Page 9 of She Wolf

Fresh tears start to fall. How could I have fallen for such an uncaring, spiteful person when I have men in my life who act like this? It only strengthens my resolve to handle this alone. I got into this mess, and I’ll damn well get myself out of it.

“I promise, if I need anything, I’ll ask.”

He sighs. It’s loud and long. “You better. I love you. Twins for life.”

I manage a laugh at his lame saying. “Twins for life,” I repeat and end the call.

I tidy up the broken glass, plates, and food and then do exactly as I said I would. I run a bath and wash the last hour away, a sense of freedom sweeping over me. I know not to get my hopes up, but Nick leaving tonight is definitely a step in the right direction.

“Tomorrow,” I whisper into the dark when I eventually lay my head down on the pillow, “is a new day.” I snuggle into my fresh sheets and like always, let my thoughts drift to Gunner Grey.

Chapter Two

Gunner

Iwalk out of Casey’s house with a full stomach and a pounding in my head.

And chest.

Coralie is finally free of her ex-husband and my brain is in overdrive. I think I need a drink to clear my head.

“Coming over for a beer?” I ask Callan and Adam—who change course from the direction of Callan’s and head to mine without a word.

Being two of my closest friends on the team, along with Casey and Rex Svenderson, I suppose they had been expecting me to ask and are probably eager to know how I’m feeling now the divorce is done.

Because yeah, I’ve been crushing on Coralie for a long time. So long, that I just didn’t know how to hide it anymore.

Adam and Rex gave me shit as soon as they realized and it was Casey who seemed to catch on last, but I always thought somehow Callan knew. Like, he picked up on the vibe I was giving off, even in the early days.

The times I saw Coralie during the final year of her marriage, it stung. Then when they ended things and she and Jack moved into Casey’s across the road from me, well that was more of a dull ache. Even when I tried to stay away it was like I was being pulled toward Casey’s house, going over every chance I got.

And by the time I knew it, I was drowning in my feelings for Coralie and then Jack. Unable to fight the current I ended up just going with the flow. Embracing the want and floating in sheer need.

It seemed pointless spending time with other women when all I could think about was Coralie and how none of the women I ended up with could compare.

We walk across the street, through the gate, and into my house. It’s far too big for just me, ridiculous really. Decorated not too dissimilarly from Callan or Casey’s, probably because we used the same designer so maybe she just looked at us and thought ‘hockey jocks’ with a seemingly endless bank account.

For mine, she threw a plaid comforter over my bed and added flannel cushions and throws around the house. She chose brown couches for here though, instead of black or grey like in my friends, accentuating the modern farmhouse design.

There’s a lot of open space, blond wood floors, and neutral warm colors. My favorite things about the house though, are the fireplaces—open, wood burning, and surrounded in smooth stone, they help the house feel more homey and less, well, lonely.

Plus, the daydreams I have had about what I would do to Coralie in front of them make my dick twitch.

I have six bedrooms and my kitchen is a little over the top considering I don’t use it much. But I like my giant fridge, especially the brightly colored drawings produced for me by Jack that adorn the stainless-steel and glass doors.

Grabbing a few beers, the three of us head into the living room. Adam turns on the TV but doesn’t switch it to a different channel when Sports Center flashes on the screen, he leaves the sound down and looks straight at me.

“So, off-day tomorrow, and then things get serious. I should be excited about post season but, urgh, even just thinking about last year…shit, I never want to face anything like that again in my career,” Adam says, and even though I know he’s trying to hold off on talking about Coralie, I wholeheartedly agree.

It truly was the shittiest season on record. There was so much going on behind the scenes it definitely affected our game. Even my mom and June—her closest friend were worried for the team, and they are mega fans—coming to games in matching t-shirts and God knows what else.

Unfortunately, they haven’t made it down so far this season as June had a knee replacement after tripping last Fall. She said she wasn’t paying attention and won’t be walking and texting again.

My mom, the doting caretaker, has been looking after her while she recuperates and rehabs. I visited with them when we played in Toronto while my younger brother, Tanner, had them for a long stay over Christmas. We figured the California weather would be good for them.

I was invited too, as well as to the Svenderson’s Christmas festivities but, on Christmas Eve, like the lame-ass I am, I decided to drive to the Maddens family home up-state. Through a snow blizzard.

But my lame move paid off because that night Coralie crept into my room and climbed into the bed. Her blue and white snowflake pajamas were just daring me to peel her out of them and claim her as mine there and then.

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