Page 13 of Forever Wild
“You should. It sounds perfect.”
“How are things there?” she asks. “Are you at Tyler’s, lying by the pool?”
“Close.” I sit at the edge of the pool. The water is a little cool as I dip in my toes. Staring at my matching blue toenails, I kick my legs slowly. “I’m at Jack’s house.”
“You’re at Jack’s?!” Her voice pitches higher and from her tone I’d bet her eyes are bugging out of her head.
“Yes. Why do you sound so shocked? I’m checking in on him, just like you wanted.”
“Aside from the fact you two usually can’t be in the same room together without annoying the shit out of each other?”
“We’re not in the same room. I’m outside. He’s inside. I’m too far away to see him glaring at me, and he’s out of throwing distance. Safety first.”
Her rich laughter makes my smile grow. When it trails off, she asks, “How is he?”
An image of him flashes through my mind. His dark hair, too long and hanging in his eyes, the unruly beard, his strong body bruised and bandaged, and the haunted look in his eyes. He seems a little lost, which is honestly unnerving.
But if I tell Bridget that, she and Ash will be packing up and heading back here. And I know how much Jack doesn’t want that.
I understand not wanting people around to witness you at your most vulnerable. I think he’s being unnecessarily obstinate by not lettinganyonein, but I still get it.
“Grumpier than normal, but he seems okay.” The lie slips out easily. Maybe I should tell someone. If the team returns weeks from now and finds out that I knew he was in bad shape and said nothing,they would be furious with me.
The thing is, it’s hard for me to imagine Jack not being okay. Even seeing him like this I know he’ll bounce back. He’s Jack Wyld. Formidable. Bigger than life. Invincible.
“Is he doing his physio?”
“I’m not sure,” I say. “He isn’t exactly chatty.”
Even on the best days, he’s always been quieter. Not shy or reserved, just careful. Every word out of his mouth feels purposeful. Sometimes that purpose is that he’s a jerk.
“But he was on the bike when I got here,” I add.
“Oh good. That must mean the doctor cleared him to start some light exercise.”
“What kind of stuff would he be doing for physical therapy?” I doubt scowling is part of the plan, but if it were, he’d be crushing it.
“Usually, it’s a lot of flexion and extension stretches to get full motion back. I’m sure his doctors are coming over to work with him.”
I am not so sure based on the way he ran off his nurse yesterday. Then again, I know Jack will want to be back in top form as soon as possible.
Ash’s muffled voice pauses our conversation and then Bridget says, “I gotta go.”
“Okay.” A stab of melancholy slices through me. I’m so happy that she’s happy, but selfishly I wish I could talk to her for another hour. “Text me later and tell Ash to keep his eyes on the water.”
She laughs at my odd request. “Will do. Bye, babe.”
“Bye.” I hang up, then hold my phone in my hands and tip my head up toward the sky. Sometime while I was on the phone, dark clouds rolled in, and the breeze is cool.
So much for my perfect pool day.
By the time I gather up my stuff and head inside, light rain has begun to fall. The cool air from the air conditioning makes goosebumps rise on my skin. The TV is going in the living room, but from this spot I can’t see if Jack is in there or not.
I pull on my shorts and shirt and slide my feet into my flip flops.
“I’m gonna go,” I yell, then wait for his reply.
Nothing.
