Unbreakable Read online

  “Everything okay, Mav?” I ask softly. I can’t read his expression as he glances around the living room.

  Will shoves his keys into the pocket of his shorts and nods. “Yeah, I’m okay. It’s always going to be weird at first when I come in and they aren’t here. But the feeling eventually passes.”

  I fling my arms around his waist and wrap him in a huge hug. The smell of spring water, soap, and sandalwood invades my senses.

  God, I’ve missed him so much.

  “I’m always here for you, Mav. You know that, right?”

  He plants a chaste kiss on the top of my head. “I know, Sunshine. C’mon. Let’s air this place out, okay? It’s stuffy in here.”

  We go through the cottage and open all the doors and windows before turning on the air conditioning. Will turns the main water valve on, and we let the rust run out of the taps to clear the lines. We finish with a little light dusting before putting sheets and blankets on our beds.

  Fifteen minutes later, Will flops down on the couch and pulls off his hat, running his fingers through his messy hair. I sit next to him and put my bare feet up on the coffee table.

  “So, what’s new with Will Maverick? Are you seeing anyone special in Toronto?”

  Will’s very closemouthed about women. He dated a few girls when we were teenagers, one more serious than all the rest, but since he’s joined the Smoke, he’s never even mentioned a girl.

  At least to me.

  He gives me an amused look. “We talk all the time. Why would you ask me that now?”

  I shrug. “Yeah, but you never talk to me about women.”

  “What women? I’ve been too busy working out and playing hockey to even think about starting something up with anyone.” He stretches his long, muscular legs out in front of him and winks at me.

  That wink… it does funny things to my tummy.

  “So you’ve adopted a celibate lifestyle?”

  He snorts. “I didn’t say that.”

  Gah! He’s talking in circles, and it’s making me crazy.

  Lilly Weir, who I've known since kindergarten, told me that she’d hooked up with Will a few times. I’d been equal parts shocked and… well, jealous.

  I had a hard time believing her at first. Lilly and I have had our share of issues over the years. She’s done a few questionable things during the course of our friendship that hurt me.

  I know she hooks up with a lot of guys, but she just doesn’t seem like Will’s type. When I mentioned that, she’d laughed and said, “Honey, Will hooks up with lots of girls. He’s become quite the player since joining the Smoke. And I don’t just mean on the ice.”

  It didn’t help that she said the sex was off the charts incredible.

  I just can’t picture Will being a player, but—let’s face it—if he’s hooking up left and right, he kinda is. But he just doesn’t come off like a cocky guy eager to get into the next pair of panties.

  “You never tell me anything,” I pout.

  Will laughs. “Em, there’s nothing to tell.”

  I think of Lilly again and cross my arms. “Somehow I seriously doubt that.”

  I’d never really thought of Will as being boyfriend material, but before I broke up with Aidan, things started to change. I’d get this happy feeling when I saw Will’s name light up my cell phone. It was Will who always texted to see how I was doing. It was Will who’d message me silly things or call just to talk about nothing.

  Will gave me everything I needed emotionally. He made me feel good about myself, and I could let my guard down completely with him.

  When it came to Aidan, I always felt like I did everything wrong. That’s when I knew I had to end things.

  Will glances over at me. “We should probably go shopping and lay in a supply of food for the next week or so. We need to get some stuff for dinner tonight, too.”

  I frown. “You know I can’t cook. Or grill.”

  “Oh, yeah. I know,” he says with a straight face. “I wouldn’t even trust you with a toaster, let alone a grill.”

  “Will!” I grab a fluffy throw pillow from the couch and give him a few whacks with it. He holds a cushion up to block my attack.

  I know he’s thinking about the time I set the tree branch above our patio on fire when I attempted to grill a few steaks. The fire department had to come, and it was totally humiliating.

  “How do you feed yourself, Em? Do you eat out every single day?” He snatches the pillow out of my hands.

  “No,” I say defensively. “I have a microwave.”

  “Of course you do. But you know most of that packaged stuff is total crap, right?” He stands and takes my hands, tugging me off the couch. “C’mon. Let’s go get you some real food for a change.”

  We spend an hour wandering around the grocery store. Will loads up the cart with all kinds of healthy foods like chicken, fruit, oatmeal, and fresh veggies. He shakes his head when I grab two boxes of my favorite sugary breakfast cereal.

  “This cereal’s the best,” I say, tossing the boxes into the cart. “It’s practically a breakfast staple for me.”

  He laughs. “Okay, Sunshine. Whatever you want.”

  Once back at the cottage, we divvy up the bags to carry inside. Will’s holding five loaded bags on each arm with ease, and I’m struggling with four bags total.

  He glances over his shoulder at me. “You okay back there?”

  “Sure, I’m fine.” Once we reach the kitchen, I hurl my bags onto the granite-topped island and wince at the sound of a glass jar cracking.

  Will grins. “Break something, darlin’?”

  “Shit! I’m sorry. You make carrying these look easy. I guess I got a little cocky.”

  “I packed them a little heavy. Sorry about that.”

  As I unpack the groceries, I can’t help sneaking little looks at him. The t-shirt he’s wearing clings to his biceps, and his faded blue jeans hug the curve of his ass just right. I’m sweating just looking at him.

  He nods toward the window and pulls a stovetop grill from under the sink. “It looks like it’s going to rain, so I thought we could grill up some chicken and veggies for dinner. We can have that fruit salad we bought for dessert. Quick and easy.”

  “Easy? Didn’t we just talk about what a disaster I am in the kitchen?”

  “Well, can you at least chop up the veggies while I man the grill?” He hands me a few peppers and an eggplant. “Cut the peppers into strips and slice up the eggplant. I’ll put the mushrooms and asparagus on the grill whole.”

  “Sure, I can do that.”

  He watches me as I get to work chopping and cutting. Thankfully, I don’t mangle anything too badly.

  “Not bad,” he says, examining the veggies. “Your technique could use some work, but these will do just fine.” He takes the cutting board off of the counter and winks at me.

  Okay, that wink is starting to feel like foreplay. I can’t deny the awareness that winds its way through my body. It’s not lack of sex or being without a boyfriend right now.

  It’s just him.

  “What, no smart ass response? You’re losing your touch,” he teases.

  I snap out of my reverie and force a smile. “When and where did you learn to cook like this?”

  He shrugs. “You figure stuff out for yourself when you’re on your own. Besides, cooking is a life skill everyone should have. I need to eat a certain way when I’m training and playing hockey. It’s necessary. Gotta put the right fuel in the tank.”

  I nod. “Right. Of course.”

  A few years ago, Will was still doing a lot of takeout and no-cook meals. Between losing his parents and playing for the Smoke, he’s really grown up. It seems like he’s five years older than me instead of just one—at least when it comes to this stuff.

  He fixes us each a plate while I pour us two glasses of white wine.

  “Do you want to eat out on the porch, Em?”

  “Sure.” The screened-in porch is one of my favorite spots in
the entire cottage. It’s large, with comfy patio furniture and a little dining table. When I was younger, I used to sit out here and stare at the lake for hours until Will and Sully dragged me off on one of their ridiculous adventures.

  Will takes a seat across from me at the table. I hand him his wine, and we clink glasses.

  “To vacations and relaxing,” I toast.

  “Cheers.”

  Will made a lemon sauce to drizzle over the chicken and veggies, and it smells heavenly. I pour it all over my food and take a big bite.

  “Will.” I close my eyes and let out a happy little moan. “Oh my God. It’s so good.”

  I haven’t had a home-cooked meal in ages, and this is simply incredible. When I open my eyes, Will’s staring at me, an odd expression on his handsome face.

  “What? What’s wrong?” I grab for my napkin. “Did I get lemon sauce on myself?”

  “Uh, no.” He clears his throat. “That’s just quite a reaction for a simple chicken dinner.”

  I glance down at my plate, realizing my reaction was more orgasmic than appreciative. I grab my wine and take a huge gulp, flushing from the tips of my ears all the way down to my chest.

  “Oh,” I mumble. “Well, it’s been awhile.”

  Aaand that sounds a lot better, Emmy.

  “Since I’ve had a home cooked meal, I mean.” Oh, God. Can this get any more embarrassing?

  The corners of Will’s mouth turn up, and he looks like he’s trying not to laugh. “Sure.” He nods. “Gotcha.”

  Sighing, I toss my napkin down on the table. “This is mortifying.”

  Will laughs and covers my hand, giving it a little squeeze. “It’s okay, Em. I just didn’t realize my food had such an effect on women.” He waggles his eyebrows at me playfully.

  Being alone with Will and drinking wine at this two-person dining table makes this feel like a first date. It brings my awkwardness out full-force.

  “So, explain to me what happened with Aidan. What really happened,” he says, giving me a pointed look. “You should have told me that you two split up.”

  Yeah, I probably should have, but it would have been like admitting defeat. When Will met Aidan over Christmas break, he hadn’t been impressed with him at all. “Not good enough for you, Sunshine,” he’d whispered in my ear.

  “Well, I just realized that he’s not…” Hmm. I can’t exactly say that I’d compared the two of them and Aidan came up short in every way.

  Will lifts an eyebrow. “He’s not what?”

  He’s not you.

  I shrug. “Like I said, Aidan was missing the fun gene. He’s not an in-the-moment kind of guy. Everything with him was always about the two of us planning for a life I just wasn’t ready for, you know? When I thought about my future, I guess I couldn’t see him in it.”

  “No?”

  “Come on, Will. Can you imagine him up here at the cottage with us, hanging out? Or at a hockey game? It was a nightmare just getting him to go to Toronto last Christmas. And at school, he never wanted to grab a burger or see a movie with me. Everything was about going to the best restaurants and being with the right people. That’s not the kind of guy I want.”

  “There’s nothing wrong with not wanting to settle, Sunshine.”

  The look on his face is so sweet and tender that I have to look away. I take another bite of the chicken and force a smile. “I know.”

  But did I?

  I’d let my father push me into a major I didn’t want so I can eventually get into law school and become a lawyer. I don’t see myself doing those things, either.

  “I think I just need to shake things up,” I continue. “I’m young, it’s summer, and I’m here at this beautiful cottage. I need to get out and have fun, you know? Meet new people. Get outside and swim and hike and relax. Maybe hook up with a hot guy. I just want to enjoy this time before everything ends, and I have to go back to New York and face reality again.”

  He frowns. “Sully’s not going to let you go off and hook up with some strange guy, Em.”

  “Well, Sully doesn’t get a say in what I do,” I retort.

  I know Sully sees himself as my great protector, but I’m not going to let him blow my summer. No way, no how.

  “Well, I guess not, but…” He shakes his head. “Never mind.”

  “No. What were you going to say?”

  “You’re just not that kind of girl.”

  I cross my arms. “I’m not what kind of girl?”

  He leans back in his chair. “C’mon, Em. We’ve known each other for how many years now? You’ve never been the girl who hooks up with some guy she just met.”

  I push my empty plate away. “I’m sick and tired of staying in my comfort zone. Between being away from everyone and living in New York City, school, breaking up with Aidan, and not to mention my parents’ divorce—” I shake my head. “I really need to escape the drama for a little while. I think I deserve some fun, and a summer fling sounds perfect.”

  “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”

  “Right. So it’s not okay for me to hookup, but it’s totally okay for you?” I glare at him. “I still have friends in Toronto, Will, and they’ve told me that you’re hooking up all over town. So spare me the protests that you aren’t seeing anyone. To me, it sounds like you’re seeing everyone.”

  Wow. That comes out way bitchier than I meant it to, but I’m so tired of everyone trying to control my decisions. Will’s usually the exact opposite. He’s always on my side.

  “Excuse me? Who the hell told you that?”

  “Does it even matter? God, I hate when guys think it’s fine for them to do whatever, but when it comes to women, you want to put us in all these boxes: girls who do, and girls who don’t. Girls you marry, and girls you fuck. It’s ridiculous!”

  He white-knuckles the stem of his wine glass. “Whatever you’ve heard about me, Emmy, you’re completely wrong.” His voice is clipped, and he runs a hand through his hair, a telltale sign that he’s upset.

  “Oh come on, Mav. You treat me exactly like my brother does. Like I’m a delicate flower who can’t get stepped on. One overbearing brother is enough, thank you very much. I don’t need another one.”

  Will stands and gives me an icy glare. It’s a look I’ve never seen directed at me, until now.

  “You know what? I’m gonna call it a night. It was a long drive, and I’ve been up since six a.m.” He pauses. “And Emmy? Just so we’re clear? I have zero interest in being another brother to you.”

  He goes into the kitchen, puts his plate in the sink, and climbs the stairs without so much as a look back.

  Guilt quickly consumes me. Will didn’t deserve my little outburst.

  Still, I can’t help wondering… what exactly did he mean by that?

  Chapter Three

  WILL

  Standing in the shower, I go over everything Emmy said to me downstairs. Christ, the idea that she thinks I see her as a little sister is fucking hilarious. When she took a bite of her dinner and moaned my name, I wanted to vault over the table and drag her up to my room like a goddamned caveman.

  I shouldn’t have left her like that, but I didn’t want to say something I’d regret. And I’d really love to know who’s telling her I’m screwing women all over Toronto, because that’s a bunch of shit.

  Okay, I haven’t exactly been celibate or anything, but I’ve only had sex with three women in the past year. That’s supposed to elevate me to player status? That’s not even close.

  There’s plenty of women who wait for us outside of the arenas, no matter what city we’re playing in. But I’ve never been into fucking women who are only into me because I play hockey.

  Sully always gives me shit for not taking advantage of our situation. At least once every few weeks, he reminds me that I’m missing out on all the fun. What am I supposed to do, tell him I’d rather go home alone with fantasies of his sister and my right hand?

  I’m not sure how I’ll manage to
get through the next nine days, especially if Emmy’s hell bent on hooking up with some random guy while we’re up here. It will fucking kill me. I’m walking a fine line trying to talk her out of it because she’s right—it’s not my place to tell her what she can or can’t do. She’s not my girl.

  I flip off the taps, dry myself off, and head back into my bedroom. After pulling on my cotton sleep pants, I turn off the light and climb into bed.

  Em still hasn’t come upstairs. I almost want to go back down and try to end this night on a better note, but honestly, it’s probably better to let it go and get a fresh start in the morning.

  I drift off to sleep with the faint noise of the television in the background and the soft clinking of plates and dishes as she loads the dishwasher.

  “Will! Oh my God, Will!”

  I jolt awake to Emmy shrieking from the next room. I’m across the hall in two seconds flat, holding the baseball bat I keep stashed under my bed. Emmy stands in the doorway of her bedroom, hopping from foot to foot and shivering.

  “What is it? What’s wrong?” I hold up the bat as I scan the room for intruders. Christ, I can barely see.

  “On the wall. Above the bed.” She grabs me around the waist and buries her head in the crook of my arm. “Please, Will. I can’t go back in there.”

  “Shh. It’s okay, honey.”

  I lean the bat against the wall and run my hands up and down her back, and then I peer inside of the room to see why she’s freaking out.

  Jesus H. Christ.

  The biggest spider I’ve ever seen is crawling slowly along the wall, two inches above the headboard of the bed.

  It’s a fucking monster. If spiders had a king, this one is it. Other spiders would bow down to this goddamn beast. It has a fat blue body, long hairy legs, and is as big as my hand.

  Maybe even bigger.

  “Holy shit,” I mutter. “Look at that thing!”

  She shakes her head, and a few strands of her hair tickle my chest. “No. I can’t. Please, I can’t look.”

  Emmy’s notorious for waking people in the middle of the night to kill spiders the size of a dime. This thing is going to give her nightmares for the rest of her life. I’m not afraid of spiders, but even I’m not thrilled with the idea of getting close to that horror.