Page 108 of Forever Wild
A rough chuckle shakes his chest. “I’m a stubborn man, Ev. I’ll just keep giving them back and sending more. Bracelets, necklaces, rings.”
“Okay,” I say quickly before he can get any more ideas. “I got it.”
“Good.” He aims that cocky grin at me.
32
I’M YOURS
JACK
In the months that I was injured, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be back to where I was physically, but somehow, I feel stronger than ever.
I’m putting up better numbers than I have in years. I’m leading scoring and inching closer to the all-time record for the franchise. Legacy isn’t something I cared about when I started playing hockey. I wanted to play and I wanted to win, but I didn’t set goals for beating records and getting my name up there among the greats.
Maybe because it reminded me too much that eventually it’d all be over.
We finish our second of three road games. We’ve won both easily and the team is feeling good. We’re taking a flight early tomorrow morning, but tonight we have a few hours to relax. A lot of the guys are going out. Even Leo and Nick, who at home would be rushing off to their families, are making plans to head to the bar down the street.
“Do you want to walk over together?” Ash asksas we’re heading to our rooms after the game.
“What, do I need a babysitter?”
“I don’t know. Do you? You look like you’re thinking about bailing like last night. What’s up with you?”
I had considered it. Ev’s been working late hours, but she should be getting off work and back to her apartment soon. We’ve been talking on the phone every night, something I saw other guys do and swore would never be me, but I’m as anxious to hear from her and listen to her talk about her day as I am to step onto the ice every night.
“I’ll be there,” I say.
He studies me closely, like he’s trying to ensure I’m not lying, but he nods. “All right. See you over there.”
I text Everly before I shower, hoping she’s free and we can talk before I go, but after I’m done and dressed I still haven’t heard back so I head over to the bar.
“You made it!” Leo greets me like I’m the one that never goes out anymore. Since Callum, he’s rarely hitting up the bar, not that I blame him, just an observation.
“Where else would I be?” I ask and an image of sitting at that pizzeria with Everly in Briar Lake flashes through my mind.
“I’m glad you made it out,” he says, and I can see the sincerity in his expression. It’s been a while since we’ve all hung out, just us without their significant others. I’m not sure I would have said before tonight that I missed it, but there’s a familiarity in it just being us. Like old times.
The bar is busy for a Thursday night, but it’s a lot of college kids and few of them are paying us much attention. We pull four tables together and spread out with pitchers of beer to share.
Tyler takes a drink and makes a face. “Been a while since I hadcheap beer.”
“It’s the only thing they have on tap,” I say.
He takes another drink, making less of a fuss this time.
We’re on one end and it’s hard to keep up with the conversation farther down the tables. Ash is telling a story, waving his hands around, and thriving in the attention. Maverick, next to him, interrupts occasionally to add something, and between the two of them they’re hard to ignore.
It’s fine by me because Everly just texted back, and I am eager to hear about her day.
Everly
Sorry I just got to my apartment. I was moving furniture around and I’m sweaty and gross.
She attached a selfie with her hair pulled back. Short blonde pieces hang in her face. A white tank top dips low in the front, making my stare drop to her tits. She has on overalls, which makes me laugh because she’s paired them with the diamond earrings I gave her. Very rich housewife playing dress-up. Her eye makeup is slightly smudged and there’s a black streak that I assume is dirt on her neck.
Tyler notices my attention has swayed and grins.
