Page 11 of California Wild

Jesse stiffened. Heath didn’t just ‘talk.’

Still, he followed him out of the physio room, past the treadmills, through the side door that led to the small office space reserved for medical staff and Corpsmen.

Inside was a standard-issue military desk, a coffee mug, some scattered reports. The place smelled like antiseptic and strong black coffee.

Heath sat on the edge of the desk, arms crossed, gaze steady.

Jesse wasn’t in the mood for this conversation. But Heath Carrington didn’t give a damn about Jesse’s moods.

“So,” Heath said, like they were talking about the goddamn Padres, arms crossed over his chest. “You doing alright?”

Jesse blinked, slow. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

Heath didn’t say anything at first. Just gave him that long, unreadable look. The one that said, Don’t bullshit me, Navarro.

Jesse shifted his jaw, rolling his shoulder. “I’m good.”

“Yeah?” Heath lifted a brow. “Because one year’s a big deal.”

Jesse exhaled sharply, looking away.

One year.

Three hundred and sixty-five fucking days of fighting the pull, fighting himself, fighting everything.

In AA, it was a milestone.

People clapped. Coins were handed out.

Jesse hadn’t gone to his meeting last night. Didn’t want the attention.

Didn’t want people looking at him like he was some kind of success story when every day still felt like a battle.

So, instead, here he was. Being clocked by the one guy who saw straight through his shit.

“Yeah,” Jesse muttered, rubbing a hand over his face. “Guess it is.”

Heath studied him for a beat before nodding. “I’m proud of you, man.”

Jesse swallowed. Felt the words settle in his chest like something heavy and unfamiliar.

Proud.

No one had ever said that to him before. Not like this.

Not about this.

He forced a smirk. “Getting soft on me, Carrington?”

Heath snorted. “Yeah, right. Like I have time for that shit.”

Jesse exhaled, leaning back against the desk in Heath’s office, rolling his sore shoulder. The one still stiff from all the time off.

Because that was the real conversation happening here.

The one Jesse had been avoiding.

The one about Colson.

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