Ian (Las Vegas Sidewinders Book 15), page 22
“You’re really not going to call her?” Dax was shaking his head. “You’re a stubborn sonofabitch, that’s for sure.”
Ian sighed. “I know.”
“Hey.” Tore came running up to them. “Did you hear about—”
“I heard.” Ian held up a hand, cutting him off. “She’s okay, right?”
“Gracie’s in bad shape. I mean, didn’t you read the article?”
Ian glanced at Dax and then back at Tore. “No. I just heard about it now.”
“Oh.” Tore frowned. “Well, they were hit by someone who ran a red light and then hit again by someone else. The damage was so bad that Gracie’s car seat came loose and flew out one of the windows. It landed right side up, but she was cut up pretty bad from the glass. Isla said she was going to call Everly but we don’t know anything else yet.”
“So all of you still talk to Everly?” Ian stared at his friends, feeling a little bit betrayed and a lot ashamed of himself.
“She didn’t do anything to—” Tore began, but Ian just turned and walked away. He was already reaching for his phone and dialing his sister’s number. He needed to know what was going on.
“Ian.” Her voice was subdued.
“Is she all right? All of them?” he demanded.
“Everly and Margot are okay, just bumps and bruises. Gracie’s in the hospital, though. Piece of glass cut through her face… Everly was crying too hard for me to completely understand the damage, but based on how hysterical she was, I’m thinking it’s not good.”
“Bloody hell.”
“Do something, Ian.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t know, but she needs you and, dammit, you need her too!” Isla hadn’t yelled at him in a long time but there was no mistaking the frustration in her voice now.
“I can’t just call her out of the blue after all that’s happened between us,” he protested.
“Yes, you can. This is when you forget about all that other stuff and reach out. This is much more serious than some lie of omission or whatever other bullshit you’ve convinced yourself is important.”
“Will you just call me if you hear anything? I’m about to get on the ice, but I’ll check in later.”
“Yes, of course.”
They disconnected and he walked toward the dressing room. He didn’t know what he was going to do about Everly, but Isla was right that this was more serious than whatever had happened between them. The thought that she might be hurt, in pain, or that something happened to little Gracie, well, that didn’t sit well with him at all. He had to get through practice over the next couple of hours and then he would figure out his next step.
They’d been at the hospital for hours. Everly was so tired she didn’t know if she could keep her eyes open any longer, but her mother and stepfather had appeared and now she had a hot cup of coffee and a muffin or something. She sipped the coffee, but her stomach was too knotted for food. Gracie was still in surgery and both Everly and Margot were a wreck. Everly’s mother, Felicia, had taken Margot into the restroom to help her clean up a little since she was covered in Gracie’s blood, but Everly didn’t have the energy to get up.
When her phone buzzed, she dug it out of her purse, and the name on the screen made her freeze.
Ian.
He was texting her?
Her fingers shook as she opened the texting app.
IAN: I heard about the accident. Are you okay?
She responded on autopilot, tamping down the glimmer of hope that shot through her because it had been a week since she’d spoken to Constance and this was the first she’d heard from him.
EVERLY: Gracie’s in surgery. We don’t know how bad it is yet. She went through a window and the glass scraped off part of her face.
IAN: Jesus, I’m sorry. Is there anything you need? Were you or Margot hurt?
EVERLY: No. We’re okay. I dislocated my knee, but it’s fine.
IAN: Will you let me know how Gracie’s doing?
EVERLY: I’m keeping in touch with Isla. I’ll make sure she texts you. Thanks for checking in.
She quickly put the phone away, refusing to engage with him anymore, even though she heard the buzz, indicating he’d responded. There was nothing he could do anyway, so she didn’t need that kind of distraction. She had to be strong for Margot and Gracie, and Ian was no longer a part of her life, no matter what Constance had said. She’d been losing hope with each passing day and now she had much bigger problems than her broken heart.
Margot had just come back from the bathroom when a doctor came out. “Ms. Delgado.”
“Is she okay?” Margot asked worriedly.
“She’s going to be fine.” The older man patted her shoulder. “But the damage to her face is extensive. I suggest you find a specialized plastic surgeon or the scarring will undoubtedly be difficult for her as she gets older.”
“Oh, god.” Margot burst into tears and Everly hugged her tightly as she thanked the doctor.
“It’s okay,” she whispered to Margot. “Whatever it costs, we’ll find a way to pay for it. And the accident wasn’t your fault, so the insurance is going to take care of everything. I’ll start researching plastic surgeons right away.”
“She’s in recovery,” the doctor said quietly, “but you can see her if you want.”
“Go on,” Everly told her. “I’ll be right here.”
“Thanks.” Margot swiped at her face and hurried after the doctor.
36
After Everly stopped responding to his texts several days ago, Ian had opted to give her space, but now he was second-guessing himself. Between the distraction of training camp and preseason games, he didn’t have much time to think about anything else and he was frustrated by the timing of everything. He wished she’d sent him those pictures before hockey season had gotten underway because now he was being pulled in several different directions. Making matters worse was his concern for Gracie. Isla had been keeping him updated and it sounded like the little girl was going to need multiple surgeries to keep her face from being disfigured, and he desperately wanted to help.
He had an idea, though, and he got to the arena early to look for the team’s goalie coach, Rob Rousseau. He found him in his office and lightly knocked on the door. “You have a minute, coach?”
“Sure.” Rob looked up with a friendly smile.
Since Rob was the goalie coach and Ian was a forward, they rarely had much interaction beyond flights and such, but he was a good guy. “I had a question about…your wife.”
Rob arched his brows. “Okay.”
“She’s a plastic surgeon, yeah?” Ian had met the woman on several occasions, but she was a lot older than both him and even Rob, so they didn’t socialize or anything.
“She is.”
“I… well, my ex-girlfriend, her three-year-old goddaughter was in a terrible accident and her face was ripped up going through a window. They say it’s going to take a lot of surgeries and… I guess I just wanted to help in some way. Is that something your wife would work on?”
“She mostly focuses on burn victims, but for a three-year-old? I’m sure she would make an exception. Why don’t you get me some information and I’ll pass it on.”
“I, er, I think it would be best if it was anonymous. She may be less receptive if it’s coming from me. However, I’ll be happy to pay for any costs incurred. Just let me know.”
“I’ll call her now. Text me the information and I’ll tell Mack not to mention your name, to say she heard about it through a colleague.”
“I appreciate that.” Ian nodded and slipped out of the room. He wasn’t sure this would help, but hopefully it would help open lines of communication with Everly.
It was rare for Everly to sleep through her alarm but she’d done it twice this week and today it was compounded by the fact that she had errands to run before going in to the office. She was going to do a few things and then head to the hospital so Margot could work a regular day. Margot didn’t have any more vacation and couldn’t afford to take time off without pay, so Everly was going to stay with Gracie during the day.
She’d just settled in next to her and gotten out her laptop when her cell phone rang. Ian’s name on the screen made her stomach do a little flip, though it was more dread than excitement. He’d hurt her enough to make her wary now, but there was no way she wouldn’t answer.
“Hello?”
“Hi. It’s me.” His voice was quiet, reserved.
“Hi.”
There was an awkward silence and then they both started to talk at the same time.
“I wanted to—”
“I’m kind of—”
“I’m sorry, go ahead,” he said quickly.
“I’m at the hospital with Gracie. Did you need something?” Yikes, that was kind of rude, but she wasn’t sure what to say and if he wanted to talk, he was going to have to lead with an apology. They’d been apart long enough for her to be equal parts heartbroken and angry.
“Is there a good time for us to talk? I’ve got a morning skate and then a preseason game tonight, so I’m not sure when our schedules will line up if not now.”
“Ian, I’m not sure what there is to say.”
“If you’d give me a few minutes, I’d appreciate it.”
“All right. Go ahead and say what you have to say.”
“I’m sorry about how I ended things,” he said softly. “I probably overreacted.”
“Probably?”
“I was hurt that you’d lied to me, but I shouldn’t have let you leave like that.”
“I tried to tell you,” she said quietly, keeping an eye on Gracie, who was still sleeping. “When you gave me the brooch. I started to and you told me you didn’t care.”
“I know. A lot of things got lost in translation between us. I’d like to see you, Everly, and see if we can talk things out.”
“I can’t go anywhere right now. Gracie’s going to be in the hospital for weeks, maybe months, and my focus has to be on her.”
“Hockey season’s just starting,” he said slowly. “There’s no way for me to get away either. I don’t think we play in Seattle until November or December.”
“Maybe it’s easier this way, you know?”
“What’s easier?”
“Us, this. I’m glad you called and apologized. It means a lot to me, but I think you made your feelings clear the day we broke up. My father is still my father, and he still did what he did. Your family still owns a financial firm and you’ll always wonder about the missing money, right?”
He hesitated for what seemed like a long time. “I don’t know, Everly.”
“And that’s why it’s easier if we let this go, Ian. I love you, I do, but not enough to sell my soul. You don’t trust me and, frankly, now I don’t trust you. That’s no way to start a relationship. Be well, and thanks for checking on me.”
“Everly? Please don’t hang up.”
“I have to. I’m sorry. Goodbye, Ian.” She disconnected and slowly let her head drop. She hadn’t known she was going to do that until she did it and now a dull, thudding pain echoed in her heart. He didn’t trust her and that meant she couldn’t trust him. Not with something as important as her love.
Even though it was like ripping off a scab and starting to bleed all over again, it was better in the long run to end things now.
“Auntie Evie?” Gracie slowly called to her and Everly immediately got to her feet, wiping away her tears as she reached for Gracie’s hand.
“I’m right here, love.”
“I have a big boo-boo,” she whispered.
“I know, baby, but it’s getting better. You want to watch cartoons?”
“No.” She rubbed her hands over the bandages covering her face and Everly gently gripped them in hers to stop her.
“Honey, you can’t scratch, okay? How about I get up on the bed with you and we watch TV?”
“I wanna go home…”
“I know. I’m sorry.” Tears flooded Everly’s eyes once again and this time she didn’t know which one of them she was crying for.
Everly had been so busy between work, picking up the slack on the coffee table book project since Margot was distracted, and spending time with Gracie, she hadn’t seen her mother much at all.
Felicia had come by the hospital today and they sat beside Gracie’s bed as the toddler slept.
“It’s so hard seeing her this way,” Felicia said quietly. “But at least she’s going to be okay.”
“Yeah.” Everly couldn’t imagine Gracie’s sweet, pretty little face badly scarred. This was such a nightmare. Margot was a mess and Everly’s knee still throbbed like a bitch. They’d moved her dislocated knee back into position and put a brace on her leg to keep it from popping out again but it hurt. The doctor here at the hospital had recommended she see an orthopedic specialist but she didn’t have time for that right now. It was really sore, though, and the fact that she was exhausted all the time didn’t help.
“Is there anything I can do?” Felicia asked.
“I’m okay.” Everly managed a small smile.
“I hope Margot appreciates how good of a friend you are.”
Everly glanced at her mother. “Well, when literally all of my other friends stopped talking to me, Margot stuck with me through thick and thin.”
“You were children then. You’re adults now. Isn’t it time she stood on her own two feet? You know I adore both her and Gracie, but she demands so much of your time that—”
“She doesn’t demand anything,” Everly interrupted her. “We’re like sisters, family, and everything we do is because we want to. And even if what you were saying is true, this is a totally different situation. You really think I could abandon her now that Gracie is hurt?”
“Of course not, but it’s been one thing after another since college.”
“Really, Mom? You want to have this conversation now?” Everly was too tired for this kind of thing.
“You’re so busy with the little family you created with Margot and Gracie, you’ve let your own needs fall to the wayside. You’ve substituted them for a family of your own. I know what your father did hurt you, but that was a long time ago. Not all men are him and not all men are going to react badly when they find out whose daughter you are.”
“Ian did.”
“I thought he reached out and wanted to talk.”
“Nothing has changed. He’s still the heir to a huge financial firm and I’m still the daughter of Morgan Taylor-Reese.”
“But you’re not just his daughter.” Felicia reached for her hand. “You’re also my daughter and your own woman, who’s done a lot of wonderful things and reached a respectable level of success as a photojournalist. And once again, when he reached out, even though you say you love him, you pushed him away.”
“I don’t know what to do anymore, Mom.” Everly sighed because everything her mother said was true. She’d kept both potential romantic partners and girlfriends at something of a distance because it was just easier than the rejection she’d become accustomed to. It was something she hadn’t given much thought to as she’d been falling in love with Ian this summer, and it made her a little ashamed to realize how quickly she’d put him in the same category as everyone else in her past, even though what they’d had together was totally different.
“You have to be brave, sweetheart. Just like you were when your father was first arrested. You can’t let the past define your present. Not anymore.”
“Every time I let my guard down I get hurt.”
“That’s part of life, though. And it seems to me, from everything you’ve told me, Ian is worth the risk.”
“It’s really scary.”
“I know, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
“I can’t leave Seattle right now and he can’t get away because hockey season has started.”
“Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
Everly gave her mother a look. “You’re just full of clichés, aren’t you?”
“Mother knows best.”
37
For the last five years, Ian had lost himself in hockey, essentially putting his head in the sand when it came to everything about his life back in Scotland, the family business, his law degree and even his future as the Duke of Halloway. He’d never wanted that life and had done everything in his power to ignore it in the hopes it would go away. This past summer he’d gone home knowing he had to face the music, and not only had his grandfather let him off the hook, he’d met a wonderful woman who made him realize how much he’d been missing in the life he’d led over the years.
He was acutely aware of the irony that he’d used his family business, the very legacy he’d worked so hard to avoid, as his excuse to break things off. The problem was that he didn’t understand why. He wasn’t afraid to get serious with someone, it was something he’d been thinking about for a while, yet he’d cut and run the moment he had a chance. Initially he’d thought maybe it was because Everly wasn’t the right woman for him, but that wasn’t it. He was in love with her, had bought her the brooch because he wanted her to have a tangible reminder of his feelings for her, and then he’d jumped at the opportunity to end things. Why had he used her parentage as an excuse when his family’s firm was the one thing he wanted to get away from? It made no sense, not even to him, and now that she’d essentially called him out on it, he was more confused than ever.
The first road trip of the season was to California and Ian played like hell against San Jose. His head wasn’t in the game at all and he was glad it was still preseason. He needed to sort this shit out before the regular season started, but he was at a loss as to how. Hearing Everly tell him she didn’t think they had something worth working on hurt. Probably as much as the things he’d said to her the day they’d broken up. It was eye-opening and embarrassing. Too bad he didn’t have anyone he could talk to. Most of his friends thought he was crazy for breaking up with her in the first place, and now that she’d turned the tables on him, he didn’t want to hear “I told you so” from them.
