Chapter 33: Forever Wild: Chapter 32

In the months that I was injured, I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be back to where I was physically, but somehow, I feel stronger than ever.

I’m putting up better numbers than I have in years. I’m leading scoring and inching closer to the all-time record for the franchise. Legacy isn’t something I cared about when I started playing hockey. I wanted to play and I wanted to win, but I didn’t set goals for beating records and getting my name up there among the greats.

Maybe because it reminded me too much that eventually it’d all be over.

We finish our second of three road games. We’ve won both easily and the team is feeling good. We’re taking a flight early tomorrow morning, but tonight we have a few hours to relax. A lot of the guys are going out. Even Leo and Nick, who at home would be rushing off to their families, are making plans to head to the bar down the street.

“Do you want to walk over together?” Ash asks as we’re heading to our rooms after the game.

“What, do I need a babysitter?”

“I don’t know. Do you? You look like you’re thinking about bailing like last night. What’s up with you?”

I had considered it. Ev’s been working late hours, but she should be getting off work and back to her apartment soon. We’ve been talking on the phone every night, something I saw other guys do and swore would never be me, but I’m as anxious to hear from her and listen to her talk about her day as I am to step onto the ice every night.

“I’ll be there,” I say.

He studies me closely, like he’s trying to ensure I’m not lying, but he nods. “All right. See you over there.”

I text Everly before I shower, hoping she’s free and we can talk before I go, but after I’m done and dressed I still haven’t heard back so I head over to the bar.

“You made it!” Leo greets me like I’m the one that never goes out anymore. Since Callum, he’s rarely hitting up the bar, not that I blame him, just an observation.

“Where else would I be?” I ask and an image of sitting at that pizzeria with Everly in Briar Lake flashes through my mind.

“I’m glad you made it out,” he says, and I can see the sincerity in his expression. It’s been a while since we’ve all hung out, just us without their significant others. I’m not sure I would have said before tonight that I missed it, but there’s a familiarity in it just being us. Like old times.

The bar is busy for a Thursday night, but it’s a lot of college kids and few of them are paying us much attention. We pull four tables together and spread out with pitchers of beer to share.

Tyler takes a drink and makes a face. “Been a while since I had cheap beer.”

“It’s the only thing they have on tap,” I say.

He takes another drink, making less of a fuss this time.

We’re on one end and it’s hard to keep up with the conversation farther down the tables. Ash is telling a story, waving his hands around, and thriving in the attention. Maverick, next to him, interrupts occasionally to add something, and between the two of them they’re hard to ignore.

It’s fine by me because Everly just texted back, and I am eager to hear about her day.

Everly Sorry I just got to my apartment. I was moving furniture around and I’m sweaty and gross.

She attached a selfie with her hair pulled back. Short blonde pieces hang in her face. A white tank top dips low in the front, making my stare drop to her tits. She has on overalls, which makes me laugh because she’s paired them with the diamond earrings I gave her. Very rich housewife playing dress-up. Her eye makeup is slightly smudged and there’s a black streak that I assume is dirt on her neck.

Tyler notices my attention has swayed and grins.

“Seeing someone new?” he asks.

I’m grinning at my phone, but his words hit like a hammer and I lock the screen.

“No,” I say quickly.

His brows lift. “No?”

My insides heat. Fuck. I need to tell him but I don’t want to do that before Everly and I have talked about it first. Maybe she wants to tell him? We haven’t even established what we are, but I don’t want to do whatever it is behind Tyler’s back.

“Nope, not seeing anyone.”

“Really? I thought…” His voice trails off. “You’ve seemed different lately.”

“How so?” I take a sip of the beer. He’s right. It’s terrible, but I’m not tossing back shots tonight. Travel day or not, I don’t want to feel like shit tomorrow.

“I can’t explain it,” he says, gaze narrowing slightly. “Some guys lose focus when they meet someone new. Not intentionally, of course, but they spend a little less time at practice or they skip out on things to make room for the relationship.”

I nod. It’s a cycle I’ve seen time and time again. Not from me, but from my teammates. It doesn’t last that long and I know that hockey isn’t everything so I don’t hold it against them.

“But not you,” he says. “You seem somehow more focused than ever but less stressed like someone has taken a weight off your shoulders.”

My phone buzzes on the table. I glance down to see Everly’s name and another photo, but I don’t swipe it open just yet. Tyler doesn’t try to invade my privacy, but he grins like he knows it’s the person I claim to not be seeing.

“I’m just happy to be back,” I say. “Going out like that last season was torture.”

He nods and doesn’t call me out on it.

My phone buzzes again. I try to play it cool as I glance down and unlock my screen.

Everly What are you doing?

Everly Want to come over and help me shower?

I nearly choke on another sip of watered-down beer when I see the photo she attached. The white tank top is gone and the overalls clasp over her bare tits.

Fuck me.

Me At the bar with the guys for a bit. Don’t shower yet.

Everly But I’m filthy.

Me And I’m sitting next to your brother with a hard-on.

Everly Too bad.

Me I’ll be back at my hotel in an hour.

Everly I can’t wait. I watched your interview from after the game and I am so turned on. I want to fuck you in the locker room someday.

Me Jesus Christ woman.

Everly You look so hot in your full pads. I want to rub myself along your big thigh while you captain me.

My face is hot and my cock strains against my jeans.

Me Five minutes. Keep your clothes on.

“Is that the girl you’re not seeing?” Ty asks.

“I don’t know what it is yet,” I say and because I desperately want to change the conversation. “How are things with you? Congrats by the way.”

He let us all know at the start of the trip that he and Piper are expecting again. I already knew from Everly, but I had to let on like I was just finding out. She’s so excited to be an aunt again.

“Thanks. It’s surreal, but we’re excited.”

“You should be.” My phone buzzes but I don’t dare look down though it’s killing me not to.

“Yeah. Things are good. A little worried about Everly.”

That has my full attention. “Why?”

“I think she’s dating someone.”

Tyler takes the panicked look on my face as the same brotherly frustration he’s feeling. “I know,” he says. “She’s dated before but this time it seems different and she won’t tell me anything. I even had Piper try to pry the information from her, but since she moved away she seems to be keeping us at arm’s length.”

“She probably just wants to keep you from freaking out and digging up information on the guy until she’s sure about him.”

“Or it’s some rich asshole that lives up there.”

“You know you’re a rich asshole now, right?

”

“You know what I mean. Some older guy that dates women half his age so he can parade them around like trophies.”

“Everly is too smart for that.”

“She plays it off like she’s strong and untouchable, but our mom was hard on her. She always feels like she needs to prove herself. Sometimes I worry if she needed my help, she wouldn’t ask for it.”

“She did though. Coming to you all those years ago.”

He nods. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”

He takes another drink of his beer. “I’m gonna figure out who it is she’s seeing.”

“How?” I ask, another thrum of panic working its way in.

“I don’t know. Maybe she’ll confide in Ash or Declan.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it. If it’s serious, she’ll let you know.”

I glance down at my phone again. She did not wait and the image of her tits gets me to my feet.

“I gotta take this.” I head to the bathroom, thankful when it’s empty. I stand with my back against the door to block anyone from coming in and call Everly.

“Hi.” Her voice is silky with enough rasp to tell me she’s as turned on as I am. I accept the video request, but it doesn’t prepare me for seeing her topless.

“Fuck, Everly.”

“Yes, please.”

“Soon, baby,” I promise. My dick screams to be inside her now. Or between those perfect tits.

“Where are you?”

“The bathroom. I had to escape your brother asking me about the woman he thinks I’m seeing.”

Her brows rise .

“He doesn’t know it’s you, but he’s also clued in that you might be seeing someone.”

“Am I?” she asks. “Is that what we’re doing?”

Her hand glides down the valley between her breasts and disappears lower beyond the screen.

“Currently, you’re driving me out of my fucking mind,” I say by way of reply. And when that answer doesn’t seem to appease her, I add, “You’re fucking mine, Everly. You can slap whatever label on it you want.”

“Yours?” Her brows inch higher combatively.

“Fine. Maybe you’re not mine yet, but I’m yours. Now angle that camera lower so I can watch you.”

Someone pushes on the door behind me, but I don’t budge.

“Are you going to touch yourself?” she asks.

“Not now, but later I’m going to jerk myself off while I imagine you riding my thigh.”

Her body flushes as she adjusts the camera. She’s still wearing the overalls, but her hand is buried between her legs so I can’t see.

“Show me how wet you are.”

Her fingers reappear, coated with her desire.

“Atta girl,” I say just like she fantasized.

“So hot,” she mutters and then slides her hand back down. I can’t see everything but she’s still the hottest thing I’ve ever seen. Face flushed, lips parted with a moan as my name tumbles out on a whimper.

“You’re doing such a good job,” I continue praising her, remembering what Tyler said about Everly’s need for approval. I doubt he had this scenario in mind when he handed me that information.

“Ride that hand like it’s me, baby. Don’t hold back on me.

”

“Jack.”

Fuck. I undo my jeans and shove my hand into my boxers.

This was definitely not in my plans. Jerking off in a bar bathroom feels like an all-time low but as I listen to her say my name in the throes of an orgasm and come all over my stomach and hand, I decide there’s not a whole lot I won’t do for this woman.