“Aah, fair enough.” The lingering grin on his face tells me he knows there’s more to the story. “So … someone I know?”
And there it is – the interrogation I knew was coming.
“Nope.” Maybe if I keep my answers short and don’t encourage him, he’ll give up.
“Where’d y’all meet?”
“Seriously, dude? What’s with the interro?”
Stopped at a red light, he turns to study me, an eyebrow raised quizzically and that damned grin still firmly in place. “Ooh, grumpy.”
For the second time, I reach over and punch him on the arm. “You’re just lucky I can’t kick your ass.”
“Yep, that’s me, Lucky by name and lucky by nature.” His guffaw at his own lame joke has me joining in this time. You can’t stay in a bad mood around the man.
“Hey, Agatha’s got a girly thing going this morning with Indigo. Wanna join me and Knight for breakfast?”
“Yeah, sure. Sounds like a plan. I could certainly eat.” Just then we pull up next to my truck, still securely parked in Aces’ lot. “When and where?”
“I’m actually headed his way now.” He names a place not too far from my home.
“Cool. I’m gonna grab a quick shower, and I’ll meet you there.” I climb out of his truck. Before I close the door, I lean back in. “Thanks, bud. Appreciate the lift.”
“Anytime, brother. See you shortly.”
He gives me a snappy salute as I close the door. I watch as he pulls out of the parking spot and leaves the lot, staring sightlessly for long minutes after he’s gone. Thoughts riot through my brain, and I can’t prevent them from turning to Eloise.
With my history, relationships have always been something I’ve avoided at all costs. There’s an insidious, ever-present fear in the back of my mind that I could very easily turn out to be exactly like my father – and that’s something I have no intention of inflicting on a woman. No woman ever deserves to live through the hell he put my mother through. So, rather than take the chance, I’ve avoided anything long term.
But Eloise, well, unexpectedly she makes me yearn for what I’ve never had. I can’t help but wonder what it would be like to wake up to her every morning. What it would be like to do things with her, experience things. Or even something as simple as having her be there, waiting for me when I get home from a deployment.
Thoughts of her bring me back around to the night before and, standing in front of my own truck, I wonder how she’s going to get back to her own car. Maybe she’ll get a taxi back. Or maybe she’s lucky enough to also have a friend that’ll give her a lift.
The backfiring of a vehicle nearby draws me from my wayward thoughts to find myself still standing where Lucky left me. Shit, Lucky. And Knight. Breakfast. Best I get my ass moving before I have to endure another inquisition. Then again, there’s no guarantee that I won’t have to over breakfast anyway.
Heaving a sigh at the thought, I get into my vehicle and head for home, and that much-needed shower.
7
ELOISE
Closing the door behind me, I blow out a breath and lean against the wooden panel for a minute. Despite how awkward that was, I find myself regretful over Bear’s leaving. It’s moments like this that I fully realize the sacrifice I’m making, choosing not to get into a long-term relationship. It just wouldn’t be fair to any man that has intentions of having kids at some point.
I look over at the clock on the living room wall and see it’s still pretty early – eight thirty is far earlier than I’d like to be awake on a Sunday morning. Dragging my feet, I head back to bed. Since I only need to report for duty at three this afternoon, there’s still plenty of time to nap before I need to get ready for work.
With a deep sigh, I push away from the door and thrust the list of chores I wanted to get done this morning to the back of my mind. Tomorrow’s another day. I’d far rather just grab a couple more hours of shut-eye before I have to go deal with the shit humanity gets up to on the daily.
Crawling back under the covers, I lay for a while drifting as I allow sleep to tug at the edges of my mind. It isn’t long before I feel myself going under, but on the periphery the nightmare hovers, waiting for its opportunity to suck me into its darkness.
“Hey, welcome back.” Slowly, painfully, I turn my head toward the voice and see my captain standing beside my bed.
“Hey,” I croak. It feels like I’ve swallowed sandpaper.
“Want a drink of water?” she asks.
I nod, and my vision wavers, instantly making me nauseous.
“What happened?” I ask. No need to ask where I am – the smell of disinfectant tells me all I need to know. The problem is, I don’t remember why I’m here.
