Forever Wild (Wildcat Hockey Book 5)

EVERLY

I sleep like shit. It’s not the weird house, but the fact that Jack is sleeping across the hall. What a strange day yesterday was.

At a little after five, I give up and decide I might as well do something. After pulling on a pair of sweatpants I found in Jack’s room last night, I quietly open the door. His bedroom door is closed, so I tiptoe down the stairs. The TV is on and there’s a blanket and pillow like someone slept on the couch, but no one is in sight.

I come up short in the kitchen. The man in front of me looks more like Jack than I realized yesterday. With his eyes clear and coloring back in his face, it’s like looking at Jack in thirty years.

“Hi,” I say when he looks up from over his coffee mug. There’s no recollection in his expression, which tells me he probably doesn’t remember much of yesterday. “I’m Everly. A friend of Jack’s.”

“Well, this is a treat. I can’t remember the last time Jackson brought a girl home.” He slowly lowers the mug.

Jackson? That’s fun. I file that information away for later.

“We’re just friends,” I clarify. “My brother is one of his teammates.” And because I can’t seem to stop justifying why I’m here, I add, “Jack was letting me use the pool at his house yesterday and asked me to give him a ride.”

“Friendly, accommodating…are you sure you’re talking about my Jackson?” A tiny quirk of a smile lifts one side of his mouth.

I didn’t even realize how tense I was around him until a laugh bubbles up in my chest. Moving farther into the kitchen with him, I nod. “He has his moments.”

“That he does.” He lifts his mug again. “You want some coffee?”

“Yeah. That’d be great.”

He starts to stand, wobbling a bit as he does. I wave him off. “I can get it.”

I cross over to the coffee pot as he settles back in his chair.

“Mugs are in the cabinet to the right. Half and half is in the door of the fridge and sugar is on the table.”

Finding it, I pull down a Wildcat Hockey mug that looks well-loved with a chipped handle and a scratch over the logo. Once I have my drink, I take it to the table and sit across from him.

I’m staring, unabashedly. His expression is softer than his son’s, friendlier but also warmer.

“It’s a little unnerving how much you two look alike,” I say.

“Don’t let him hear you say that. He’s spent a lot of his life doing everything he can to not be like his old man.”

Before I can question him about that, though I have no idea what I’d even ask, he lobs one at me. “What do you do, Everly?”

“I just graduated college, so nothing yet.”

“Congratulations. That’s impressive.”

It kind of is. Weird how I hadn’t really thought about it until now. Maybe because everyone was so relieved that I even went to college, I forgot how big of a deal it is that I did it.

“Thank you. I have an internship at the end of the summer, but for now I’m house-sitting and annoying your son into letting me use his pool.”

His body shakes with laughter, but the noise is too quiet to hear. “Something tells me he doesn’t really mind that much.”

I am not so sure about that, but I just smile and drink my hot coffee.

I’ve nearly forgotten about all the events that led us here when Jack senior reaches for a bottle on the table I hadn’t noticed. He uncaps it and trickles some of the dark liquor into the mug.

When he notices me staring, he offers it to me. “Want some?”

I shake my head. “No thanks.”

We drink in silence. I have no clue what to say now and he seems to sense my hesitation. Jack’s dad is a drunk. It explains some things and confuses others. More than anything though, I feel a deep sense of empathy for both of them.

Nobody wants to drink hard liquor before sunrise and nobody wants to be the person responsible for them either. I wonder about Jack’s mom, but don’t ask. Maybe I can find out from Tyler or Ash. Though something tells me they won’t know any more than I do.

Out the window I can see the sun is starting to rise. Jack senior picks up the worn paperback on the table.

“Do you like to read?” he asks.

“I do.” Nodding, I tell him about my love of thrillers, and he surprises me by having read a few of my favorites.

“Ever read this one?” He turns his book around for me to see.

“No. I’m not big on books set in the legal world. It goes over my head.”

“Not this one,” he promises. He sets his copy of The Pelican Brief down in front of me. “Take it. I’ve read it a dozen times at least.”

“No, I couldn’t.” It looks well-loved by the faded cover and bent edges.

“I insist.”

“Thanks.” I run a hand over the cover, more touched by the gesture than some of the nice gifts I’ve received in my life.

“Time to go.” Jack’s voice startles me. The air in the room is sucked out by his broody presence. He looks even grumpier than he had last night.

“Morning,” I say cheerily, not moving.

“No need to hurry off. I could make some breakfast,” his dad says.

“Everly needs to get back for work and I have physical therapy.”

I doubt any of the guys would mind if I didn’t check on their house one day under these circumstances, but I get to my feet and take one last long sip of the coffee, hoping it will fuel me for the drive back with Mister Grumpy Pants, then pour the rest into the sink and drop the mug into the dishwasher.

“Thank you for coming,” Jack senior says. “It was good to see you, Son.”

I sneak a peek at Jack. He nods slightly, jaw still clenched.

“Thanks for the book. I’m going to send you one of my favorites when I get back.” I pick it up and smile at the older man. “It was nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure was all mine.” He tips his head.

I leave the kitchen to give them time to say goodbye. By the time I’ve grabbed all my things, Jack is waiting for me by the front door.

We walk out to his G-Wagon in silence. He’s limping less this morning so that’s good. Not that it seems to have helped his temperament any.

He plugs his phone in and pulls up directions without my asking and then stares out the window as I drive back.

I’m tired and about to ask if we can pull over for coffee when his phone rings over the speakers. I glance at the screen out of habit, then smile when I see James’ name.

Jack’s agent is a fun time. Basically the opposite of Jack in all ways, but I’ve seen him in business mode and he protects Jack like, well, it’s his job.

Jack sighs as he reaches over and hits the screen to accept the call.

“Hey,” he says by way of greeting.

“Oh good. You answered this time.”

I snort quietly and steal a glance at the man sitting in the passenger seat.

“I was dealing with my dad.”

“Oh.” James’ tone changes. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah. I’m headed home now. What’s up?”

“You aren’t driving, are you?”

“No.” Jack looks over at me. “Everly drove me.”

“Hi, James!” I chirp.

“Hey,” he replies brightly. “How are you?”

“I’m good.”

He slips back into business mode. “Jack, the director of the children’s hospital called again this morning. I cancelled everything else through June, but I wasn’t sure what you wanted to do about that one. They have you on the schedule but weren’t sure if they should expect you.”

“When is it?”

“Today. They’re expecting you in two hours.”

Jack is quiet like he’s mulling it over, and James adds, “If you want me to send over some signed jerseys and let them know you’re still on the mend and we’ll reschedule at a later date, just say the word.”

“Fuck,” he mutters so quietly that I doubt James hears him. Jack rubs two fingers back and forth across his forehead. His mouth opens, lips curling and jaw moving side to side before he answers. “Yeah. Tell her I’m sorry and –”

“He’ll be there,” I blurt out.

Both men go quiet, then Jack says, “One sec, James.”

He hits the mute button and lifts one brow.

“I’m sorry, but children in the hospital do not want a signed jersey. They want you.”

“I can’t even drive.”

“I’ll take you.”

“Ev.” His head tilts to the side and his expression is pained. I don’t know if it’s because he doesn’t want to go or if he doesn’t want me to go with him.

“Listen. I know that you are going through a lot right now, but friend to friend, I think getting out could be good for you.”

“We’re friends now?” He cocks a brow.

“Depends on the day,” I say teasing him.

He still doesn’t look convinced, so I say as nicely as possible, “Your house is a fortress of sadness. You can’t keep hiding away. And kids are fun and genuine, and they don’t care that you’re not in peak form.”

He smiles again, small at first, but it grows and the full weight of it aimed at me lights me up inside.

Jack hits the button on the screen. “I’ll be there.”

There’s a beat of silence then James says, “Great. I’ll let her know.”

“That’s all I’m committing to for the summer,” Jack says. “No other events.”

“Got it. If you’re only doing one, this is the one I would suggest too.”

Jack makes a noise that might be his agreement or maybe him already regretting letting me talk him into it.

I shift in my seat. If I got him into this, then the least I can do is make sure it’ll be as easy as possible for him. “Make sure they know that he’ll need to sit because of his knee and that he might need to cut the visit short if it’s too much too soon.” I watch Jack’s expression carefully as I speak.

“Yeah, of course,” James says. “Anything else?”

Jack stares back at me in a way that makes my stomach dip.

Smiling, I say, “I’d tell you to warn them of his attitude, but that isn’t a new quirk so I’m sure they’re aware.”

James’ laugh plays over the speakers and Jack rolls his eyes.

“That’s all,” Jack says. “Thanks, James.”

He hangs up and the SUV falls silent.

“Soo…” I say to break the ice. “Want some coffee first?”