“You didn’t even get her number?” Jack pulls into my driveway and kills the engine.
“I was working on it. We were gonna get coffee, where I’d convince her she should go out with me. But then the doctors sent me for a second X-ray this morning to double-check my shoulder and that took forever. When I got back, she’d already left.”
“Damn. That sucks.”
I nod in agreement. “But at least I know her name now and where to find her.”
My body aches as I climb out of his car. As the pain in my shoulder and head has lessened, the rest of the bumps and bruises from the game are starting to hurt. I can’t wait to get to the rink and have the trainers work their magic before we leave for Nashville.
No sooner than I’ve thought it, I realize that’s not going to happen. I’m not going to Nashville or any of the other upcoming road games.
Jack follows me into the house. It’s been less than twenty-four hours since I left to go to the rink before the game, but damn, it’s good to be home. I’m a homebody. Don’t get me wrong, I love to hang with friends and throw parties, but I prefer doing those things here.
Since my teammate Tyler and his wife Piper moved out, it’s been too quiet around here. It might be time to throw a party. Just as soon as I get out of this sling.
In the kitchen, I toss my stuff on the counter, then notice the takeout bag from my favorite breakfast spot.
My stomach grumbles. “You know the way to my heart, man. I won’t even question why you were already in my house this morning.”
“I just made sure you had a few things on hand.”
At his words, I walk over and open the fridge. I scan the many containers of food stacked up on the shelves and look back at him. “A few things? This looks like meals for a month. You didn’t need to do all this.”
“It’s nothing.”
It’s not nothing. The fridge is packed with pre-cooked meals that I’d bet his chef cooked last night or this morning. That guy needs a raise for putting up with Jack.
I shut the fridge and lean a hip against the counter. “I’m not helpless, you know. I’ve still got one good arm.”
“I know. Just trying to help how I can. The team leaves this afternoon and we’ll be gone until Friday. I’ll feel better knowing you aren’t sitting around eating Ramen and DoorDashing burgers.”
A burger sounds fucking fantastic right now.
“Well, thanks.” The reality of my situation is starting to really settle in, and it sucks.
Not long after, Declan stops by and then Leo. The four of us all live in the same neighborhood. Leo is across the street, Declan just next to him, and Jack is at the end of the cul-de-sac. One big, slightly dysfunctional, but hella fun family.
We settle in the living room. Leo is telling us about how Callum projectile vomited on Scarlett’s dad (also our coach) last night after the game and Coach had to go into the media room smelling like baby puke.
Sitting around, shooting the shit does wonders to help me forget about my injury, but when they all start checking the time and making excuses, I realize they need to head to the team jet.
“Scarlett wanted me to invite you over for dinner tonight,” Leo says.
“Sounds good.”
Declan tips his head. “Take it easy. I’m counting down the minutes until you’re back.”
“Me and you both.” I walk them to the door.
Jack hangs back. He pulls his sunglasses down over his eyes. “I’m having a party next Saturday after the long road trip.”
“What’s the occasion?”
Jack throws a lot of parties, but there’s always a reason. If this is on my behalf, some pity party to make me feel better about sitting out for four weeks, I want to know beforehand.
“I met someone last night and her birthday is coming up.”
Well, that’s unexpected. My brows rise. “You met someone last night and you’re throwing her a birthday party?”
“That’s what I said.”
Jack does not bend over backward for chicks. Certainly not one he just met. “Who is she?”
“Meredith.” He hesitates, working his jaw back and forth. “She’s a sports reporter.”
I bark a laugh. “A reporter?!”
“For the Twins. She doesn’t cover hockey,” he quickly adds.
I fight another laugh. “I have so many things I want to say right now, but I don’t want you to take back all the food you brought over. You hate reporters.”
“She’s cool.”
“And super hot?”
His lips curl into a smile. “Yeah, that too.”
“Wow. You don’t mess around. You left the hospital late, somehow met a chick and got to know her well enough to throw her a party?”
“Ha ha. It’s not a big deal. I asked her to go out next weekend and then when she said it was her birthday, I asked what she wanted to do. She said to keep it simple.”
“And you thought throwing a party with all your teammates was keeping it simple?”
“She’s new to town and doesn’t know that many people. I repeat, not a big deal.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. The great Jack Wyld may have finally met his match.”
“Let’s not get carried away. Saturday night, eight o’clock, bring a date if you can find one.”
“Maybe I’ll ask Bridget.”
“Yeah, text her…oh, wait. You can’t because you somehow didn’t get her number.”
I give the finger to his back as he jogs toward his car.
“Thanks for everything, asshole,” I call out.
He opens the car door with a smirk on his face. “See you in a week. Try to shower before then, my car stinks like sweat and hospital food.”
I shake my head as I go back inside. God, he’s a pain in the ass.
The days go by in a crawl while the team is on the road. They played in Nashville, then New York, and tonight they’re in Toronto.
I’m just sitting down in front of the TV for the opening face-off when there’s a knock at the door, followed by Everly’s voice. “Ash? Are you home?”
“In the living room,” I call.
A few second later, three women walk in and give me the same pitying, hopeful look.
“We brought snacks,” Scarlett says. She’s holding a platter of cookies in one hand and Callum in the other.
“And wine.” Jade, Declan’s wife, holds up two bottles—a red and a white.
Ev plops down beside me. “We’re here to make sure you aren’t moping around.”
“There’s food in the kitchen,” I say and motion with one hand for Scarlett to give me Callum. “I ordered those little pretzel bite things you like, Jade.”
“With cheese?” Her eyes light up and she hugs the wine bottles to her chest.
“Of course.”
She takes off to the kitchen.
“Did Leo tell you we were coming?” Scarlett carefully places her sleeping baby on my right side. He squirms a bit, but then goes limp against my chest.
“Nah, but it’s been almost twenty-four hours since any of you stopped by, so I figured there was a good chance you were going to do a group attack to watch the game.”
“You do have the best TV.” Scarlett takes a seat in a chair next to the couch and gives the giant screen her attention. “They have to win tonight.”
“They will.” Jade returns with three glasses of wine. She gives one to Scarlett, puts mine on the coffee table in front of me, and takes a seat with hers.
“Where’s mine?” Ev asks.
I make a sound like a buzzer. “I’m gonna need to see some identification first, young lady. You don’t look twenty-one.”
“I’ll be twenty in a month.”
“Then in thirteen more months, you can drink my booze,” Jade says with a playful wink.
The game starts and the four of us watch, screaming when the other team gets a power play goal and cheering when Leo scores. At the first intermission, Jade and Scarlett disappear into the kitchen.
“You look pretty good with a baby,” Ev says, leaning forward and taking a sip of my wine before I can stop her. “Eww. That’s gross.”
I swipe the glass and drain the rest of it. Wine isn’t really my go-to, but it’s not bad.
“It’s a little sweet,” I admit, slowly leaning forward to set it back on the coffee table without waking Callum. “How’ve you been?”
“Okay. School is harder this year. I need a tutor in just about every subject.”
“It’s that bad?”
“Nearly. I had to stop going out on weekdays to stay home and study. Bleh.”
I chuckle softly. “You poor thing.”
She sticks her tongue out at me. “But Grace and I are loving the new place. You need to come by and see it. It’s so cute. I’m pretty sure Ty is renting it to us at a steal, but I love it too much to protest too loudly. When he and Piper have kids, I’m gonna owe them so much free babysitting.”
Her brother bought a house near campus for Everly to live in while she’s going to college.
“He’s happy to do it, and real estate near Whittaker is smart.”
“I guess so. It’s a three-bedroom, so Grace is going to ask her cousin if she wants to move in. Or we’re going to turn it into one giant closet.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Little Callum, who’s slept through everything else, protests swiftly and loudly.
“Uh-oh.” Everly reaches over and takes him from me. She holds him away from her body like she’s scared of him while I dig my phone out. I scowl at the message.
“I’m guessing by your expression that it isn’t from the nurse.”
“How do you know about Bridget?”
“Oh, please. You’re the hottest gossip around right now. Now that you and Jack are the only ones still single, Ty and the others just sit around talking about their women and any fresh gossip about your dating life.”
Yeah, that sounds about right.
“I heard she turned you down. Several times.” She’s still holding Callum all awkward, so I slide my phone back into my pocket and motion for her to hand him back.
“She only turned me down once. We were going to have coffee but then it didn’t work out.”
“Okay. So text her and ask her to go out tonight. What else are you doing?”
“Thanks for the reminder I’m out of commission,” I grumble. “I didn’t get her number.”
Everly’s eyes widen. “Oh, crap. So she really is playing hard to get. I like her already.”
“There was something there. Her ex was a dick, so she’s hesitant, but I’m patient.”
“Of course, you are. You have random girls texting you to fill the void.” She pointedly glares at my pocket where I slid my phone.
“It was just Talia and I’m not interested in seeing her again.”
“Good. She was kind of a bitch when you weren’t around.”
Which is exactly why I ended things. My team is family. I could never be with someone that didn’t get along with them.
“Are you going to Jack’s party for Meredith?”
“Yeah,” I say. “I was hoping to bring Bridget, but that’s not looking like it’s going to happen.”
“I was summoned to stop by but not touch the alcohol.” She gives another eye roll.
“Jack invited you?” Those two are at each other’s throats more often than not. Mostly because Jack is an asshole. He’s a great captain and friend, the best actually. But when Everly came to live with Tyler, we all took on some of the responsibility of looking out for her. Jack’s way of doing that was just a little more abrasive than the rest of us.
“Yeah, but probably just because he wants Grace to come and talk baseball or whatever.”
“Ah.” I nod. Grace’s dad was a pitcher for the Twins before he retired.
“I’m thinking of filling an empty bottle of vodka with water and bringing it with me just to watch his head explode.”
Knowing Jack, that’s probably the exact reaction he’d have to an underage girl getting bombed at his party.
“Let’s not poke the bear.”
The girls stay for the entire game but leave as soon as it’s over. Another loss to a team that should have been an easy win.
My house is too quiet as soon as they’re gone. I should go to bed, but I’m not really tired. It feels like all I’ve done this week is sleep and rest. Tomorrow I finally start physical therapy. I’m anxious to get to work. The sooner I can get back my full range of motion, the sooner I can get back on the ice and help my team.
