Wild Man (Wild Men Book 1), page 6
Nick immediately says he’s in, along with a bunch of the other guys.
“No way,” I say to my brothers as I walk away. “I’ll see you.”
“Come get us in an hour!” Ben calls after me. “Or else we may lose track of time.”
I laugh. “May?”
“Okay, most definitely.”
I wave. “I’ll come grab you for dinner.”
I’ve walked maybe ten feet before Colton falls into step next to me.
“How about a snack before dinner?” he asks me.
I resist the urge to brush an errant lock of blond hair out of his face. I shove my hands into the back pockets of my shorts and stop walking. “Where?”
He grins. “I’ll show you.”
Before I can answer him, he turns left, calling back over his shoulder, “You’re hungry, right?”
Starving. All that exercise burned more calories than I’m used to.
“A little,” I say.
He turns around and keeps walking backward while he watches my face. “Don’t hesitate then. This will only take the same amount of time as their extra half game. I’ll walk you back here so you can get your brothers for dinner.”
One thing I’m already learning about Colton is that he pays attention.
I take another step forward, and then another, and he stops moving until I catch him.
“You ready?” he asks me.
I stare into his happy blue eyes and swallow. “Okay.”
The ice cream shop is tucked away in a corner of the RV park. Being that it’s close to dinnertime, the place is nearly empty when Colton and I arrive.
“What would you like, Sky?” Colton asks as we stand at the counter and look up at the menu.
I pick the chocolate soft serve, and Colton goes for peanut butter chocolate chip. He also insists on paying.
“This isn’t a date,” I remind him.
“I know. Doesn’t mean I can’t treat you, right?”
I have no idea since I’ve never even been on a date. “I guess so.” I take my cone from him. “Thank you. That’s very sweet.”
He leads me over to a nearby picnic table. I sit down on one side of the table, assuming Colton will take the opposite bench. He surprises me by sitting right next to me.
I lick the ice cream that’s nearly falling off my cone. “The server overdid it,” I mumble around the sweet chocolate filling my mouth.
Colton’s too busy eating to answer me. He eats over half his ice cream before coming up for air.
“Hungry, huh?” I smile at him.
“I’m a growing boy.” He dips his head and takes a big lick of my ice cream.
“Hey!” I pull my cone back. “Why are you licking my cone?”
His eyes fill with wicked humor, and I feel my cheeks heat.
“Again?” I say. “Can’t you take my comments at face value instead of turning them into something crass?”
“Nope.” He takes another big lick of my ice cream. “Yum. That tastes amazing.”
He holds out his cone. “You want a lick?”
I know he thinks I’m going to say no. So, for once in my life, I decide to be brash.
I lean forward and, keeping my eyes on his, I lick his cone from the bottom to the top.
He’s right. The ice cream is delicious.
But Colton’s reaction is what nearly does me in.
He lets out a guttural sound, almost like a groan.
I sit up straight and avert my gaze. Now I’m embarrassed. I don’t know what just came over me. Being around Colton makes me lose my inhibitions in a way that scares me. And it should scare me, because right now, more than ever, I need to keep my distance from everyone but my mom and brothers. Now is definitely not the time to explore whatever attraction I may or may not have for somebody.
“You two make a cute couple,” an older lady says as she passes by our table with a man her age.
“Oh, we’re not,” I say quickly. “A couple. We just met.”
The man who’s with her chuckles. “She sounds like you on our first date, honey.” He turns to Colton. “I had to ask this one out for six months before she said yes. And even then, she swore up and down we weren’t on ‘a real date.’ That took another two weeks. Sometimes I still can’t believe she married me.”
His wife smacks him in the arm playfully. “You got lucky, that’s for sure.” She smiles at me. “I like to tell him that. Really, we both got lucky. We celebrated our fortieth anniversary yesterday.”
“Wow,” Colton says. “That’s amazing. Congratulations.”
“Thank you.” The woman kisses her husband’s cheek as he beams. “We come here every year to celebrate. This is where we met.”
Her husband points between Colton and me. “Kind of like you two, maybe, huh?”
I give a shaky laugh. “Doubtful.”
Colton grins at the man. “She doesn’t realize it yet, but we’re meant to be.”
“Good luck to you two.” The couple waves and head over to the ice cream counter.
Once we’re alone again, Colton reaches for my ice cream cone. “You want to trade?”
“Why would we do that?”
“Yours tasted so good that I want another lick.”
I give him a look. “You’re flirting again.”
“Nope.” He grabs my cone and then hands me his. “You just have a dirty mind.”
I laugh. “Right. And the sky is pink.”
And now I’m eating his ice cream cone. I try not to read into it as I ask him, “Do you like being an only child?”
“Sometimes.” He finishes off my ice cream cone and balls up the napkin. “Honestly, lately I’ve kind of wished I had a sibling. The idea of sharing family stuff with someone is appealing.”
I think of my brothers and of what the three of us have been through together. “I don’t know what I’d do without Ben and Nick.” I take the last bite of my cone and stand up. “Speaking of, I’d better go get them. They lose all track of time when they’re playing football.”
We walk back to the field together, and I’m relieved to see the game breaking up. I didn’t want to have to figure out a way to get my brothers’ attentions.
Colton catches my arm as I’m hustling toward Nick and Ben.
“Hey,” he says, and if I didn’t know better, he almost seems nervous. “Will you be going to the bonfire tonight? Your brothers always go.”
“I don’t usually go to the nightly parties,” I say, twirling my ponytail with my finger.
“I know. I haven’t seen you there before. Because I sure as hell would have remembered you.”
I suck in a breath. “Colton, I’m not sure if I can go. But it was nice meeting you. Sort of.”
“Sort of?” He chuckles.
“Well, you picked me up and carried me down the field upside-down. You’re mischievous and irritating.”
“But I’m lovable.” He grins. “Right?”
I fight a smile. “Cocky too.”
“Hey, cocky isn’t all bad.”
“No, it’s not.” I keep twirling my finger around my red ponytail. “I’ll think about the bonfire.”
“Skylar!” Ben’s calling for me.
I wave to him, and he waves back.
“I’ll see you later, Colton,” I say as I turn to go meet my brothers.
Chapter Fifteen
Colton
And she’s gone. I watch her two brothers flank her, one on each side, and I smile. They’re so protective of their little sister, and I love that they look out for her. I hope she’ll come with them to the bonfire tonight. Or else I’m going to have to get creative.
When I walk into the motor coach my parents rented for our trip, all I can hear is my father’s hacking cough. It always hits me in the gut.
But I hear something else, too, a familiar low voice.
“Declan?” I say as I come face to face with my oldest cousin sitting at the table with my parents.
He stands to greet me. “Hey, Colt. How are you?”
“Great,” I say as I hug him. “What are you doing in Colorado?”
Declan’s gray eyes cloud over. “I wanted to see your dad.”
The Wild family is tight. Not all of us—Dad’s got one brother who disappears for months at a time—but for the most part, we all keep in touch. Declan is Cam’s older brother, and he’s a professional hockey player. Hockey was always his dream, and he made it. To Dylan and me, he’s kind of like an icon—a Wild who really made it to the highest level athletically. And he didn’t just make it—he’s a big-time star.
Because he’s so much older, he’s never been around too much. But, he and my dad got to know each other when Declan would come visit in Montana during the summers, and they always had a bond.
I walk further into the RV and kneel down next to my dad where he’s sitting on the couch.
“How are you doing?” I ask him in a low voice. “You look tired.”
“Hanging in there. I had a good morning, walking with you and Mom. This afternoon’s been a little rough, but I’m not complaining.”
“Maybe we can all go out for another walk tomorrow,” I say in a tone that sounds fake and forced. I hate that I’m talking to him like this, like I’m pretending nothing unusual is going on.
“Maybe so. How was the game?” Dad asks me, a twinkle in his eye despite his obvious physical discomfort.
“We won.” I grin at him. “You wouldn’t expect anything less, would you?”
Dad gives me a thumbs-up. “That’s my boy. As long as you enjoyed yourself, too.”
“I did.”
“You’re flushed, Coltie.” Mom comes over and feels my forehead as I stand up. “Are you feeling all right?”
“I’m fine, Mom.” I don’t mention Sky, although part of me wants to. “I had a good time today. I’m probably just a little sunburned.”
She gives me a second look. “Maybe. You do seem especially happy.”
That’s because I met a girl. And I can’t stop thinking about her.
“You want to come help me grill some turkey burgers for dinner?”Declan asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Sure.” I follow him out of the motor coach and over to the outdoor grill we set up for our week’s stay.
“So how are you really doing?” Declan says, his eyes on the turkey patties as he unwraps them.
“I’m doing okay.” I start up the grill and go silent.
“Your dad’s the best,” he says in a low tone.
“I know.”
“I know you do. And I know you’ve got my brother and Dylan—all the cousins your age. But I’m here, too, if you ever want to talk.” His gray eyes find mine.
I slap his back. “Thanks. This vacation has been exactly what we needed, you know? I hope my dad’s having a good time.”
Except I also know he’s sick. Sicker than I’m admitting to myself or than my mom’s saying. There’s a relief in denial, in pretending that everything is okay even if it’s not. Why talk about how bad things are when we can focus on the beauty of the mountains or the warm rays of sunshine?
Dad’s doctor okayed the trip and said she thought the change of scenery and family time was a great idea. And she was right. Some days here in Colorado have been perfect. The three of us have laughed a lot and done a lot of reminiscing. But Dad’s been up and down in terms of his energy levels.
When I can’t handle the oppressive feeling of sadness that overwhelms our motor home, I go play football. Normally, I would text with Dylan or Jenson or one of the others, but this week…I’ve needed the isolation in some weird way.
“Cam says he hasn’t heard from you much lately,” Declan says casually as we lay the patties on the grill.
“Cam’s got a big mouth,” I say. “And since when does he talk to you anyway?”
“We’re brothers,” Declan says simply. “Just because we don’t have what he has with you guys—he and I still keep up.”
I remember my conversation with Sky earlier about siblings, and for a second, I’m envious that Cam and Declan have each other. Being an only child has its perks for sure, but when one of your parents is ill, it can feel lonely.
“Well, you can tell him I’m fine. I’m good,” I add.
“Tell him yourself,” he says.
“What do you mean?”
He holds up his phone. “He knows I’m here. He asked that we call him.”
I shrug. “Okay. Let’s call him.”
Declan places the call, but as soon as it connects, he hands his phone to me. While he finishes cooking dinner, I walk over to the nearest pine tree and sink down with my back against it.
“I’m visiting Dyl and Bray,” Cam says. “They’re here, and I’m going to patch in J and Ayden now.”
“Oh, shit,” I say, rubbing my eyes. “Why does this feel like an ambush?”
“Because it is.” Brayden’s gruff voice comes through the phone. “We’re worried about you. How’s Uncle Kent doing?”
“Better,” I lie. “The vacation’s been great.”
“Hey,” Ayden says as he comes on the line.
“Ayd.” I wait for a second until I hear Jenson call out, “Hey, Colt. What’s up?”
“Like I was just telling the others, we’re having a great trip.”
“We know you need time alone with your parents,” Dylan says. “But we just wanted to check in. It’s got to be lonely there.”
“Not so much,” I say. “I’ve found some guys at the resort to play football with. And the weather’s been perfect.”
“Are you kicking their asses?” Brayden asks.
“No doubt,” I say. “I scored twice today.”
“You sound good,” Jenson says after a moment of silence. “Call me if you need anything.”
“I will. Guys, I appreciate the call. We’ll be home in Montana soon.”
We all say goodbye, and I return to the grill where Declan’s pretty much finished up cooking the burgers.
“Thanks,” I murmur. “Smells great. I’m starved.”
“No worries. How are the cousins?”
“They miss me,” I say with a grin. “It’s tough being so popular.”
Declan shoots me an assessing gaze. “You still wanting to go pro in football?”
“That’s still the plan,” I say. “Any advice for me, Mr. Already-Made-It-Big?”
He starts piling turkey burgers on the large serving plate next to him. “Expect the unexpected,” he says. “Keep your circle of trust small. And never stop believing in what got you there.”
I stare at him. “You’re giving me advice as if I’ve already made it,” I say.
He hands me the full plate of turkey burgers. “That’s because I believe you will make it. You have to believe, too.”
“It’s all my dad and I used to talk about,” I say. “And if he’s not there to witness it, I don’t know…”
“Hey.” Declan puts a hand on my shoulder. “He wants the same thing he’s always wanted for you. He wants you to reach your dreams. That will never change. You’re lucky to have such a great dad.”
“I know.”
“He’s always on your side, kid.” Declan starts toward the door of the motor coach. “No matter how tough things are, don’t let anything stop you from going after what you want. He’d never want you to miss out on anything because you were feeling bad.”
I hear him, but his words don’t line up in my head right now. I can’t imagine a world without my dad in it. The pain is too much. And tonight, I need to focus on the opposite of pain.
For me, that’s Sky. I can’t wait to see her again.
Chapter Sixteen
Skylar
“More chicken, honey?” Mom passes me the plate of grilled chicken she made for dinner.
“No thanks, Mom. I’m full.”
“So what did Ivan say to Uncle Sid when he called?” Ben asks.
“Nothing other than to leave in the morning,” Mom says.
“He didn’t say if they caught Dad yet?”
“No.”
“That means he didn’t,” Nick says with a scowl. “Ivan would’ve made sure we knew if something had changed on that front.”
“Most likely that’s true,” Mom says. “But we need to stay focused on where we’re going, right? Let’s leave the detective work to Ivan.”
“I kind of don’t want to leave,” Ben admits. “This feels like the first time we’ve been able to relax in a while.”
I know what he means. I get up and help Mom with the dishes, and then I curl up on the couch in my usual spot to write.
I’ve written a couple more paragraphs for my fake article on the campground when Ben appears in front of me.
“Are you coming to the bonfire tonight? Last chance.”
I start to say no like I always do, but then Colton Wild’s happy face flashes in front of me. He’s so full of life, so irritatingly bossy and yet sweet.
“Yes,” I say as I stand up to go get ready. “I think I will.”
Mom turns around and looks at me from the sink, her expression clearly surprised. I shrug and go into the bathroom with a tank top and cut-offs. I work on my hair for so long that Ben starts knocking on the door.
“Coming!”
I open the bathroom door, but only Mom is there.
“The boys stepped outside to wait for you,” she says. “You look very pretty, honey.”
“Thanks.”
“I like that tank top. The shade of green really shows off your eyes.”
That’s why I chose it.
I smile at her and go to leave, but she takes my arm.
“Sky? I realize life isn’t fair right now and hasn’t been for a while.”
I give her a kiss. “It’s okay, Mom. We’re all doing our best.”
“I want you to have a normal life as a teenager. And you will. But for now, we have to remain careful.”
“I know. I am being careful.”
“Skylar.” Mom gives me a knowing look. “Did you meet a boy?”
“No,” I say too quickly. “Why would you ask that?”
“I recognize the signs.” She smiles. “You’re going to the bonfire for the first time all trip. And you’re dressing up.”
