Page 102 of Trusting a Warrior

“So anyway, Cade heard us bitching and organized a baseball game, but not just any baseball game.” Rhys paused. “An opposite-hand baseball game. Whatever your dominant hand was, you could only pitch, throw, bat, whatever, with the other one. That was some of the funniest shit I’ve ever seen, oh, my God. He really saved our sanity.”

Several other guys chimed in with stories about running into Cade over the years, and almost all were about when he’d used humor to boost morale, to motivate or to encourage.

The ever-present lump rose into Geo’s throat. Like that stupid bet. That stupid, wonderful bet.

Miss you, Cade-Man.

At the end of the impromptu memorial service, Renae wiped a few tears from her cheeks. “I loved hearing this. Thank you for letting me see my husband through your eyes.”

Glasses were raised all around.

“To Cade!”

“’Til Valhalla, brother.”

“Long live the brotherhood.”

The toasts finished, someone turned the music back up and the SEALs settled in to party. Renae approached Geo and gave him a long, fervent hug. “I can’t tell you how much today has meant to me and the girls. You’ve helped us feel normal again, and I’ll never, ever forget it.”

He hugged her back, then said tentatively, “Ari invited me to watch one of her games. Is that—”

“Of course it’s fine with me, but Geo, it’s not your job to play dad, you know. If you don’t want to—”

“I want to.” Taking a deep breath, he went on, “I lost my own father at about her age. Yeah, it’s different, but in some ways it’s the same. I know what it’s like to be a grieving little kid.”

Standing on tiptoe, she pressed a kiss to his cheek. “You’ll be a blessing to her, then, George. And to me. Thank you.”

After she’d headed inside to check on the kids, Lani walked up and took his arm. “You okay?”

He told her about his conversation with Ari on the roof. “I keep taking your advice to talk about the person Cade was. Hands down, it’s the best advice I’ve ever gotten.”

She smiled, a warmth in her gold-flecked eyes that sent an answering quiver through him. “Every life has meaning, no matter how it ended. Focusing on that makes all the difference.”

He couldn’t help but tilt her chin up to give her a gentle kiss. “You’ve made all the difference.”

Her face softened. “Geo, I—”

Whatever she was about to say was lost when Devon called out, “Hey, Lani, get over here! We have baby shower questions!”

With an apologetic wrinkle of her nose, she squeezed his arm and headed over to the lively group of women. Not far away from them, Rhys leaned against the railing talking to Matt and Shane, who were standing arm in arm, Shane’s hand resting possessively on Matt’s hip.

Something Rhys said made them burst into laughter, and Shane pulled Matt closer and kissed the top of his head.

“That’s some fuckin’ next-level shit.”

Turning, Geo saw Grizz sprawled out with a beer in hand, staring at Matt and Shane. He grunted. “Apparently everything is to you, man. What is it now?”

“That.” Grizz lifted his chin toward the two men, in the next instant letting out a yelp when his wife leaned over and swatted him on the arm.

“Are you serious? Two guys in love and showing affection? That’s surreal to you?”

“What?” An expression of sincere confusion flitted across Grizz’s face. “No! What I mean is, look at him! Knytych’s smiling. Baby, he never smiles, not like that.”

Geo had to agree. “It’s true.”

Indeed, Matt’s happiness radiated from him, the kind of happiness that came from having found his place in the world, and from knowing that he was loved.

“They’re some of my favorite dudes, you know,” Grizz went on indignantly. “I’d never hate on them.”