Forever Wild (Wildcat Hockey Book 5)

EVERLY

Saturday afternoon I have lunch with Bridget and Grace in the hospital cafeteria. I got back into town last night and convinced Jack to let me keep his dad company while he went to practice. They have a game tonight and I know he’s struggling to be here and focus on the team.

He’s only left the hospital to shower and change clothes, but I think seeing his teammates and getting a little normalcy back will be good for him. His dad is getting released from the hospital in the next few days, if things still look good. I don’t know how he’s managed it on his own.

“When do you have to go back to Briar Lake?” Grace asks.

“Tomorrow night.” My stomach dips and bottoms out at the thought of leaving again. With everything going on it’s made me realize even more that my life is here. There is nothing pulling me back there except the job, and even that feels irrelevant.

“It’s a really nice thing you’re doing for him, looking after his dad so he can have a break,” Bridget says. “You’re the only one he would trust. Several of the guys and their wives have offered, and he hasn’t let anyone else help.”

“Yeah…” I trail off. “I guess so. I’m not really doing much. I sit with his dad while he’s awake. We’re reading this new romantic thriller together.” That makes me smile. He likes to give me shit for my books, but then when I ask if he wants to read something else, he tells me to keep going.

“I have to get back.” Grace checks the time on her phone. “Lunch again tomorrow before you leave?”

“You guys don’t have to keep doing this.”

“Are you kidding?” Grace stands with her tray, and Bridget and I do the same. “I’m sorry for the circumstances that have brought you back here, but I want to take full advantage of seeing you as much as possible while I can.”

“Same,” Bridget says.

On the way back to the room, I am feeling grateful and a little lighter. I adore my friends. I don’t know what I’d do without them. As I turn the hall to Jack’s dad’s room, I spot James standing outside on his phone.

I approach him slowly. He smiles at me as he continues to talk to someone.

“Yes, I know she can be difficult but that’s the job,” he says in a gruff tone. He’s quiet while I assume the other person on the line responds.

He has an almost bored look as he listens.

When he finally speaks again, there’s no hint of annoyance, just calm resolve. “I understand. Leave your keys, phone, and laptop, and I’ll forward your last check.”

Yikes.

He hangs up without a goodbye, although honestly, who would want one after that?

“Another one bites the dust,” he says as he pockets his phone. “You wouldn’t believe how many people think they want to be a sports agent until they realize it’s less about glamour and glitz and more about discretion and mundane tasks.”

“Like email?”

“Ah, you sweet child. If you knew the things I’ve been asked to do…” He looks out to the distance dramatically and then grins. “How are you?”

“Good. You?” I glance down at the food bag on the floor beside him. “What’s that?”

“Ah yes, another instance of the many exciting tasks in my day.” He reaches down and picks up the bag and then holds it out for me. “Jack sent lunch.”

I take it and look inside, heart squeezing when I see it’s from my favorite Chinese restaurant. I already ate in the cafeteria but this will heat up nicely.

“Thank you.”

He nods his head. “Any update on his dad?”

“No. Still the same, but they say it’s a good sign that his speech recovered so quickly.”

“Good. Glad to hear.” He shifts almost uncomfortably, like he’s run out of his scheduled tasks and doesn’t know what to do next.

“You don’t have an assistant that could have brought this?” I lift the bag.

He grins knowingly. “I wanted to check in on him and you. Jack doesn’t give much of an update.”

“I’m shocked.” I laugh softly. “Do you want to come in and see him?”

He hesitates then shakes his head. “Another time. I need to deal with the loss of another agent and find a replacement before my client realizes what’s happened.”

“You’re going to find someone new that quickly?”

“If I don’t, then I’ll have to take them on, and my husband is already pissed that I have as many clients as I do.”

“Good luck.”

He smiles and his phone starts ringing. He takes it out and stares at the screen, grimaces, and then says, “Good to see you, Everly.”

“Yeah, you too.”

I watch as he heads down the hall. Phone to his ear, he barks out, “What now?”

Jack stops by to check on his dad after practice but the nurses have him up and walking and shoo Jack away when he offers to help.

“Come on,” he says, taking my hand. “I want to take you somewhere.”

My heart skips as we hurry out to his car. He stops next to the passenger door like he’s going to open it for me, but instead backs me up against it and kisses me.

“Fuck, I missed you,” he says against my mouth. His hands rest on either side of my neck and I breathe him in.

I missed him too. It’s weird being back in town but not really seeing him.

He opens the door for me, and I slide into the seat and buckle up as he jogs around the back.

“Where are we going?” I ask as he gets in and starts the engine.

His gaze drops to my mouth and then refocuses on the mirrors as he backs out. “Somewhere I can kiss you a lot more.”

We end up at a bowling alley, which given his only hint, surprises me.

“Are we going to make out or bowl?”

He swings our hands between us as he leads me to the front desk. “Little of both.”

After we’re donned in ugly shoes and have picked out our balls, we slide into chairs at our lane.

I can’t stop smiling and I’m not even sure why.

Jack puts our names into the machine and then rubs his hands together.

A small laugh escapes from my lips.

He kisses me before asking, “Whatcha laughing about?”

“I’m just surprised. This is the last place I would have expected you to bring me.”

“Not a lot of options for a late afternoon date.”

“We’re on a date?”

“If you have to ask, then I don’t think I’m pulling this off very well.”

“What exactly are you trying to pull off?” I lift one brow.

“I just wanted to spend time with you, away from the hospital and everything else going on, and thank you for today. It felt good to be back on the ice.”

“You don’t need to thank me. I was happy to do it.” I scoot closer and drape my legs over his so I’m all but sitting in his lap.

He pulls me the rest of the way and my arms wrap around his neck as he kisses me again.

My body hums with a contented sort of feeling when he pulls back. Content but turned the hell on.

“I thought you were taking me back to your house to have sex.”

He chuckles. “Did consider it, but I figured you could use some fun. Maybe that was dumb though.”

His dick is hard underneath me and I can’t resist squirming just a little so I’m grinding over him.

“Should we test out the bathroom?”

“Temptress.” He nips my bottom lip and then lifts me off his lap to the chair and stands.

Jack and I head back to the hospital after our date. His dad is up and sitting in his room so I head to Jack’s house to give them some privacy. I shower and make dinner before I head back. The Wildcats are playing at home tonight, so I don my Jack Wyld jersey and then stop for coffee.

Jack’s dad is already tuned to the TV when I walk in. A glance at the screen shows the announcers talking about the game as the players warm up behind them.

“I got this for you,” I say as I set the iced coffee on his tray table.

“Is it spiked with something stronger than caffeine?”

“No.” I give him a pointed look. “And it’s decaf.”

He frowns but lifts the cup to his mouth anyway. I settle into a chair next to his bed and we watch the TV silently for a while until I can’t hold in the thoughts stewing.

“You know if you leave here and slip back into your old habits, you’re going to lose him. Not physically, he’ll always stand by you. No matter what. But it’ll drive a wedge between you so far that you’ll never have the relationship that you both want.”

Clearly surprised, he takes a second as if letting my words sink in, then says, “He doesn’t want that.”

“How can you say that?” Anger and frustration make me feel hot all over.

His jaw is tight as he stares straight ahead at the TV. The announcers are saying a few last words about the game as the starting lines take the ice. The camera pans and I get a glimpse of Jack, looking out at the crowd as he prepares for the puck drop. The same way he does before every game. I’ve never asked him about it, but I think it’s because deep down I already knew he was looking for someone. It just didn’t occur to me until recently who he was looking for.

“Do you know that before every home game he does that?” I ask. “He skates out and when he gets to center ice, he looks up at the seats he leaves for you at will call to check if you’re there. Every game.”

I can’t tell if he believes me or if anything I’m saying is getting through to him. With my own parents I gave up on trying to get through to them, but for some reason I feel compelled to make Jack’s dad see how much his actions are hurting his son. And him.

“Your son is the best guy I know,” I say. “He puts everyone else’s needs before his own and shoulders the responsibility for every bad thing that happens to the people he loves. He has everything he could ever want, but he still needs you whether he’ll ever tell you that or not.”

“I try my best not to be a burden to him. He should have stopped coming around years ago, but he’s stubborn.”

“He loves you. He’s never going to give up. So why are you?”

“Jackson has the chance to do the things I never could. I’m just an old man. Too much time has passed to turn it around.” He lets his head fall back on his pillow. I feel the weight of his pain.

“It’s not too late. Wouldn’t you rather spend the next forty years differently than the past twenty?”

He doesn’t answer, but his expression softens.

“You think I got forty years left?” He huffs.

“I think you Wyld men are stubborn. Use a little of that for something good.”

The following Friday morning I’m dragging when I get to the office. I stayed up too late last night talking to Jack. His dad had a minor setback mid-week, and the hospital decided to keep him for a few more days. It’s been hard to be here where I can’t do anything, but he did travel with the team last night for an away game. His old coach, John, came and sat with his dad while he was gone.

I’ve barely set my purse and laptop on my desk when Heather calls for me from her office doorway.

I take a long drink of coffee and then head in with a smile.

“Morning,” I say as cheerily as I can.

“How was your night?” she asks as she shuts the door and then rounds her desk to sit in her chair, motioning for me to take the one in front of her.

“It was good. Yours?”

“Good.”

I smile nervously as our polite chitchat comes to an end.

Heather rests both hands on top of her desk as she stares at me. “I wanted to see you this morning before the rest of the office trickles in. I made a decision on the full-time position.”

“Oh,” I say when understanding dawns. “You’re going to offer it to Lisa.”

I hate to admit it, but I’m more disappointed than I thought I’d be.

“No, you misunderstand,” Heather says, lips curving. “I’m offering it to you. Full time, benefits, starting as soon as the internship is over. Hank in Human Resources will be sending you the official offer this morning to look over.”

“Oh wow. Really?” My emotions are on a tilt-a-whirl. The disappointment I felt moments ago turns to excitement. But it settles quickly.

“Really. I think you will be a great addition to the team. You’ve already shown you’re more than capable and with more experience, I think you could be helping me design properties all over Briar Lake.”

“Thank you. I don’t know what to say.” My brows pull together as I let this news sink in. It’s flattering and I can’t deny it’s tempting. It’s all I know. I’ve never really let myself dream of anything else.

By lunch time, Lisa has received the news as well. She stops by my desk and hugs me tightly. “Congratulations.”

“I’m sorry,” I say to her.

“No. Don’t be. Heather said she’d write me a recommendation. I’ll find something.” She sighs as she looks around the office. “I’m going to miss this place though.”

“Yeah,” I say, but I’m not sure I would. “I’ll miss working with you.”

That much is true. Lisa and I only casually knew each other before this, but it’s been fun getting to know her more.

“If you’re staying in town tonight, drinks are on me to celebrate.” She smiles at me.

“The Wildcats have a home game.”

“Ah.” Her eyes light up. “Going to watch your man play sports puck?” Unlike me, she’s not much of a sports fan. I can’t fathom that.

“I wouldn’t miss it.”