Page 72 of Loving a Warrior

As they drove back to Derek’s house, Derek said, “Hey, it’s not really my story to tell, but if you’re gonna get involved with Shane in any way, I think you should know at least this much.”

Matt glanced at him. “About that Jon guy, right?”

Derek looked surprised. “Yeah. Has Shane said anything?”

“No, but I’ve been picking up on some stuff lately.”

“He messed them both up pretty good, Shane and Lex. He may have died a hero, but he wasn’t a nice guy by any stretch of the imagination. Just—shit, just tread carefully when it comes to him, that’s all.”

Ah, clown. What’d he do to you? But all Matt said was, “Got it.”

He dropped Derek off with assurances he’d keep in touch. “I can’t guarantee an immediate response, but I promise I’ll never just blow you off.”

Again Derek’s shy smile, which struck Matt with its quiet beauty. “I know. See you.”

Matt waited until Derek was safely inside his house before driving back to the barracks, pleased at having made a new friend and wondering if Shane would have a problem with it. He grinned to himself at the thought of putting that clown in his place if he did.

Bring it.

Chapter Eighteen

“’Lo?”

“Where’re all the keys?” Shane’s voice sounded rough, gravelly, and Matt stifled a laugh. The dude had to be hurting.

He rolled over in bed and peered at the clock—it was noon—before giving a leisurely stretch.

“In a bowl on the top shelf of your pantry.” Matt could hear him yell the information to someone in the other room.

“They’re all leaving.” Shane let out a groan. “Thank fuck. I have the hangover from hell.”

“I bet.”

“No sympathy from you, huh?”

“None whatsoever.”

“I don’t deserve any.” Now Shane sounded downright pathetic. “I’m sorry, Soup.”

“For what? For having fun with some friends?”

“For drinking around you when I said I wouldn’t. I’m such an asshole.”

“Nah.” Matt plumped his pillow up behind him and got comfy. “I never asked you to make any grand gestures for me.”

“What? It wasn’t a ‘grand gesture,’” Shane said indignantly. “I was trying to be supportive!”

“I appreciate that. But I can handle it, you know. I only left last night because I got bored.”

Shane groaned again. “We were that obnoxious, huh?”

“What drunk guys aren’t?” Matt asked, cutting off Shane’s further attempt at an apology. “But if you really wanna be supportive—” He told him about the nearly empty beer bottle he’d encountered in Shane’s sink. “That tempted me more than it should have, and it’s why I left you that night. It’s not the parties that get to me; it’s those quiet times when I’m stressed and tired, and a beer just sounds really fucking good. If you wanna help, do me a favor and keep your empties out of sight when it’s just us.”

“Shit, Matt.” Shane’s voice was hushed. “Done. And I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It’s your house, and I was the dick that night.”

A short silence fell until Shane whined, “My head hurts so bad.”