“Did Declan make it?” I ask Everly, balancing the phone between my shoulder and ear as I pack my bag for the arena. Tonight is the second game of our three-game road trip. We’re heading home tomorrow, and I can finally sigh a breath of relief. Being away and making sure Everly is doing what she’s supposed to is even more stressful than being there.
“Yeah. He brought dinner and is trying to help me with my homework.”
“Trying?”
“We couldn’t figure out this stupid accounting assignment, but it’s fine. It isn’t due until next Monday.”
I lift my face away from the phone to the guys. Ash, Leo, Maverick, and Jack are watching TV in my and Mav’s room. “Can anyone help Ev with accounting?”
Without looking up from the screen, Leo calls, “I got this one.”
He stands and walks backward to the phone.
“We’ll be back tomorrow night, probably around eight. Make sure the house isn’t a wreck. We might be staying there but it isn’t ours.”
Ash says something from his spot on the couch, but I ignore him. No matter how welcoming he’s been, I don’t want to take advantage.
“I know. I know. I’m eighteen, not eight.” I’d bet anything that Everly’s rolling her eyes as she says it.
“Did Piper go home?”
“Yeah. She left when Declan got here.”
I want to ask more, but Leo is waiting so instead I say, “Here’s Leo.”
She sends a FaceTime request and I hand the phone over and watch as my teammate smiles at my sister. “What’s up, Little Sharpie?”
While they work on Ev’s homework, I finish packing and then take Leo’s seat in front of the TV.
Ash eyes me carefully. “You look stressed.”
“I’m never having kids,” I mutter and drop my head back.
They all laugh at me like they think I’m kidding. I’m not sure I am. How do people do this?
I stare ahead at the TV, not really watching, until Leo tosses my phone in my lap.
“Get it worked out?” I ask.
“Piece of cake.”
I let out a long breath. “Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“Any time.”
Jack laughs. “Are you kidding? Lohan lives for this shit.”
“Any chance to show off his big brain,” Ash adds.
Leo flips them both off. “Time to go, boys.”
I’m the last to get to my feet as I hover over Piper’s name on my phone. I don’t have time to come up with anything grand. It’s real possible she’s blocked me anyway.
Thank you for staying with Everly. I appreciate it, Pipes.
I hit send and wait a beat to see if I’ll get something back. While I am thankful, I’m glad for an excuse to reach out to her. Maybe this time she’ll even respond.
We touch down in Minnesota right on time. I never thought much about arrival times until Everly came to stay with me. Now I have to know when and where and schedule things way in advance.
But I made it work again—somehow. We picked up two points with our win against Arizona this afternoon, too. All in all, a great freaking trip and I can breathe easy.
“Are you boys ready to celebrate?” Jack asks as we get off the plane. He rests a hand on Leo’s shoulder and squeezes. “The man of the night.”
“I appreciate you letting us use your house,” Leo says.
Jack shakes his head. “Happy to. Mav? Sharpie? You guys coming?”
“I’m not sure yet,” I say. “I need to swing by the house and check on Everly.”
We disperse. Most of the guys are going to Jack’s for Leo and Scarlett’s engagement party, but I don’t feel great about leaving Everly alone again tonight when I’ve been gone for the last few days, even if it’s just a couple of houses down the street.
Declan calls as I’m driving home.
“Hey,” I answer. “Everything okay?”
His chuckle comes over the speakers. “Yeah. Didn’t mean to worry you, but I wanted you to be the first to know that the doctor cleared me to play in Tuesday’s game.”
“That’s great.” I fall quiet as I let the news sink in, and I realize why he’s telling me first. “You won’t be able to keep an eye on Everly anymore while I’m gone.”
“Yeah,” he says the word slowly. “I’m sorry.”
“No, no. It’s great news for you and for the team. Thank you for everything you’ve done.”
After saying our goodbyes, I hang up and finish the drive. Ash isn’t here yet and the house is dark.
“Ev?” I call as I walk through the downstairs. I head upstairs, but her door is closed, lights out. I shower and change, assuming she’ll come out to say hello by the time I’m done. She doesn’t.
I knock on her bedroom door, but there’s no answer. I open it an inch. “Ev?”
Her room is empty.
“That’s weird,” I say out loud to myself.
I call her as I head back downstairs to recheck the rooms. Panic starts to rise when she doesn’t answer, and I can’t find her anywhere in the house. I check every room, even Ash’s. I come up short when he fills the doorway.
“Hey.” He’s already changed and has a beer in one hand.
“Have you seen Everly?”
“She’s not here.” He takes a drink. “There’s a note on the fridge.”
I backtrack to the kitchen and tear off the top Post-it with her note. Out with River. Be back by midnight.
I call her phone, but there’s no answer. I send a text and wait. All while Ash leans against the counter, drinking his beer.
“You look like your head is going to explode.” Fucker smirks at me.
“I can’t stand that dude. I don’t trust him.”
“Ev can handle herself.” Ash hands me a beer. “You just got a night off, man. Enjoy it.”
“Declan’s back. He’s playing next week.”
“No shit?” Ash’s smile pulls higher, then falls. “Oh shit. Ev.”
“Yeah.”
He shrugs. “Maybe she doesn’t need someone checking in on her. She’s mostly stayed out of trouble, and she is eighteen.”
“It’s only been a couple of weeks since she destroyed school property, or have you already forgotten?” I shake my head. “She needs someone looking out for her. Someone she can trust and that will keep her in check.”
“Any ideas?”
“One,” I admit.
Ash bites back laughter. “Piper? She hates you.”
“But she doesn’t hate Everly.”
