Page 28

Wild

When I wake to the smell of Richard burning down my kitchen, that should have been my first clue it will not be a good day.

Still, I persevere. I hit the gym for thirty minutes and met with my virtual assistant. When I get to the kitchen, Richard is screaming and waving a napkin and making good progress burning the house down.

Jenny has her hand cupped around her chin, laughing at his attempts to make breakfast. Or be arrested for arson.

The good thing is Richard and Jenny are going strong. The bad thing is, couldn't he have cooked for her in his own house?

I stick my head in the fridge and take out a water bottle. As I chug, Jenny catches my eye and nods to Richard. My agent has his laptop open and is doing deep research to cook his girlfriend breakfast.

That reminds me. "I need to hit the library."

"Preparing for retirement already?"Richard asks without taking his eyes off the screen.

I grunt.

Richard switches off the cooker—thank God—to give me his full attention. "You're not studying for a degree."

I grunt again and head for the living room.

Richard, who's supposed to be busy with his girlfriend, follows me. I hit the sports center channel and wait. But my mind's not in it.

"Wild?"

I grunt again.

"What an enlightening conversation,"Richard mocks.

Unable to take it any longer, I switch off the TV and throw the remote on the couch. It lands on the floor instead. Nothing is working out for me. Nothing at all. Except for basketball. On Richard's and Lila's end, basketball is going so smoothly that it will be my most successful year.

Lila and her clipboard, pens, and roadmapdidn'texaggerate the level of success signing for the North Cats will be.

“ Do you think I'm a catch?"

Richard blinks like I asked him to explain some physics theorem. "A catch?"

Jenny walks from the kitchen to the living room. Before she sits, she picks up the errant remote control—I shoot Richard a 'treat her right'look. "You're tall.”She lists off her fingers. “Good-looking, generous, and kind. You're a catch—"

"Hey!"Richard calls. "I'm right here."

"And you have muscles,"she finishes.

Richard and his tiny arms wilt. He glares at me. I smile at Jenny. "Have I told you how much I like you?"

She giggles, and Richard looks ready to stage their breakup.

"A catch, and you're still single.”He scoffs.

My shoulders slump. "About that. I asked Evie out."

Richard cracks a yawn. Jenny claps and murmurs good for you.

She is really too good for him.

"It's been a week, and she hasn't given me an answer."Then I remember Jenny isn't part of the fake relationship pact, and I do a mental scramble to limit the damage. It's too late. I shoot Richard a 'help me'look.

He shrugs. "She already knows."

Jenny has the grace to look contrite. "I'm sorry."

Richard drags a hand through his hair. "Nothing is ever simple with you. Did you expect her to fall at your feet because you're a catch?"

"I was asking your opinion to evaluate my chances,"I say stiffly. "You don't have to act all bothered."

"Fine."Richard throws up his hands. "You're a catch, so she'll say yes. Is that what you want to hear?"

I remind him I'm not the one unable to give my girlfriend a healthy breakfast. "I'm just giving her the space she needs to decide."

"And that's why you've hit the gym three times in the past twelve hours?"

It's a fine line I'm walking. I don't want to push Evie, but I'm getting antsy waiting for her answer. Sure, it's a big decision, but it's not like I asked her to marry me for real. We have yet to decide on the number of dates.

Or if we will date at all.

She might choose one date to mess with me. Or reject me outright.

I groan out loud.

And Richard snickers, pulling his girlfriend off the couch to return to the kitchen. I get a sympathetic shoulder squeeze from Jenny as she walks by.

I should get ready to head for the library, but I stop to check my phone for Evie's last message. She sent it last night.

Evie: I will join your gardening class. Will be good to learn for when you're not here.

I asked for a date, and she's already planning for my absence from her life? Serves her right there's no actual gardening class and just heaps of gardening books to slug through.

Soon, Richard and Jenny leave, and it's just me and my thoughts and Evie's plans of moving on. I can't even picture a future without her. My mind plays tricks, drawing up a scenario where I meet Evie's future partner. With a bone-deep shudder, I haul myself off the couch to the gym. I'm overworking my body, but I need the physical exhaustion.

I've worked up a sweat and made no progress with my relationship with Evie in my head. I'm a teenage boy going wild after not hearing back from his crush.

Back on the couch, I have our last game slotted in, a book and pen balanced on my thigh when the doorbell rings.

Grateful for the distraction, I blink when I find Kristyn on my doorstep. She pushes past me into the house, and I stick my head out, searching and waiting for Charlie to appear. When he doesn't, it finally sinks into my slow brain. Kristyn's alone.

And if she's alone, she must have a good reason for this visit.

"You want breakfast?"

She nods.

I prepare the same bacon, eggs, and sausage that has Richard squinting like Asa when he ’ s working out an ‘ I might save the world ’ problem, with no small amount of smug efficiency. As I serve breakfast, I keep an eye on Kristyn.

She's quiet, and that has me worried.

I start a rambling commentary on nothing to take her mind off whatever is bothering her. Basketball would have been my first choice, but Kristyn isn't a fan.

When I place her food under her nose, I hold my breath, praying she eats. She does. She polishes every bite.

"There's more," I offer.

"You'll make someone a good husband someday,"she says, shaking her head at the offer of more food.

"Maybe you should put in a word for me to your friend.”I mutter.

Instantly, Kristyn comes twenty percent alive. "You asked her out? Or is it fake?"

For goodness’ sake. Through gritted teeth, I answer, "It's real. I want her. I've wanted her for some time. But she doesn't believe me."

Kristyn runs her hand through her hair, frowning. "Are you serious about this? You're sure it's not the fake relationship thing confusing you—"

"For goodness’ sake!"I burst out. My frustration leaves me in a gust of hot air blown out through my mouth. I don't want to add upsetting pregnant women to my list of imaginary crimes. "I'm sorry."

Kristyn's wide eyes follow my every movement in a 'you've shocked me'way. Idon'tknow if it's good or bad.

"I just think I'm too old to be confused about my feelings—"

"That's what you think, but we're talking about Evie, who was abandoned by her mother and father and not accepted by Mrs. Langford and her half-sister. She grew up dreaming of having the one thing she never had: a family. And just when she thought she had found the man she would have the family with—"

"Parker's an idiot—"

"Then how do you think she feels knowing she was wrong about Parker?"

Wary. Cautious.

"I'm on your side—"

"Thank you—"

"And I still fear I might be wrong about you!"

I grab her plate and walk it to the sink. I do the dishes. As my hands work, I go over everything—Evie, me, us.

"You're right,"I admit. "I should give her time."

"Of course I'm right." Kristyn rolls her eyes.

"Why are you here?"

She lowers her eyes. "Can't I visit a friend?"

I don't say a word. Just wait her out.

"You didn't have breakfast."

She's stalling, and I let her. "Have a lot on my mind."

"I bet.”She mocks. When I raise an expectant eyebrow, she grumbles. “We had a fight. A big one."

Straightening, I pull out my phone. "I'm going to rip him a new one. Doesn't he know better than to upset you?"

"What do you mean upset me?"

One look into Kristyn's fired up eyes, and I change tack. "He should learn to apologize when he's wrong."

She nods. "Like, how difficult can it be."

"But why come here? I'm used to Charlie running down here when he wants to hang out—not that I'm not happy to see you,"I add quickly.

"I don't want to worry Evie."

There's a sharp knock on the door, and I can already guess who it is. I don't move. Kristyn pouts, thinks about it for three seconds, and nods, giving me permission to get the door.

Opening it, I glare at my best friend. "You didn't think to bring chocolates?"

"Shut up and thank you." he grouses his words of gratitude. "Where's Kris?"

"In the kitchen."

He shoves past me with no care for my million-dollar body. "Thanks," he mutters so low I must have been mistaken.

I close the door, pack my body on the sofa, and turn on Sports Center.

If I texted Evie right now, would it kill the 'I'm patient' move?

I turn up the volume to give my friends some privacy. Their voices start out muffled but sharp but slowly grow soft. I smile, happy for them both, that they have each other.

Charlie especially.

It reminds me of my parents and the rare times they will argue over seemingly nothing. Then, their smiles and hugs when they make up.

I want it with Evie so badly I ache. But Kristyn is right, and Evie's right to be cautious.

Her hard outer shell protects her sweet inner layer, and she can't lay it bare for anyone.

I make a silent vow to treasure it if she counts me worthy.

Another knock on the door has me grumbling for real. The woman I can't get off my mind is on the other side of the door.

"Hey," she greets.

"How's my most beautiful girl?"I ask, searching her face.

She stiffens and withdraws into her shell. Yeah, Kristyn is right. Evie might be sunny, sweet, and cute, but her heart is a fortress.

"Wild,"she starts, "I told you—"

"Told me what?"I ask with faux innocence.

"I'm not ready." She sounds pained. And I'm filled with regret. Is it too late to go after everyone who hurt her?

"Oh, I didn't mean that."I shake my head in self-deprecation. "I meant Jackie, not you."

When Evie gets it, she loses all her defensiveness and laughs aloud. "She's perfectly fine with her legions of fans."

"Come in and have breakfast."

"Ididn't just come here for break—"The irresistible, delicious smell of fried bacon hits her. “ Fast.”

I let my lips curl. "You were saying?"

She flings her hair over her shoulder and looks down her nose at me like she's the one doing me a favor. "I will have breakfast."

Charlie and Kristyn return from wherever they disappeared to, and the two women team up. I'm abandoned, never mind that I'm the one making her breakfast.

Evie's phone starts ringing where she left it on the counter.

"Evie, phone!" I call.

As I walk past the counter, my eyes make an unintentional sneak. Fist on my chest, I swear it's unintentional. Sweet Mrs. Carla. That's what she saved my mom's name as.

Evie waves a hand in my face as she grabs her phone. "Is this a symptom of early onset mid-life crisis?"

"I told you I'm already—"

"White-haired and using a cane in basketball age."She turns away, putting her phone to her ear.

I don't hear what is being said, and I don't try to eavesdrop, but I hear Evie's laugh. And when she returns to the kitchen, her eyes are bright, and her lips still bear the ghost of a smile.

She wouldn't want to lose my family if we didn't work out.

The realization knocks me hard. Seeing us from Evie's point of view isn't pretty, but it's very enlightening. I can't promise we won't break up, and I can't promise nothing will change if we try and later break up.

I want to hug her.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

No hug, but a hearty, delicious breakfast should do. "Sit down."

Minutes later, Evie pats her stomach and moans out loud. Kristyn looks over from the living room and laughs. "Right?"

"Right,"Evie agrees, but she sounds regretful. "Thank you for breakfast,"she says. "I will find a way to—"

"About the gardening—"

"You won't even let me finish!"

"I hate it when you try to do something for me in payment for something I willingly do for you.”I snap. "Stop it, please."

She goes quiet. I hold her gaze and wait her out. Her trying to repay me is a habit that comes from living with people who don't love or want you. And that's not me.

“Okay." She breathes.

Over her shoulder, Kristyn gives me a thumbs up.

"Now, this gardening class."Evie leaves her seat to join me at the sink. "You know you don't have to go this far. You're busy."

"It's important to me,"I say, giving her the plate to dry.

"Why?"She works with me, drying the plates I wash.

It's simple domesticity, but I love it. Unfortunately, there are few dirty plates, and we're already done. "You know why. Want me to vocalize it?"

She must read the answer on my face because she immediately backs off. "No."It's funny when she flees behind the counter, but I let her be. “So, where's the class?"

"In the local library."

"Come again?"

"In the library.”

“ Where they keep books?”

I barely resist making a two degrees joke. “ We will do sweet, simple research and come back to do practicals."

"That's the gardening class you won't shut up about?"Her eyes narrow into hard slits.

I'm in danger. Richard should hurry up and protect his asset. "You know library and reading is a core part of our education—"

"Oh, please."

Her eyebrows furrow as she thinks hard for a way to slither out of the 'gardening class.'

"Give me ten for a quick shower, and we can go."

"Let me make you dinner or something instead,"she suggests.

"Now, what did I say about repaying me for something I will gladly do ten times over?"

Evie stomps her foot in irritation. "It's not the same thing!"

"How is it not?"I ask. "Did I tell you I needed help? You volunteered to join me at the library because you want to learn it for after we break up."

"Fine, fine. Let's go."

◆◆◆

I only thought a library to be a romantic spot once I was seated opposite Evie with piles of selected books between us. Gardening is the driest and most boring topic ever to exist. I can't even begin to wrap my head around someone waking up one day and deciding they will write a book about clearing out debris and seed viability. However, a whole section of the vast library is dedicated to the subject.

Anyway, back to a more interesting topic: The romance of Evie and Wild.

We work together through the books, taking notes and shifting books aside. The plan is to compare notes afterward. As the height of the books goes down, our eyes finally meet over them.

Evie slows.

I slow.

Her eyes jump back to her notes, and she starts scribbling furiously. I'm betting my year's paycheck she's jotting down gibberish. Every time our eyes meet--and it happens like a hundred times every second--it feels like she's stroking a finger along my flesh.

I give up on getting anything done and stretch my legs. "I'm done whenever you are," I whisper.

She doesn't look at me. "Me too."

I drink my fill of her beautiful face—her long lashes and the warm tones of her skin.

To some,she might not be conventionally attractive, but she's like the sun to me, too bright to look at.A beauty through and through.

Her eyes dart up, and she busts me staring. I smile slowly and sweetly. "It's no crime to stare."

She looks away. "Just..."

"Just what?"

She shakes her head.

"You believe I will change my mind about us?” I ask, the words exploding into the quiet. So much for taking it slow. "Why?"

Evie looks around as if hoping for a rescue. We're drawing stares, so I lean forward, urging her to do the same. "I just need to know why.” I whisper.

She shrugs. "People can get tired of a person and decide to leave."