"Meh, no big deal," Jess said. "We talked with the housing office, and they're actually in the same house I used to be in. So it's sort of a win-win. All I had to move out was my personal stuff, and I didn't have to worry about clearing housing and dealing with the inspection. Sabby and Hollywood get to start off with some basic furniture, and the move-in was super easy and casual."
"That's good." Linda plucked a wing. "So you're happily settled into your new place?"
"Yeah, it's actually really, really good." Jess grinned. "I've got an apartment right next to my gym. The gym owner's my landlord, if you can believe that."
"Sounds like you're in heaven," Linda said, glad for her. "And he's not charging you an arm and a leg?"
"Nope, in fact he's cutting me a deal," Jess said. "Basically, I keep an eye on the property when I'm around and off duty, and he doesn't charge me for gym membership. I'm literally making money living off post. So I guess I still am a bit of a tightwad."
"There's a difference between being a tightwad and being a smart negotiator, at least my business degree says so," Linda said. "So what's up? Why'd you want to grab lunch, anyway?"
"Well, I wanted to ask you something… off the books," Jess said. "About Hollywood."
Linda leaned in, intrigued. The two women couldn't be more different physically, despite being the same rank and in the same platoon. But they'd always been at least professionally friendly with each other, bonding over the fact they were the only two female non-commissioned officers in the entire battalion. In a lot of ways, Jess was the closest thing Linda had to a 'girl friend' on Fort Pickett.
But one of the reasons that they'd maintained their friendly professionalism was because they were, always and forever, professional. Both being team leaders, they might offer advice to each other, but also stayed out of each other's business as much as possible.
Business was business, and personal life was personal life. They rarely mixed in the relationship between Linda Castellanos and Jessica Adams.
However, Logan Goodman was someone they both had to deal with, and transcended the line between business and personal between them.
"What would you like to know, Jess?" Linda asked. "How he's doing? If I've been busting his chops too much?"
Jess laughed, leaning back in her booth seat. "Trust me, after dealing with me for a few months, Hollywood knows not to complain about his team leader ever again. Actually, last time he did say something about you. He said you were pretty cool. So take that for what you will."
Actually, Linda did. She knew that her style was different from Jess, who was hard charging. She was much more of a disciplinarian, more by the book while Jess was rough and tumble. But they both got the job done, and Linda was secretly pleased by Goodman's praise.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome. And Sabby's happy, so you're obviously giving him enough time at home to handle the… icky stuff." Jess made Linda laugh.
She was foul mouthed, could go toe to toe with anyone, and was maybe the toughest soldier in the platoon.
But anything to do with real-life penises in a sexual realm left Jess Adams feeling queasy and talking like a pearl-clutching old lady. Dicks became 'equipment,' and sex became 'icky stuff.' Linda had always been comfortable with Jess's sexuality, and had no problem exposing herself to Jess when there was a company-wide drug test and she, Jess, and Lieutenant Starr had to observe each other pissing into the plastic cups.
It was still worth a good laugh though to watch Jess transform from a badass into a baby.
Of course, the fact she was talking about her brother in law having sex with her sister didn't help.
"I'm glad your sister is still… satisfied," Linda said with a chuckle. "It's a good feeling."
"More on that later," Jess said. "I want all the damn tea spilled on your relationship with Superstar for my own personal curiosity. But Hollywood… I gotta ask, he's doing okay, professionally? I just… look, Linda. I feel like he's my baby too still. I started the man off, his very first team leader, and he got transferred away from me with the job only half done. And since he's family, I just worry about him even when I'm not supposed to."
"Well don't," Linda reassured Jess. "Goodman's a good soldier. He's still right on track to pin on Specialist soon. Although last time he and I talked, he's going to hold off on going to the Basic Leaders Course until later, so it'll definitely be Specialist and not Corporal. He wants to spend as much time with the squad, learn as much as he can… I think he wants to just have some solid time with the unit before he goes to school."
Jess nodded, sighing. "Yeah, makes sense. I mean, it's a good idea for him and Sabby. I'm not going to lie to you Linda, I don't like the idea of my sister or Hollywood leaving. Not when I'm just rebuilding a family again. And you know how the S-1 offices are. They say they're going to send him back to the unit?—"
"—Right up until they don't," Linda finished for her, and Jess nodded.
Army personnel was infamous for last-minute changes that disrupted people's lives. A reality they all lived with.
"You know it'll have to happen eventually. I mean, you're not too long for the unit yourself, you've been with the company for over two years now."
"I know, I know," Jess grumbled. "And it'll suck. On the bright side, the dating possibilities will hopefully drastically improve."
"Ah, to be the only muscle mommy in fifty miles." Linda clucked her tongue and shaking her head in mock sadness. She was on comfortable ground with Jess here, and felt like she was safe. "You must hate life."
"Definitely a lot more than you. You're the one who's found someone," Jess pointed out. "And yes, while I love my gym here in Blackstone, I really, really could use an upgrade in my dating options."
