Page 24

24

EVERLY

I shouldn’t have gone there. I shouldn’t have talked to him. I almost told him I love him and then he gave me that bullshit about having to take care of Heather and Owen and her being in love with him and... shit .

I’m stalking along the sidewalk in the dark to where I left my car when I arrived at Lacey and Théo’s place for the meeting. Except tears are blurring my vision and I don’t remember where I parked and I can’t see the street signs.

I swipe the back of my hand across my nose and let out a little sob.

Fuck. I turn and make my way back to Lacey’s place. I punch the doorbell and lean against the wall, crying.

Théo opens the door. Alarm widens his eyes and tightens his features. “What the... Everly. Get in here. What’s wrong?” He takes my arm and tugs me into the condo. “Are you okay?”

Oh yeah, nobody’s ever seen me cry. This is probably tripping him out.

“I need to talk to Lacey.” I sniffle pathetically. I have to get my shit together. “I’m sorry to interrupt.”

“Don’t apologize, it’s fine. Lacey!” he shouts over his shoulder in a panicked tone, then turns back to me. “Are you hurt?”

“No. I mean, yes. I’m... sad. Very, very sad.”

His lips twitch, but his eyes are kind. “I know.”

He thinks this is about Dad.

Lacey appears, concern etched on her face. She flies toward me, seeing my tears. “What? What’s happening?” She sets her hands on my shoulders.

I lean into her and she wraps her arms around me. “I’m sad.”

“I see that.” She hugs me, swaying back and forth for a moment. “Come in. Sit.”

Thankfully, Théo disappears. Although I guess it doesn’t matter anymore if everyone knows my sordid past. I’ve tried so hard to be what I’m supposed to be, to make Mom and Dad proud of me, but in the end, it doesn’t really matter. I can only be who I am. An anxious, neurotic perfectionist. And if that’s not good enough—for Wyatt, or for any of my family—too damn bad.

Lacey sits me on the couch, brings me tequila, and lets me talk. She already knows how I feel about Wyatt. I spill the story of what just happened. How I thought I was being brave and living my life on my own terms, telling the truth about my past and how it’s affected me, and being honest about my feelings.

I should have known better. I do something spontaneous and instinctive and what happens? I get kicked in the teeth.

“So you didn’t tell him you love him?” Lacey’s eyebrows elevate.

“Um. No. I guess I didn’t. He started going on about Heather.”

“Who’s Heather?”

“Oh hell. I didn’t tell you about Heather. And Owen. Oh my God, it’s the saddest story.” I start crying again.

Lacey hands me the box of Kleenex.

“I don’t know if I should tell you.” I pluck a tissue and wipe my eyes then blow my nose. “Nobody knows about Heather and Owen.”

Lacey cringes. “You said it wasn’t his son.”

“No, no.” I wave a hand. “Owen’s not his son. That’s true. Wyatt’s best friend, Hank, was Owen’s father. He died... in a snowboarding accident. He and Wyatt were snowboarding.”

“Oh no.” I can see Lacey’s mind leaping ahead.

“Yes. There was an avalanche. Wyatt tried to save his friend, but he c-couldn’t.” I draw in a steadying breath. “He was devastated, Lacey. Absolutely broken about it. It’s why he asked to be traded here, because Heather and Owen are here, and he can look after them.”

“Oh my God.”

I tell her the rest, about Heather’s feelings for Wyatt, and Wyatt’s guilt.

Lacey flops back into the couch cushions and stares at the ceiling. “Holy shark testicles.”

My mouth falls open, I gape at her, and then I too fall back into the cushions, laughing helplessly. “Jesus, Lacey!”

We roll our heads on the cushions to look at each other, then laugh more, although mine is taking on a hysterical edge. She reaches for my hand and clasps it. “This is a catastrofuck.”

I laugh again. “Yes.” Then I sober. “I’m also really worried about my dad.”

“I know.” She squeezes my hand. “And then this on top of that. No wonder you’re a mess.”

“I am a mess, aren’t I?” I sigh. “I’ve tried not to be. But inside I always have been. Cool as a cucumber on the outside; inside, a squirrel on meth.”

She chokes on a laugh. “Oh, Everly. You’re a beautiful, kind, generous mess.”

I sniff. “Thank you.” I pause. “What am I going to do?”

“I don’t know, honestly.” She sinks her teeth into her bottom lip. “Maybe we need to sleep on it? Want to stay here tonight?”

I nod.

“The guest room’s ready.”

This reminds me of New Year’s Eve when I was supposed to share that room with Taylor and ended up passed out in Wyatt’s bed. I squeeze my eyes shut against more burning tears and plod into the bedroom.

Lacey’s so sweet, bringing me water, a nightie to sleep in, clean towels. “I love you,” I whisper to her, hugging her again.

“Love you too. It’ll be okay. You’ll be okay.”

I nod.

Right now it doesn’t feel like it. But I will be okay.

The Condors play the Golden Eagles on Sunday here in Santa Monica. Mom is going to the game because Harrison has been called up from Pasadena, so I decide to attend also. To watch my brother.

Who am I kidding? I’ll be watching Wyatt.

I can’t stop thinking about him. I admire him so much for what he’s done to help his friend’s family. What he’s sacrificed for them. Leaving the team that drafted him, in the year they won the cup—the ultimate sacrifice for a hockey player. Moving across the country. Spending his time helping them. I ache for what he went through, now knowing the tragedy he survived. I can’t believe he would actually marry Heather out of guilt. I want to try to stop him from doing that. But who am I to tell him it’s a mistake?

My heart is crushed, bleeding and throbbing. I love him so much. I trusted him enough to tell him the truth about Gage, knowing Lacey was right. You can’t have real love and intimacy unless you’re honest. And then he was honest right back and broke my heart. I press a hand between my breasts, the ache there stealing my breath.

We’re up in Dad’s box. Théo’s here, of course, but JP is playing against us, with Mark coaching him. Matthew is just down the hall in the visiting GM box to cheer on his team, and on the other side of us, Asher’s in the press box. Damn near a family reunion.

It’s been a while since the Condors beat the Eagles, but this is a different team this year and they’re giving it their best shot. The score is tied at two after the second period, which should mean an entertaining third period.

Asher pops in during the intermission to say hi.

“Condors are playing great defense,” he says to Dad. “Totally responsible in their own end. Bell is really playing strong this year. I don’t think anyone else on the team has the same ability to keep track of multiple layers of offense like he does. Smart guy.”

My throat aches. Even while I feel proud to hear this about Wyatt, it emphasizes how much I miss him.

“And Harrison is really standing out,” Asher adds. “He’s playing fantastic tonight.”

At that moment, Matthew pokes his head in. “Hey, Wynn family. Are we having a reunion here?”

Dad turns and narrows his eyes at his oldest son. Before he can snarl anything, I impulsively say, “Yes, we are. Come in.” I gesture.

He strolls in, dressed in a suit and tie, of course, as are Dad and Théo. Asher’s more casually dressed in a button-down shirt and dress pants.

Mom’s eyes dart back and forth between Dad and Matthew. Asher looks at me and raises an eyebrow. I smile.

“I’m glad you’re here, Matthew,” I say. “We don’t often get this many of us together unless it’s a big holiday. I have something I want to say to you and Dad.”

Théo’s eyes bulge out behind his glasses.

“I know this wasn’t the plan,” I say to him and Asher. “I don’t really give a shit anymore. This feud is ridiculous.” I turn my focus to Dad and Matthew, who are both frowning. “We got a copy of the lawsuit. We know what happened. Dad, you need to pay back that money.”

Mom speaks up. “Everly. This isn’t the time.”

“When is the time, then?” I’m getting a little heated. I need to calm down. “Dad. We’re all worried about you. About your health.”

“I’m healthy as a horse,” he growls.

I scoot my chair closer to him to look him in the eye. “You’re forgetting things. You get confused. You know this is happening.”

His blue eyes gaze back at me. “That’s bullshit.”

“It’s not. You need to go to the doctor. Mom’s been trying to convince you and I’m telling you the rest of us agree. I’ll take you myself. I—” My voice breaks. “Dad. I love you. I’m worried about you.”

His face suddenly looks tired. He pats my knee. “Evvie. Don’t worry.”

I smile. “You should know me better than that, Dad. Worry’s what I do.”

“So true.” He sighs. “You’ve always worried about everything. You used to run to the door when I got home from a road trip because you were worried the plane had crashed.”

He remembers that. My bottom lip quivers.

“I’ll go to the doctor,” he says.

“And what about the money?”

His eyes go distant and he frowns.

“Everly. I told you I’m working on it,” Mom says in a gentle but firm voice.

I lift my head to fix a stare on her. “You didn’t really, Mom. You were all kinds of vague. This has to end and this family has to heal. Money is the most meaningless thing of all to fight over. Dad could be...” I stop, my throat closing up. Now I lift my gaze to Matthew, standing watching this, his forehead furrowed. “You don’t know how long we all have here. Is this how you want things to be?”

He flinches. His eyes slide to Dad. He swallows. “No.” He clears his throat. “Dad. We’ll talk.”

“You’ll talk to me as well,” Mom speaks up. She reaches for Dad’s hand and holds it. “We’re a team, and you have to accept that.”

Matthew’s eyes flicker. I glance at Asher and Théo, both watching openmouthed.

“The only thing tougher than a hockey player is his mom,” Asher murmurs.

“Dad,” Théo says to Matthew, “she’s right. You can trust her.”

Matthew shoots Théo a frown. “Whose side are you on?”

Théo stands to face his dad. “There are no sides. We’re all Wynns.”

Matthew’s jaw tightens. Then his expression eases. “You’re right.” He turns to Chelsea and nods, then walks out.

After a couple of beats of silence, Asher says, “Well, that escalated quickly.”

I choke on a laugh. I meet Mom’s eyes and hers are dancing with amusement too.

“What the hell, Ev?” Asher shakes his head.

“What is the plan you referred to, Everly?” Mom asks sweetly.

Oops. “It’s on a need-to-know basis.”

She inclines her head. “Fair,” she murmurs.

The third period is starting, so Asher hustles out.

I try to focus on the game. I just did something totally not like me.

And it was good.