Page 26
Story: The Other Side of Wild
It’s Monday morning, and I’m sitting on the porch swing with a cold brew and a raunchy romance novel. I sent my boss an email asking if I could take this week as PTO and come back next week; she approved, stating I earned it, and she couldn’t wait to debrief when I got back. I also got an email that she officially gave me the recommendation. I should be stoked, but instead, I just find myself questioning my life decisions.
That was the main reason I came home in the first place; I wanted to get to the root of myself again. Who is Hannah Lowery outside of work? Who was Hannah before the world told her who she was? Was she fun? Did she dream of being a sports journalist with no social life? Because I’m pretty sure, like every young girl, I dreamed of finding the love of my life and having six kids and, of course, lots of dogs. Can’t have any of those things when I’m married to my job, though, can I?
“Fancy meeting you here.” My book goes flying as I yelp at Monroe’s deep voice. Turning to look over my shoulder, I come face to face with Reed, Monroe, Wilson, Andrews, and, Abby! She elbows her way through the formation the guys had created and crashes into me with such force the swing smacks the house.
I’m so surprised that I fall into a fit of giggles, mainly because if I don’t, I’ll cry. “Well, what a surprise!” I wipe the stray tears from under my eyes as I look at them.
“Abby called an emergency meeting. Something about you trying to leave us. She needed manpower.” I snort; of course, she did. We get up and walk towards the guys that are leaning against the wrap-around porch.
Reed doesn’t waste a full second after I ’m off the swing to wrap me up in a hug. “Uhh. What’s happening?”
“Shh, just accept my affection. Don’t fight it anymore. It’s always been you, Hannah.” These guys have taken me into their group of friends like I was always meant to be part of it. Like I’m worthy of being there. I was never a second thought to them; I simply got adopted by a group of rowdy men.
“Let go of me, you caveman.” My eyes meet Abby’s over his shoulder; they’re glistening. I give her a smile that I hope conveys how happy I am that she’s here. I’m thankful for her and her unwavering loyalty over the years.
I bring them upstairs to where I’ve been staying. This house has a mother-in-law suite on top of the regular house. It's got its own separate entrance and full kitchen. The floor plan is open, with two bedrooms and bathrooms. The sliding glass doors to the balcony that push completely to the side are the perfect addition to its openness. Being able to leave them open and let the crisp November air in is something you don’t get to do in Florida.
Leading my friends out to the balcony, there are a few “oohs” and “ahhs” as they look out at the tree line. I forget just how much foliage we lack in the Sunshine State. Well, in Tampa, at least. “Are you okay? We were worried about you.” Wilson turns to face me, his arms crossing his chest.
“Greyson’s your teammate; shouldn’t you be worried about him?” His huge body is now directly in front of me; he takes my hand, my eyes snagging on where we’re connected. It’s not the same warm and fuzzy feeling I get when Greyson grabs my hand. No, this is soft, a sweet, brotherly feeling. One I would love to have back in Tampa in the absence of my own brother. He wait s patiently for me to meet his eyes.
“There is no you vs. Greyson in this situation. You are part of the family just as much as he is.” I crumble, falling into his chest. My entire life, all I ever wanted was to feel like I had a place where I belonged. I wanted a family, people who chose to be around me because they care about me. Abby was the first piece of that puzzle; the past few years of her working with the Hawks have brought some of these guys into our fold here and there.
But this year, when I was with them multiple times a week for months, they became my friends. Abby was right when she said the team makes everyone feel like family. They treat the janitors with the same respect they treat their coaches. I figured they’d be more concerned with Grey; no one ever picks me. They don’t actively seek me out, until now.
I only pull away when my phone starts vibrating in my back pocket. I look down at the screen and see it's Amy. “You should answer that.” He points down at my phone. I nod and walk into the house.
“Hi, Amy.” The only sound I hear from her end is a sharp inhale. “Amy? Are you there?”
“I am. I’m sorry I just wasn’t expecting you to answer; I’m so glad you did.” The silence that follows is loud. She clears her throat and asks the one question I don’t want to answer. “Are you okay?”
How do you tell the mother of the man you were falling for that you’re so far from okay that you feel numb? How do you tell her that her son solidified the things my father has said to me over the years? How do I tell her I don’t know who I am anymore? And not just because of what was said, but because it opened up my eyes to all the things I've let slide, all the things I’ve allowed to shape me. And now that you’ve taken a step back, you don’t recognize yourself.
“I’m fine, Amy. I just need some time to get my thoughts in order.”
“I understand. He didn’t mean it. He’s not in a good head space at the moment, and I pushed him a bit too hard.” That does it. If there’s anything I’ve learned growing up in the mental circus I did, it’s that you don’t make excuses for anyone else.
––––––––
“He’s a strong guy, and he’s got such wonderful support. But please don’t make excuses for him, he’s responsible for his actions. Not you. The best thing you can do for him is love him through it. But you already know that.” A sad chuckle sounds over the line, and I have the strongest urge to hug her.
“I know. I worry about you, too. A mother's brain never turns off. And you became my daughter the moment you stood up to his snake of an ex.” I should be basking in warmth at that comment, but all it does is make me question myself even more.
We say our goodbyes with a promise that I’ll meet her for lunch sometime next week. When I get back to the balcony, there’s a man pile on my floor while Abby’s standing in the corner, coffee in hand and an evil smirk on her face.
“Why is it that every time there’s men around and I walk away, I come back with them wrestling on the floor?” Her face lights up, and then she laughs, a genuine, belly-shaking laugh; all the tension that’s been growing since I got here melts away.
I walk up to her and wrap my arms around her shoulders, “I don’t know how you got here or how long you plan to stay, but I was planning on coming back on Friday.”
She puts her coffee down and gives me the tightest hug I think I’ve ever been given. “Don’t scare me like that, you jerk. I can’t lose my sister. I figured you were going to stay here forever.”
“What happens when one of us gets married?” We look at each other before breaking out in a fit of giggles.
“We better find some brothers, or maybe we can just be old ladies with lots of dogs. Who needs a man when you have dogs?”
“PREACH IT SISTER!” Monroe shouts from the pile of limbs on the floor.
“Wait, who has Harley?”
A bashful look crosses her face, and I instantly know the answer. Oh gosh, guess I’m going to have to talk to him sooner than later.
“Okay, but really. Why are you guys wrestling?"
“We’re reenacting a fight that happened on the ice last night.” Someone calls out from the floor. Raising my coffee to my lips, I take a sip to hide my smile. A few minutes later, they untangle themselves and sit down on the ground, and if I didn’t know them so well, I’d be intimidated as heck. Their RBF gives mine a run for its money.
“Okay, so what’s this we hear about you disappearing?” Andrews levels me with a stare so intense that I have to look away.
“I may have jumped the gun a bit on that one, guys, sorry.” Abby tucks a strand of her long blonde hair behind her ear and looks at the floor.
“I’m not disappearing; I just needed to figure myself out. Something called me back here; I missed the solitude. It’s peaceful out here, you know?” It’s then that I’m struck with the most brilliant idea I’ve ever had.
“Let me take you to a honky tonk tonight!” They look at me like I have seven heads.
“What’s a honky tonk?”
I feel my face split as my smile grows; oh yes. This is going to be fun.
Table of Contents
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- Page 26 (Reading here)
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