Page 29 of Blitz & Breach


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"Thanks... you're being nice," Brutus said. "Look, another thing. Earlier this week, when I told you about myself, you said something to me that's really been sitting with me. You said you thought I could be more than a football player."

Linda nodded, smiling a little. "You could be. You're not a rocket scientist Brutus, but I'm not one either."

"Yeah well, you're like one of only a handful of people who thinks I can be more than a football jock," Brutus said, almost a trifle sadly. "The team wants me to be a football player, a linebacker. My agent wants me to be a football player so he can keep making two million dollars a year off of me, his cut of my contracts. My family wants me to be a football player, my dad says I need another two to three years before I can guarantee myself a spot in the hall of fame. That's something he never got a chance to do, as you know."

"Is that what you want, though?" Linda asked.

Brutus shrugged.

"What's that mean?"

"It means that even my ex-girlfriends have always been about me being a famous football player," Brutus said. "And rich. They wanted to be a Bluecat WAG more than anything else."

"WAG?"

"Wives And Girlfriends."

"Ah. Well, I don't give a damn about your money or your football career, and I like football," Linda said. "You're a good guy, Brutus."

"And that's why you're so... remarkable, Linda." Brutus took a deep breath. "Look, I know this might be stupid. I fucked up on Wednesday, so if you tell me to GTFO, I get it. I'll walk out the door knowing I fucked it up. But I'd like to be able to call you, to... to see you after this week. To get to know Linda Castellanos outside of the uniform, even if the uniform is part of who you are."

Before Linda could answer Brutus reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a card, thrusting it forward. "What's this?"

"My personal cell." He blushed. "I'm asking you out on a date, Linda. Next weekend, Saturday. I'll come by, pick you up if you'd like or meet you somewhere in town if you'd prefer... whatever. You don't have to answer me right now, you might still be thinking of me as a sergeant and not as Linda. But if you don't want to go out, just throw that card away. Like I said, I get it."

"Brutus... hey Brutus!" Tyrone Crews called from the hallway, and Brutus stuck his head out the door.

"Yeah?"

"Major Kirk was wondering if you were ready to clear the barracks!" Crews called. "Ready to sign out?"

"Yeah... one minute!" Brutus called, ducking back into Linda's room. "Anyway... think about it."

"I will." Linda held onto the card. "You know the CO and probably Remsburg would like a photo. Nothing big, just a selfie or something."

Brutus shrugged. "Don't tell anyone, but I already texted my agent. Next season, I'm treating all of Cranked to a home game. You guys'll have to figure out how to get to Bluecats Stadium though. I don't think we've got electric bike parking."

Linda laughed, and stuck out her tongue. "Go on, get out of here, Brutus. And I promise, I'll think about it."

Brutus smiled and left, leaving Linda looking at the card in her hand. She could see the handwritten number, along with a single quick inscription.

Please.

Going over to her wallet, she undid the Velcro flap and tucked it inside for later. She wasn't going to call him now, she wanted to think it over, take a shower, maybe grab a nap.

But the truth was, she already knew what she was going to do.

She was going out on a date with Brutus Townsend next Saturday.

10

BRUTUS

"So Brutus, how was your week with the Army?"

Brutus sat back in the chair, considering his answer before replying. He hadn't been to see Dr. Caster in two weeks. It felt different coming in now than it did before.

"Eye-opening," he said finally. "In a good way."