Page 39 of Something Reckless

EASTON

M y day stretches out with meeting after meeting at the Sin Valley Saints practice facility. I sit in a session with my teammates, listening to the upcoming plans for pre-season training.

Then I spend several hours with the team doctors and specialists, so they can look me over and have me walk through dozens of stretches and mobility exercises.

When I’m finished there, the lead doctor joins Lincoln and me for a meeting in my coach’s office to discuss my progress. Coach is thrilled to see me, and the doctor doesn’t beat around the bush.

“Easton, whatever you’ve been doing back home is working. You’re making great progress. With everything I’m seeing, you’re right on track to play this upcoming season,” Doc tells me.

“That’s the best news I’ve heard all summer,” Coach says, clapping his palms together.

Arms folded across his chest, Lincoln nods approvingly from the seat beside me.

The three of them start talking specifics about my path back to the ice. How to roll it out in strategic phases, so I don’t risk re-injury. I nod the whole time, my eyes darting back and forth between the men as they speak. But deep down, I’m not sure how I feel about hearing this news.

I’ve been working toward this moment since the day I landed my ass in the hospital. My only goal was to heal up and get myself back out in the game, playing hockey with my team.

I’ve been obsessed with the sport since I was a kid. It’s all I know. All I love.

Until now.

Now, there’s Jagger. And there’s…Alba.

And I think I might be in love with her.Like, for real.

These feelings are insane, and completely unexpected. But Alba and me? We just get along so damn well.

With her, things haven’t even left PG territory.

Most of the time, we’re just doing boring, mundane shit like sharing a meal or watching Jagger watch Jeopardy reruns together on the couch.

Or sometimes, he even asks to watch my old hockey games, and we all sit and analyze the videos together. Those are my favorite nights.

All I know is, I’ve never had half as much fun with any of the wanna-be models or the jersey chasers. And that’s saying a lot. With Alba, it all just feels right .

Before returning to Fairy Bush, the chance to claim a championship ring before the end of my career was the fuel that was propelling me forward. But suddenly, I don’t know if I’m willing to let my new life go for the sake of chasing a puck around on the ice.

Lincoln gives my shoulder a rough shake. “This is the best possible news, Easton.”

Coach bobs his head in agreement. “We thought we might have to start the season without you. But you’re going to be right here on day one. You’re going to be back before you know it, son.”

“Yeah.” I find myself forcing a smile, trying to look happy about this news. “Yeah. That’s…great.”

Instead of heading back to Fairy Bush, I’m spending the night at the small apartment I own here in Sin Valley.

But when I finish up at the team facility, I’m not ready to go back to my place just yet.

The news I learned from team management today has messed with my head, and now, I’m feeling restless.

Since I’m in Sin Valley for the night, I decide to meet up with a few of my teammates for dinner at The Cathedral Pub. Other than some video calls and a few texts in our group chat, I haven’t really been keeping up with my guys this summer.

Ronan, Tipton and Parker are already at the restaurant when I arrive. Over burgers and beers, we all catch up and chat about how our summers are going. I listen to their stories about all the trips they’re taking and the parties they’re going to.

And I feel absolutely zero jealousy.

I wouldn’t trade the summer I’m having with Jagger and Alba for anything. Not even Cabo.

When the conversation turns toward me, we end up on the subject of Alba. I give them a rundown of what’s been happening and the guys all look at me like I’m crazy.

“I knew it!” Ronan slaps the tabletop in amusement, making the silverware clatter. “I knew you wouldn’t be able to keep your hands off her. You dirty dog.”

“It’s not like that,” I try to defend myself.

“Then, tell us what it’s like,” Tipton says with a smirk as he shoves way too many French fries into his mouth.

I give my head a shake. “Alba missed out on so much of life because she was taking care of my son. She didn’t get to date and have sex and do all the things people do in their twenties. So now, I’m helping her out.”

“Helping her out?” Parker echoes, clearly not convinced that I have pure intentions.

“I’m helping her discover her… womanhood ,” I explain. “It feels like the least I can do.”

Those words, uttered out loud, sound inherently slimy. Suddenly, I’m not convinced of my pure intentions either. Hell.

Tipton snorts and snickers under his breath. “You actually believe that? Or are you just full of shit?”

“Of course I believe that,” I insist. “Because it’s the truth.”

“So, you’re telling me that there isn’t even a little, tiny part of you that’s selfishly enjoying this arrangement?” Ronan questions. “I never realized you were a martyr.”

I open my mouth.

I close it.

Because I’d rather not lie.

The stone cold reality is, I’ve been enjoying every single moment with Alba. And when I’m not with her, I find myself looking forward to the next moment we’ll have together. The next touch. The next kiss. And everything that will eventually come after that.

“Dude, seriously? Stop being an idiot,” Parker advises me, flinging a French fry at my face.

I manage to duck in time. “How am I being an idiot?” I ask, even though I could probably write an entire essay on all the ways I’m being an idiot when it comes to my feelings for Alba.

Ronan rolls his eyes. “Bruh, you should be trying to win her over, not getting her ready to be some other man’s sex rag doll.” He scowls.

Fuck. They’re not letting me off the hook.

My friends continue to bust my balls. When I can’t take it anymore, I end up cussing them out, tossing down some cash, and storming out of the restaurant.It’s not my finest moment but I’m having a hard time accepting the truth about how I feel.

By the time I’m out on the sidewalk, Ronan’s already left me a preachy fucking voice message.

“Take it from a man who’s been in a similar situation and almost lost the woman of my dreams by being stupid.

I would still be curled up in a ball, crying in the shower with shampoo burning my eyes if I’d lost Nicky to another man in some practice-dating bullshit.

Quit the games and be real with your girl. Tell her how you really feel.”

I hate him. I absolutely hate him at the moment.

But only because I know he’s right.

Braving the bright lights and crowded sidewalks of the Sin Valley Strip, I head back in the direction of my little condo on foot. The whole time, I’m feeling sick to my stomach about the images the guys put in my head.There are so many things I want to do with Alba.

Dirty things. Sweaty things. All-night-long things.

It kills me to imagine her doing those same things with someone else somewhere down the line. But that’s exactly what will happen if I teach her all about pleasure and then just walk away from her.

With each second that passes, I grow more desperate to hear Alba’s voice. I need the assurance that, at least for now, she’s all mine.

The moment I make it back to my place, I sit on my stiff, cold mattress and call her on video. She answers with a smile, right in the middle of putting Jagger to bed.

“Dad!” My boy lights up at the sight of me.

“Hey, little man! Did you have a good day?”

“Yes, I did.” And he starts to tell me all about it.

Jagger and I chat for a few minutes, and when he starts yawning, I tell him good night.

I wait patiently on my end of the phone line as Alba gives him a kiss, turns out the light, and walks back to her own bedroom.

We’re both sitting in our own beds when she asks me about my day.

“The meetings with the team doctors and officials all went well,” I tell her. “They say I’ll be back in the game next season.”

“Oh, congratulations, Easton. You’ve worked so hard to get back.” She gives me a sweet smile, but I’m pretty sure her eyes betray her true feelings. I don’t think she wants me to go.Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking on my part. I’m not sure.

Either way, I’m eager to change the subject.

I stretch out on the bed, getting comfortable against my pillows. “So, Tiny Tiger. Are you finished working on your wishlist yet?”

Alba bites down on her lip. “I don’t know…”

I laugh. “Oh, that blush on your cheeks tells me you’ve been hard at work. What? Are you feeling too shy to tell me about it?”

“Maybe…” A ghost of a smile touches her lips.

I miss those lips. I miss the way they taste, the way they feel on mine. I wish I were kissing them right now.

“Well, that wishlist better be ready by the time I get back to town,” I tell her sternly .

She chuckles, laying back against her own pillows. “Ooh! Bossy, Mr. Tower.”

“You know you like it,” I tease her.

Her lips tilt upward in a smile. “I like it.”

We’re silent for a while, and we both lie there, just smiling at each other.

“In all seriousness, I miss you,” I hear myself confessing.

“I miss you, too.” Her voice stutters. “I mean, we—Jagger and me—we, um, we miss you.”

From the guilty shadow that covers her eyes, I know I’m not alone in this. She’s falling right along with me. She can’t help it any more than I can.

We’re in so much trouble.

But it makes me feel a little better, knowing she’s as confused as I am.

“Good night, Alba.” I whisper her name softly, letting it linger on my lips.

“Good night, Easton.”

Then I end the call with a smile on my face.