Page 8 of Forever Wild
“Glaring at me isn’t going to get me to leave faster.”
“What will?” he asks coolly, then runs his fingers through his messy hair.
I walk into the living room and stand between him and the TV. “Maybe I just want to hang out and soak up some of your winning personality.”
Dammit, I keep letting him provoke me. I need to channel myinner Bridget.
Be nice. Be more like Bridget.
“Don’t you have better things to do?” His gaze finally treks over my outfit and my very short jean shorts. “A backyard barbecue to attend, maybe.”
“I was going to lie out by a pool and relax, so yes.” I cross my arms over my chest. “But I’m glad I stopped by. This is so much more fun.”
His mouth falls into an unimpressed straight line at my sarcasm.
“I’m all out of fun right now so go ahead and scamper off.” He lifts a hand and shoos me away.
God, he’s infuriating.
“I would love nothing more than that, but I’m not leaving here until I can report back to Bridget that you’re okay. She’s worried.”
“All I need is for you to get the hell out of here. And take that walker with you.”
“What am I supposed to do with it?”
“Back over it for all I care.”
I can feel my last nerve fraying, but I count slowly in my head and reach for the sympathy that I walked in here with. “Are you doing all right? Seriously?”
He sighs in a way that makes his broad chest lift and fall dramatically, then shifts uncomfortably on the couch. His knee is propped up on the ottoman in front of him. An ice pack is abandoned on the floor in front of it. I lean forward and retrieve it.
“It’s warm.” I turn over the ice pack in my hand. “Do you want me to grab another?”
“I’ve got it.” With quite a bit of effort, he stands again and hobbles toward the kitchen.
“Are you really so stubborn you won’t even let someone grab youan ice pack?”
“I don’t need any help.” He swaps out the hot ice pack for a cold one, but as he’s closing the freezer, it drops in front of him.
He glances down at where it lies on the floor. So do I. I start to step forward and he growls, halting me.
“Did you just growl at me?” I do my best to hide the smile slowly pulling at the corner of my lips. I know he’s in pain and that recovery is probably frustrating, but he’s being ridiculous. It would be so much easier for him if he stopped pushing people out the door.
Shifting his weight over to his good leg, Jack grimaces as he bends slightly at the waist. I once saw this man take a stick to the eye. Blood poured down his face from a deep gash just under his eyebrow. He calmly skated off and returned a few minutes later with a bandage, ready to get back out there.
So I know that if he’s struggling, the pain is real and it’s beyond what most other people could manage.
“Do you maybe need me to?—”
“Just go, alright?” His tone is gruff and tight. He closes his eyes and then points his gaze to the floor. “I don’t have the energy to fight with you today and I just want to be left the hell alone.”
My face heats at the verbal scolding. I’ve known Jack since I was barely eighteen, a total mess, and mad at the world. He’s never pulled any punches with me. While everyone else walked on eggshells around me, he wasn’t afraid to speak his mind even if it hurt my feelings. It made me feel less meek in a time when I desperately needed it.
But I’m not that girl anymore. If he wants to grump around here all alone and not accept anyone’s help, then that’s on him.
“Happily.” I move toward him and pick up the cold ice pack. Heat and frustration radiate off him and his jaw clenches. There are darkcircles under his eyes and that beard is really not doing him any favors. Still, he’s a handsome guy. I can’t deny it. Too bad he’s a big ole jerk.
With a look of pure annoyance, he reaches forward to take the ice pack from me. His fingertips drag over my palm, replacing the cool feel with his warmth.
