Chapter 57
CHAPTER FIFTY-SEVEN
WYATT
First day of Julian as an unrestricted free agent
“So what happened to hockey boy?” Rook asked as we headed back to the front office of Roman’s dude ranch.
“Hockey boy is playing hockey. Don’t know if you heard about a little thing called the Stanley Cup.
” Two and a half months had passed since I left Las Vegas.
Everything still hurt. I tried to watch the games, but seeing Julian made everything hurt even more.
He texted and called when he could. But he was always angry.
I couldn’t tell if he was angry at me or the life we each had built.
There was nothing I could say to him that would make the hurt stop.
I couldn’t give him the one thing he wanted.
“Ah, come on, you want me to believe he would let you get away? Shit, if you were my girl…” Rook was cute in that cowboy kind of way. Blond hair that curled at the base of his neck. Dark green eyes and a smile that made the girls giggle. But he wasn’t Julian, and he was twenty-nine.
“I’m not.” We’d tried. Rook and I. I thought a little rebound sex was what I needed.
He thought the same thing. Not sure if he was rebounding or just wanted sex.
Whatever we were didn’t happen. We had gotten down to the I-know-what-you-look-like-naked part when I cried.
Poor Rook didn’t know what to do. But he stayed the night and let me cry.
After that night, we slipped into more of a sibling relationship.
“But if you were”—he put his arm around me and pulled me into a headlock—“I’d keep you tied to my bed.”
“God, Rook, you smell like a horse and a gym bag.” I pushed him away. “You’d tie me to your bed in the bunkhouse? I think that might be a crime.”
“I got a place.” He frowned at me. “And you also smell like a horse. Which is my favorite scent on a woman. You want to grab dinner and celebrate the big win?” He let go of me. “You do know they won, right? Your boy scored the winning goal.”
“Yeah, I know they won. And he’s not my boy.” Anymore. He was once.
I’d taken the job with Roman. He didn’t care that somewhere I had made some mistakes or that I spent the last fifteen years of my life doing questionable things.
He said we all had a past. It was what we made of our future that counted.
I helped with the reservations in the morning and trail rides and ranch chores in the afternoon and evening.
I loved this job. I loved being outside, my coworkers, wearing normal underwear, not being beholden to anyone but me.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” I knew I should be happy for Julian. But the selfish part of me thought if he failed, no team would want him and he’d come back. And I hated myself for that. I should probably get therapy.
“I hear he might be going to Toronto. Rumor is that they’re offering him forty mill for three years. I also heard his house sold.”
“I heard that too.” I took a deep breath and exhaled my disappointment. “I’m not really in the celebrating mood. Plus, I have to get some more painting done.” Jerry was helping me redo the bathroom and expand the kitchen and living area. It was a good life. But I was still lonely.
“Throw in a pizza and some beer, and I’ll keep you company.” Rook kicked a pile of dried horse shit as we came around the corner. The sun was just setting. I didn’t hate sunsets now, but they did make me sad. “You really think he’d walk away from you?”
“For forty million, yeah.” We all had a price.
“Are you sure?” Rook bumped my shoulder with his and nodded ahead. “I mean, absolutely sure?”
“Yes, I’m…” The rest of my thought was cut off. There in the setting sun was Julian Silver. All six foot four of him. He was here.
I ran to him, flinging myself into his arms. I felt his arms tighten around me, picking me up off the ground.
And like one of those movies where they find their happily ever after, the sun was setting behind him.
I lifted my head, looking at him. His brow was stitched, tiredness leaving its mark on him. “You’re here.”
“I am. I’m sorry, I would’ve been here sooner, but contract negotiations took longer than I wanted.”
I tried to hide my disappointment. I wouldn’t have him forever, just long enough to fall back in love with him and lose him. “I see.”
“No, you don’t. As of midnight, I’m done. I’ve officially retired. Well, tomorrow it will be official. I am all yours.” He cupped my cheek. “If you’ll still have me.”
“Yes.” I laughed as he picked me up.
“Is that the Stanley Cup?” Rook pointed to the back seat of Julian’s truck.
I used to hate sunsets.
But now I know there was a silver lining in every one.