Page 57 of Forever Wild
“What’sthatlook?” Nick asks.
“No look. I’m just enjoying the summer.”
“Mhmm.” He lifts both brows and aims a knowing smirk my way. “Who’s the girl?”
A flare of panic blooms and bursts like ice water over my head. Nick stares expectantly, waiting for me to tell him about the newest girl that I’m seeing. I’ve never been big on sharing about my personallife so when I shake my head and say, “It’s not like that,” he just grins at me.
“Whatever you say, Cap.”
18
THERE’S NOTHING SMALL ABOUT IT, SWEETHEART
EVERLY
I’m lying on a floatie in the middle of the pool talking on my phone. Jack’s been gone for a little over an hour, but I keep glancing over at his workout area like I expect him to be there.
“Oh my gosh! I can’t believe it! I so, silently, called this.” Bridget squeals loud enough that I pull the phone away from my ear slightly.
Her response is exactly why I called her. She always knows when to be excited and when to be protective. Right now, I just want someone to live in the excitement with me. All the very real, very responsible reasons that this might be a bad idea are far from my mind. Which is exactly where I want to keep them.
“So, are you dating? Where’d you leave things?” she asks.
“We haven’t talked about it.”
“Oh my gosh!” she shrieks again. “What is Ty going to say?”
My stomach drops.
“I’m not going to tell him. There’s nothing to tell anyway. Wekissed. Once.”
“Yeah, while he backed you up against his vehicle.”
The memory makes goosebumps dot my arms, even with the sun warming my skin.
Ash’s voice is in the distance. His sisters are visiting so I’m not worried about him listening in, but that does remind me.
“You can’t say anything either. Not even to Ash.”
“Ev! There’s no way I can keep this from him.” She’s whispering now but her voice is no less screechy. “He’ll know just by looking at my face.”
“Well stop whatever your face is doing before he notices.”
She laughs softly. “How was it?”
“Life-changing.”
I’m rewarded with another loud squeal.
I temper my excitement and remind her, and maybe myself, “It was just a kiss.”
Just a kiss that I plan to reenact with my clothes off.
I’m about to go inside and get changed out of my swimsuit when Jack calls.
“Hi,” I answer, feeling a little shy.
“Hey. I’m done at the arena. Can you pick me up?”
