’ll give it to you.”
“I wish I knew,” she says with a small shake of her head.
I slide my hands into my pockets. It’s not the actionable answer Ihoped for, but I know I can’t rush her. “Okay.”
She starts for the door, and I call after her.
“Ev?”
“Yeah?” She pauses, looking back at me.
“I meant what I said earlier. I miss you. Seeing you every day, talking, hanging out, having you in my space, all of it. Nothing feels right anymore without you.”
Her lips quiver and I watch her chest rise and fall with a sigh that feels heavy even from a distance.
“I miss you too, Jack.”
31
CAPTAINING
EVERLY
“Your apartment looks like a florist shop,” Bridget says as I move the phone so she can see the current state of the place.
I set another vase of roses on the counter. “Or a funeral.”
“Well, what did you expect?” My friend’s laughter unknots some of the tension I’ve been holding on to ever since I saw Jack at Midnight. “He isn’t the kind of guy to stand by and wait. Jack is going after what he wants. And in this case, that’s you.”
