Page 88 of Forever Wild
26
MATURE AND RESPECTFUL
EVERLY
Tyler crushes me in a hug. “Fuck, I missed you,” he says as he pulls back. He looks me over with a smile. “You look good. Being a career woman suits you.”
I flash him the best smile I can, certain if he stares too long, he’ll see right through me. Luckily, I’m saved by Piper.
“Your hair!” Her eyes are wide as she stares at me.
“I keep forgetting,” I say as I run a hand over the short strands self-consciously. I’m still not quite used to the new cut just above my shoulders.
“It looks great.” Piper beams at me. “We’re so proud of you.”
“Me too.” I let out a shallow breath. I can’t seem to get a full breath since I parked the car. My gaze won’t allow me to look around the party. The same way it wouldn’t let me look too closely at the cars parked in Tyler and Piper’s driveway.
I knew coming back that I would run into Jack. There’s no way hewon’t be at Charlotte’s birthday party. I know these guys. They’ll all be here. That’s what they do. They show up for each other.
But not looking for him makes me feel in control, like I’m wielding my attention like a weapon and not giving a single fuck if he’s here or not. God, I wish that were true.
It’s been almost a month since I’ve seen or talked to him. I packed up the very next day after he told me we couldn’t be anything and I headed for Briar Lake. I settled into my place, cut my hair, and vowed that I was going to forget about Jack and crush my internship. I was successful in at least one of those things.
Looking out of the corner of my eye to the guys hanging around the living room, I spot Ash, Declan, and Leo. Plus Nick and his son Aidan. Seeing Nick reminds me of that last time I saw him at Wild’s with Jack, but when I smile at him, he doesn’t give me any indication that he knows anything.
The guys all wave their hellos. Ash pulls me into a hug that lifts my feet off the ground. Declan attempts to give me a one-arm hug, but I wrap myself around his middle. I breathe each of them in. I’m closer to some more than others, but I’m so happy to see each of them.
“Where’s the birthday girl?” I ask after I’ve said hello to everyone else.
“Still napping,” Piper says. “But come check out the cake. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Piper drags me along behind her through the living room. I breathe a sigh of relief when we enter the kitchen and the only people in here are Scarlett, Jade, and Bridget. Maybe Jack decided not to come. The thought fills me with more sadness than expected. But only because Charlotte deserves to have everyone show up to celebrate her.
“Oh my gosh!!” Bridget squeals and hurries toward me, engulfingme in a hug that’s tighter than even Tyler’s. “I missed you so, so, so much!”
She keeps squeezing me until the other women laugh.
“Let her breathe, Bridge.” Scarlett comes up behind her.
Bridget’s hold loosens. “Sorry. I just…” She gives me one last hard squeeze and steps back. “It’s so good to see you. It hasn’t been the same without you.”
Her words make a lump form in my throat. It hasn’t been the same without them either but admitting that feels a little bit like failure. Maybe it’s not such a good thing that I need them all so much. I should have my own life outside of Tyler’s teammates and their wives. Isn’t that what they all wanted for me?
I hug each of them and they gush over my hair and my clothes and ask me about my internship. I shrug off as many questions as I can and turn the focus back on them. It isn’t that things are going badly, the opposite actually, I just want to hear about them.
Their kids, their summer vacations, their jobs…I’ve missed out on all of it and I’m eager for every little detail. Bridget and I have kept in touch the most. We text and video chat nearly every day, but in person I can look into her face as she talks and see just how happy she is.
I don’t know if I took my parents for granted or if they were too absent for me to ever have this type of relationship with them, but these people are the family I always wanted. I don’t take it for granted now. I cherish every second of it.
“Is my mom coming?” I ask Piper when the conversation hits a lull.
Her face answers before she does, mouth turning down in a slight frown. “No, she couldn’t make it.”
I can’t imagine what could possibly be more important ona Saturday afternoon, but I guess I’m not that surprised. I want Charlotte to have the kind of grandma she deserves. Someone who shows up and showers her with all the love and attention.
“Her favorite person is here and that’s all that matters.” Piper squeezes my hand. “Let’s go see if she’s awake.”
We go back out to the living room. My steps falter. Piper doesn’t notice, her attention goes straight to Charlotte.
