Page 65 of Wild Rivals

Any time.

Did you eat today?

August 29

WYATT

You don’t have to answer.

I just want to make sure you’re looking after yourself.

August 30

WYATT

I miss you like crazy, Mad.

39

WYATT

I throw my truck into park and turn off the engine, sitting in the quiet as it softly ticks over. A hint of hesitation skates down my spine, but I ignore it and push open my door. The familiar buzz of grasshoppers echoes in the quiet, and I’m reminded of how that same silence felt strained and laced with grief the last time I was here.

I’m at Maddie’s. A desperation to see her with my own eyes guides me as I approach the still house. She’s left me no choice but to show up unannounced, and if she doesn’t like it, then tough shit.

Ever since the funeral, I’ve felt her pulling away; her replies to my messages have been sparse, and although she’s letting my cousins and Chloe in, she’s shutting me out. Some might say I should take the hint and leave her alone, but something about that doesn’t feel right to me.

As I’m walking down the path toward her front door, it opens and Deacon steps outside. He doesn’t notice me right away, but seeing him stops me in my tracks as caution weaves its way under my skin.

Did she send him out here?

My guard is firmly in place, and I’m fully prepared to push past him if he tries to send me away. I need to see her with my own eyes, to know that she’s okay and at least surviving. I’ve hardly been sleeping. My worry for her keeps me up, and I’ve been badgering people at every chance to find out tidbits of information about her.

When Deacon turns toward me, surprise flitters across his face. She doesn’t know I’m here. I breathe a sigh of relief, forcing my shoulders down from where they’ve lifted to my ears.

“I’m surprised it’s taken you this long to come around, Wilde,” Deacon says, ambling down the front porch steps. “Given the show you put on at the hospital.”

I clench my jaw, meeting Deacon in the middle of the path. “I was giving her space,” I reply, trying to keep the defensiveness out of my tone. “And just so we’re clear. It wasn’t a show. I care about Maddie.”

He rocks back on his heels, his eyes searching mine before he says, “So it seems.” He pauses before scrubbing a hand over his jaw. “I know we have history, but if you’re serious about Mads, we need to bury it. For her sake.”

I grind my back molars. “That’s easy for you to say. You ended my football career with a careless tackle.”

A spark of something I can’t quite name lights up his eyes, and he straightens his spine, standing taller. “And I apologized for it.”

“It didn’t do a fat lot of good, did it?” I bite, taking a step forward. “You took the choice away from me. It wasn’t just football. It was everything that came after. Everyone acted like I should be grateful I could still walk, like that was enough.” I shake my head. “You don’t get to decide when that stops mattering to me.”

His gaze shifts away before he drags it back to me. “I know I don’t. And I know sorry doesn’t fix it, but I’ve lived with that tackle every damn day since. You weren’t the only one it changed.”

The door opens behind him, and when I look around Deacon, I find Maddie, half-hiding behind the door. She looks thinner, her cheeks hollow and her eyes slightly sunken. Something inside of me softens, and the need to protect her surges up. I hate the fact that she’s hurting too much to take care of herself.

Turning back to Deacon, I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans. He looks behind himself before turning his attention back to me.

The weight that sits on my chest any time I’m around Deacon eases, just enough for me to know that what I’m about to say is the truth. “I’ve been holding on to this shit for years. I think we both have. Somewhere along the way, I guess—at least for me—it became less about what I actually felt and more about how it just was.”

“I’m not trying to make excuses, but I was stupid and young. I thought I knew better than what Coach was telling me. You might not believe me, but I really am sorry. These past few weeks have shown me just how short life is.” Deacon scuffs his foot across the path, kicking up the small stones.

“I think it’s time we let go of this. Not just for Maddie, but for us too.”