Chapter 14: Forever Wild: Chapter 13

“How many businesses do you own?” Everly asks.

She’s sitting on the workout mat next to me with the laptop open while I stretch.

“I don’t know. A few.”

“I can’t believe you own Midnight.” She narrows her gaze on me. “Though it does have a very you vibe.”

“What does that mean?” I ask. I can’t tell if she’s giving me a compliment or an insult.

Midnight is a night club I bought a couple of years ago. I’m a silent partner with James’ husband. He looks after the day to day, but I helped with the vision and getting it all up and running.

“It’s all dark and moody.” Her lips curve up into a smug smile as she basically tells me I’m dark and moody.

Lately, she wouldn’t be wrong.

“It’s the best club in the area. Everything is always clean and nice. Most places you don’t want to sit on the furniture for fear of catching something, but Midnight doesn’t feel that way.”

“If you knew the number of people that security has thrown out for nudity or groping, you might feel differently.”

She scrunches up her nose adorably. “Okay, I think we’re caught up on all the important emails. There are a few more personal ones I left for you.”

One brow inches higher. “Personal?”

Her face takes on a slight blush that doesn’t register until I take the laptop from her. It only takes a couple of seconds to find the ones she means. Meredith, an ex I dated a couple of years ago, has sent two. One right after the accident and another last week.

I click on the first one.

Hey Jack, I’m so sorry to hear about the accident. Thinking of you.

X, Meredith And then the second.

How’s recovery coming? I would love to grab a drink sometime and catch up.

I hand the laptop back without replying.

“You can delete those.”

She doesn’t say anything as she settles back in with the computer in her lap, but I see the questions in her eyes.

“What? You think I should reply and politely say ‘no thanks?’” I ask, arching one brow.

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Your face is saying a lot.”

The judgment is replaced with a coy smile. She sets the laptop aside and stretches her legs out. “I didn’t know you were still talking to Meredith. I always liked her. She was nice.”

I grunt a response.

“I know that the way things ended wasn’t ideal, but she did help get Bridget’s asshole ex fired so she and Ash could stay here so it’s hard not to like her.”

Meredith is a sports reporter. She covers baseball, not hockey, but when Ash was having issues with one of our assistant GMs, who just so happened to be Bridget’s ex, I might have let some dirt on the guy slip to ensure it got out there, but it was Nick who supplied the firsthand knowledge of the creep that got him fired.

Some people assume I broke up with her for sharing that information, but that’s not the reason. I just didn’t see it going anywhere. Over the past few years, I’ve watched my teammates and friends settle down, one after the other. It’s hard to see how happy they all are and not compare my situation. Meredith and I weren’t going anywhere. Not long-term.

Though, since then, no one has really fit that label any better so maybe it wasn’t really her at all.

“Meredith and I ended things on friendly-enough terms.”

“But you don’t want to catch up?” Everly asks with so much innuendo in her gorgeous hazel eyes that I want to roll mine.

“Busy.”

She snorts. “That’s the worst blow-off excuse.”

“Which is why I said to just delete.”

I finish stretching and stand to start my workout. Brian and I got in some good work this morning, but since my knee is starting to feel better, I want to push it a little more every day. Not too much that I cause a setback, but enough that I feel like I’ve done absolutely everything in my power to be back at one hundred percent come September.

Everly hovers nearby watching me.

“What?” I ask because clearly there’s something she wants from me or she wouldn’t be hanging around. Actually, she’s barely been in the pool the last two days.

“I was just thinking I should start working out again.” She looks longingly at the equipment scattered around. I have a gym inside but the fresh air has been good for me.

“You’re welcome to use anything you want, whenever you want.”

I pick up a ten-pound medicine ball and toss it to her. She catches it with an “oof.”

“I didn’t mean now,” she says.

“What else are you doing?”

She shifts the weight of the ball from hand to hand.

“Sit down.” I motion with my head in front of her and hold my hands out. She tosses the ball back to me and I do a sit-up then toss it to her. She does the same, struggling just a little at first like it is indeed the first time she’s worked out in some time.

We finish one exercise and start another. She follows along, watching me and mimicking whatever I do.

She has a grit and determination that I admire and I don’t take it easy on her.

“Okay, I give,” she says eventually. My knee is starting to protest as well.

She’s lying on her back, legs and arms spread out wide, as she stares up at the patio ceiling and catches her breath.

“You’ll cramp up,” I say as I step over her and reach down to take her hands and pull her up. She’s dead weight at first but eventually gets to her feet with a pout.

“I think I’m good for another six months or so.”

“Day one is always the hardest.” I’m still holding her hands and a little too aware of how soft her skin is and how good she looks covered in sweat.

I drop her hands. “I’m gonna shower. Will you be here when I get out or do you have to get to your date?”

“Oh no, that got rescheduled until tomorrow.”

“Thor already fucking it up,” I say.

“He has to work late. It came up last minute…” She trails off. “Anyway, it worked out because Grace is free and we’re going to hang out this afternoon. I haven’t seen her much since she started her new job.”

“Where’d she end up?” I ask.

“She took a marketing job for a coffee chain.” Everly shrugs. “She seems to like it so far.”

“What are you two going to do?”

“Probably hang out at the pool at her dad’s house.”

“Why don’t you just invite her here?” I ask and motion toward the pool.

Everly’s brows lift and then pull together. “Umm…I don’t know. You’d be okay with that?”

“I don’t mind.” Which is surprising. Why the hell am I offering up my house and pool? I should go in and rest up, maybe call Meredith to catch up. Which absolutely means hook up.

“Okay. Thanks, Jack.” She gives me a grateful smile and then skips off to get her phone from her bag.

I head inside, down a glass of water, and then stare out the window over the sink. Everly has the phone to her ear and she’s pacing around the side of the pool, smiling as she talks.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I ask myself. I let my head fall back with a groan.

I give up watching her like some sort of creep and head to my bedroom. After stripping down, I shower, but I’m too annoyed with myself to do anything. I glance down at my dick, getting hard as soon as the water hits. It’s become a Pavlovian response at this point. Fucking pathetic.

Grace shows up not long after I’m out of the shower, dressed, and heating up my post-workout meal. I hide inside while the two of them swim and lie by the pool.

I’m watching TV and eating chicken and rice when the back door opens.

Everly walks inside. Her skin is golden against her black suit. Her hair is pulled up in a high ponytail and she’s smiling so big that I find my own lips curving up in response.

“You don’t have to hide in here,” she says as she walks into my kitchen and gets a glass of water. “Pizza will be here in five.”

“It’s fine.” I pause the TV. I’m watching game film from last season. She comes over and sits on the arm of the couch.

“You’re watching yourself on TV?” she asks with a hint of amusement, but then she reaches over and hits the play button. “I remember this game. You scored a goal off an assist from Ty.”

My brows shoot up in surprise, but Ev’s too busy staring at the screen, watching the play she mentioned unfold. She probably only remembers it because of her brother, but I still like it.

We watch in silence as Ty and I celebrate and then the game starts back up. Everly finally looks over at me. “You should come outside. I got enough pizza to share. It’s better than whatever you have going on here.” She looks down at my bowl with a look of pity.

I don’t mind eating healthy. Food is fuel during the season and the more consistent I am with it, the better I feel and the harder I can push.

“No more junk food for me. The season will be here before you know it.”

“Is fun not allowed either?” she asks, stands, and then takes my free hand. “Let’s go.”