Since my teammate Tyler and his wife Piper moved out, it’s been too quiet around here. It might be time to throw a party. Just as soon as I get out of this sling.
In the kitchen, I toss my stuff on the counter, then notice the takeout bag from my favorite breakfast spot.
My stomach grumbles. “You know the way to my heart, man. I won’t even question why you were already in my house this morning.”
“I just made sure you had a few things on hand.”
At his words, I walk over and open the fridge. I scan the many containers of food stacked up on the shelves and look back at him. “A few things? This looks like meals for a month. You didn’t need to do all this.”
“It’s nothing.”
It’s not nothing. The fridge is packed with pre-cooked meals that I’d bet his chef cooked last night or this morning. That guy needs a raise for putting up with Jack.
I shut the fridge and lean a hip against the counter. “I’m not helpless, you know. I’ve still got one good arm.”
“I know. Just trying to help how I can. The team leaves this afternoon and we’ll be gone until Friday. I’ll feel better knowing you aren’t sitting around eating Ramen and DoorDashing burgers.”
A burger sounds fucking fantastic right now.
“Well, thanks.” The reality of my situation is starting to really settle in, and it sucks.
Not long after, Declan stops by and then Leo. The four of us all live in the same neighborhood. Leo is across the street, Declan just next to him, and Jack is at the end of the cul-de-sac. One big, slightly dysfunctional, but hella fun family.
We settle in the living room. Leo is telling us about how Callum projectile vomited on Scarlett’s dad (also our coach) last night after the game and Coach had to go into the media room smelling like baby puke.
Sitting around, shooting the shit does wonders to help me forget about my injury, but when they all start checking the time and making excuses, I realize they need to head to the team jet.
“Scarlett wanted me to invite you over for dinner tonight,” Leo says.
“Sounds good.”
Declan tips his head. “Take it easy. I’m counting down the minutes until you’re back.”
“Me and you both.” I walk them to the door.
Jack hangs back. He pulls his sunglasses down over his eyes. “I’m having a party next Saturday after the long road trip.”
“What’s the occasion?”
Jack throws a lot of parties, but there’s always a reason. If this is on my behalf, some pity party to make me feel better about sitting out for four weeks, I want to know beforehand.
“I met someone last night and her birthday is coming up.”
Well, that’s unexpected. My brows rise. “You met someone last night and you’re throwing her a birthday party?”
“That’s what I said.”
Jack does not bend over backward for chicks. Certainly not one he just met. “Who is she?”
“Meredith.” He hesitates, working his jaw back and forth. “She’s a sports reporter.”
I bark a laugh. “A reporter?!”
“For the Twins. She doesn’t cover hockey,” he quickly adds.
I fight another laugh. “I have so many things I want to say right now, but I don’t want you to take back all the food you brought over. You hate reporters.”
“She’s cool.”
“And super hot?”
His lips curl into a smile. “Yeah, that too.”
“Wow. You don’t mess around. You left the hospital late, somehow met a chick and got to know her well enough to throw her a party?”
“Ha ha. It’s not a big deal. I asked her to go out next weekend and then when she said it was her birthday, I asked what she wanted to do. She said to keep it simple.”
“And you thought throwing a party with all your teammates was keeping it simple?”
“She’s new to town and doesn’t know that many people. I repeat, not a big deal.”
“I can’t wait to meet her. The great Jack Wyld may have finally met his match.”
“Let’s not get carried away. Saturday night, eight o’clock, bring a date if you can find one.”
“Maybe I’ll ask Bridget.”
“Yeah, text her…oh, wait. You can’t because you somehow didn’t get her number.”
I give the finger to his back as he jogs toward his car.
“Thanks for everything, asshole,” I call out.
He opens the car door with a smirk on his face. “See you in a week. Try to shower before then, my car stinks like sweat and hospital food.”
I shake my head as I go back inside. God, he’s a pain in the ass.
The days go by in a crawl while the team is on the road. They played in Nashville, then New York, and tonight they’re in Toronto.
I’m just sitting down in front of the TV for the opening face-off when there’s a knock at the door, followed by Everly’s voice. “Ash? Are you home?”
“In the living room,” I call.
A few second later, three women walk in and give me the same pitying, hopeful look.
“We brought snacks,” Scarlett says. She’s holding a platter of cookies in one hand and Callum in the other.
“And wine.” Jade, Declan’s wife, holds up two bottles—a red and a white.
Ev plops down beside me. “We’re here to make sure you aren’t moping around.”
“There’s food in the kitchen,” I say and motion with one hand for Scarlett to give me Callum. “I ordered those little pretzel bite things you like, Jade.”
“With cheese?” Her eyes light up and she hugs the wine bottles to her chest.
“Of course.”
She takes off to the kitchen.
“Did Leo tell you we were coming?” Scarlett carefully places her sleeping baby on my right side. He squirms a bit, but then goes limp against my chest.
“Nah, but it’s been almost twenty-four hours since any of you stopped by, so I figured there was a good chance you were going to do a group attack to watch the game.”
“You do have the best TV.” Scarlett takes a seat in a chair next to the couch and gives the giant screen her attention. “They have to win tonight.”
“They will.” Jade returns with three glasses of wine. She gives one to Scarlett, puts mine on the coffee table in front of me, and takes a seat with hers.
“Where’s mine?” Ev asks.
I make a sound like a buzzer. “I’m gonna need to see some identification first, young lady. You don’t look twenty-one.”
“I’ll be twenty in a month.”
“Then in thirteen more months, you can drink my booze,” Jade says with a playful wink.
The game starts and the four of us watch, screaming when the other team gets a power play goal and cheering when Leo scores. At the first intermission, Jade and Scarlett disappear into the kitchen.
“You look pretty good with a baby,” Ev says, leaning forward and taking a sip of my wine before I can stop her. “Eww. That’s gross.”
I swipe the glass and drain the rest of it. Wine isn’t really my go-to, but it’s not bad.
“It’s a little sweet,” I admit, slowly leaning forward to set it back on the coffee table without waking Callum. “How’ve you been?”
“Okay. School is harder this year. I need a tutor in just about every subject.”
“It’s that bad?”