“You saw your life flash before you?”
“No, I knew I liked you.”
“Why’s that?”
“There’s a saying in the Navy—Ship. Shipmate. Self. I loved that you were protecting and defending ALPHA and everyone who worked there.”
“Thanks, but looking back, it was a little extreme.”
“We’re coming up to a fork,” Brit said. “Right or left?”
“Same distance?”
“Left is longer. I’m good with longer.”
“Same. It’s too beautiful to be inside today.”
“I’m here for you, even if you don’t want to talk about whatever is going on between you and Carrera.”
“It’s not gonna change anything.”
“Talking helps me get clarity, then I can let it go.”
Slash grew silent as she thought about talking to Brit.
“I’ve never talked to anyone in our circle about what happened,” Slash said. “We’re already a close group, especially since we’re in BLACK OPS?—”
“I wouldn’t tell anyone. Not Addison, not even Joaquin.”
More silence as Slash wrestled with her demons.
Tell her. See if it helps.
“Carrera and I were together our senior year of high school,” Slash began. “First loves, you know, the V-card for both of us.”
“Wow, that’s so special.”
They rounded the corner, continued jogging.
“Why did you break up?”
“He dumped me when he learned who I really was.”
Brit looked over. “What does that mean?”
Carrera
After Rebel laidout a large blanket in the backyard, the babies started crawling around. Clark moved off the blanket and was staring at the grass, so Rebel lifted him up, and zoomed him around like an airplane.
“So I’d fallen in love with her,” Carrera said as he stood Willow in front of the activity walker. After helping her grip the bar, she took a few steps, then plopped down in the grass.
“Did she love you?” Rebel asked.
“Yeah, she did. I thought she was the one.”
“Why’d you break up?”
“It’s complicated,” Carrera replied as he set Willow on the blanket and placed a stacking ring in front of her. After removing all the rings, he handed one to her.
