In Your Wildest Dreams (Wildcat Hockey, #4)(39)

“What if it’d been Everly?”

“Everly is different,” he says, eyes narrowing. “She’s a teammate’s sister. If anyone in the organization did that to a player’s family, they’d be tossed out.”

He isn’t wrong, but it shouldn’t be okay that he talks to anyone like that. Especially Bridget.

I stay for one more drink. My mom planned a big breakfast out tomorrow before everyone heads back home and I don’t want to show up hungover.

“Thanks,” I tell Jack as he walks me to the front door.

“Any time. You know that.”

“I do.” I walk backward down the sidewalk toward my truck. “Just out of curiosity, if I’d said I wasn’t going to stay away from her, then what?”

He doesn’t miss a beat. “Then you better make sure as fuck that you come back Monday night and prove to everyone how much we need you. Guys have been traded for a lot less than sleeping with a GM’s girlfriend.”

“Ex-girlfriend,” I bite out, but I get his point.

When I get home, I pull out my phone. I fire off a text to Everly, letting her know it was good to see her and making sure they got home okay.

Her response is exactly what I should have expected: Home safe and sound! It was good to see you too. X

“I know. I know,” I mutter under my breath. “You’re not going to share any info on your roommate.”

Which is why I'm shocked when another text comes in a few seconds later.

Everly



Sharing Bridget’s number with you. She knows I’m giving it to you, but don’t make me regret it. She seems pretty shook up. Is her douche ex really the new assistant GM?





I save Bridget’s contact information, thank Everly, then sit there, thumb tapping against the side of my phone as I think about what I want to say. Sorry your ex-boyfriend is a giant asshole? Sorry I gave you my jersey, you put it on and then your ex walked up at the least convenient time. No, fuck that. I’m not sorry about that at all. That image is going to stay with me for a very long time. I never thought I’d be one of those guys so turned on by seeing a girl wear my name and number on her back. But here we are. Hard and pissed and ready to burn down the world.

Me



Hey. It’s Ash. I’m sorry tonight ended the way it did. It was really good to see you.





I wait, even though I don’t expect her to reply. I can’t get the way she looked so anxious when Gabe walked up out of my head. I’ve had enough awkward encounters with ex-girlfriends to know that some of that is expected. But he was just awful, and she didn’t seem that surprised. She didn’t flinch or yell or do any of the things I’d have expected from someone who is used to being treated with love and respect.

Fucking Gabe. I knew that first night when he was yelling at her outside of Wild’s that he was a piece of shit. No, you know what? I knew before that. The very first time I laid eyes on Bridget and saw him sitting next to her not giving her a bit of attention.

Relationships aren’t always rainbows and sunshine, I know that. But there’s a difference in sitting quietly beside someone and not talking and existing in the same space.

Nurse Bridget



It was good to see you too. Good luck with the rest of the season.





Me



Guess you won’t be coming to any more games, huh?





Nurse Bridget



Probably not. Everly will keep me updated though.





Me



Bummer, but I get it. You’re okay though? Gabe was kind of intense.





Nurse Bridget



Yeah, I’m fine.





I’m not sure I believe her, but what am I going to do? Demand she lay her wounds out for me? We barely know each other. It should be said, I want her to. I really do. I’d hold them with the care they deserve. But that’s not the kind of shit you say to a girl you’re most definitely not pursuing.

She starts typing again. Those three little dots go on so long I think it’s a mistake until her next message pops up.

Nurse Bridget



If I’ve made things complicated for you with Gabe, I’m so sorry. I had no idea he was interviewing with the Wildcats. We didn’t end things on the best of terms, but you shouldn’t be punished for that. I sent him a text tonight and told him there was nothing going on between us.





Nothing going on between us. I read the words a dozen times, hating them a little more each time.

I did wonder if she’d known that Gabe was up for the job. Not that it’d matter now. What’s done is done. And I don’t regret any of it. Well, maybe one thing. I wish I’d punched the guy like I wanted to outside of Wild’s. I could have gotten away with it then, but not now. From here on out I need to play nice, whether I like it or not.





15





CLUB MIDNIGHT


BRIDGET





“Come in,” I say after a knock on my door Sunday evening.

Everly pokes her head in tentatively and smiles. “Are you busy?”