Page 21 of Loving a Warrior

He couldn’t help but mention it. “Nice shiner.”

Matt smirked. “Thanks. I got it whipping some clown’s ass at basketball. Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask: How does it feel, losing to a ‘shrimp’?”

Shane’s mouth fell open and he straightened indignantly. “What? I didn’t lose, asshole.”

“Oh, I beg to differ.” Matt’s smirk widened to a full-blown grin. “When Salazar broke us up, I was ahead by one point.”

“No fucking way. I—” Shane trailed off mid-sentence as the realization smacked him upside the head. “Well, crap.”

“Want a rematch?” Matt nodded at the basketball court, his eyes alight with challenge.

“No.”

“Coward.”

“I have a lot to do today, Knytych, so I guess you’ll just have to think whatever you want.”

“Lots to do, huh?” Matt raised his eyebrow. “You mean like painting my helmet?”

Shane curled his lip at him. “Yes, you little shit. I’ll add it to the list.”

“You do that.”

They finished their workout in silence. After gathering up his things, Matt patted his stomach. “Fuck, I’m starving. I’m gonna take off.”

Shane was hungry, too, and sudden inspiration struck. He needed a ride home, so maybe he could kill two birds with one stone. “Hey, I’ll buy you breakfast if you give me a ride over to my house.”

Matt hesitated. “Sister still not around?”

“No, she’s not. You know what? Forget it. I’ll just call a cab—”

“IHOP,” Matt interrupted. “No chow hall food.”

Shane blinked. He could sense Matt’s reluctance, but apparently the thought of pancakes trumped whatever his problem was. Either way, Shane wanted to go home so he wasn’t going to question it. “Done. Meet you back here in a few.”

They trotted off toward their respective showers, and when Shane emerged ten minutes later, the base was starting to come alive, guys trudging from their rooms in workout gear, most headed out for a morning run or over to the gym for some weightlifting.

Matt jogged toward him, keys jingling in his hand. “Ready?”

“Let’s go.”

As he drove, Matt glanced curiously over at Shane. “You don’t have your own car?”

“No, I sold it when Alexis and I moved out here.” Shane toyed with the frayed hem of his cargo shorts. “IB is only a few minutes away from the base, so I figured she could drive me in hers or I could cab it if necessary. Why worry about insurance, gas and shit when I’m gonna be so busy and not home all that much?”

“Makes sense.”

“It works out great, unless she’s in El Cajon when I need a ride.”

“What’s in El Cajon?”

“Boyfriend.” Shane’s voice was terse, and Matt eyed him, but thankfully he dropped the subject and hung a left into the IHOP parking lot.

After giving their names and enduring a brief wait, they were finally seated at a small booth with steaming cups of coffee and thick menus in hand.

“What’ll it be, boys?” A slim, deeply tanned waitress in her fifties stood over them, pen poised expectantly. When they each ordered huge breakfasts, she raised her eyebrows. “BUD/S candidates, huh? Gotta replenish those calories.”

Shane opened his mouth to reply, but before he could, Matt said without missing a beat, “No, ma’am. We’re rodeo clowns.”