When they continued into a section of the base that looked the same as the rest, they ran into another man Jolie introduced as O. Just O. No other name.
The sound of more male voices drifted from ahead, but Jolie led her around another corner and stopped in front of a door.
“This is where you’ll sleep.”
“Are we sharing a room?”
Jolie’s lips pressed together before smoothing again. “I already have a roommate. My boyfriend is part of the team.”
A pang struck her chest.
Her friend had left on what was supposed to be a short adventure to the mountains. Everyone thought she was missing, lost. Then Stina got word from Jolie’s sister that she was okay but wouldn’t be returning to work.
Stina rolled with the changes, but she hadn’t understood it. Not at all. One minute she had a friend she could count on, who she saw almost every day at the restaurant where they both worked. When they weren’t working, they were calling each other, having drinks or going window shopping since neither of them had money to spend.
But in the short time Jolie had been gone…she’d started a new life.
One Stina knew nothing about.
Jolie’s cheeks were flushed and her eyes a little too bright.
“Your boyfriend? Jolie. You’re in love!”
Her smile was immediate and wide enough to give Stina all the answers she needed.
She felt that pang again, a sharp prick of not being included in the secret.
Before she could think of anything to say, another pair of voices trickled down the hall. When she turned to see who was coming, she nearly groaned at the sight of Rome walking their way.
Suddenly, she felt a shift in Jolie. She seemed to vibrate beside her.
Her friend lit up with the kind of expression reserved for Christmas morning, lottery winners and women on their period who find chocolate hidden in the bottom of a drawer.
The hunky man next to Rome wasn’t even attempting to hide his grin as he immediately reached for Jolie.
“Let me guess—the boyfriend.”
Jolie slipped her arm around him at the same time he pulled her against his side. “Stina, this is Archer. Everyone on the team calls him Monk.”
Archer gave her a small nod and smile. “I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I wish I could say the same.”
Rome made a noise low in his throat, drawing her attention to him. He wasn’t smiling, which wasn’t a shocker.
Jolie reached out and opened the door of Stina’s room. “I think you have everything you need. I’ll bring you some clothes.”
Rome stepped into the opening before Stina could. He poked his head in and looked around. “What the hell? This is Townie’s room.”
“WasTownie’s room. He moved.”
Rome’s dark brows drew together like a lightning bolt zigzagged across his forehead. “Moved where?”
“He took the room across from me and Jolie,” Archer answered.
Rome’s eyes narrowed. “He just felt like moving rooms?”
“He wanted something closer to the gym. He likes to work out when he can’t sleep.”
