Page 128 of Resurgent

My stomach tightens we've all done the best we can of not talking about him the last few months.

"You're literally shattering your own argument since you go to the Staggering Ox and you are nothing like him," I say softening my voice. "Neither are Josh, or James, or Antonio."

"You're right. I would never do the shit he did to you to a girl, even if I'd just met her," he winces at his own harsh words, but doesn't pretend to apologize when we both know he means every word. "BUT, I am still a guy who hits on chicks and takes them home for one night stands. I'm open about my intentions, but still, not the guy to bring home to your parents."

"Unless, you want your dad to get his ass kicked…which I think you might be close to being able to accomplish with the Sheriff," I wink as I reach out to squeeze his biceps. "These have gotten a lot bigger, you know?"

"Your flattery isn't going to distract me, Lee. Don't even waste your breath."

"Damnit," I mumble under my breath as I throw myself onto my bed to put my feet up.

"Right. And don't bring the guys into this. James is practically petrified of talking to girls once he's close enough to be heard, I'm not sure Antonio has ever hit on a girl in a bar until Sasha, and Josh isn't there to hit on sweet, drunk girls."

"Aww, you think I'm sweet!" I say with a big smile. "And not that anyone's going to hit on me, but even if they did I'm a big girl, Mattey. I can turn them down all on my own."

"Lee—"

"Mattey, you won't always be there to watch out for me. In a few months, we could get sent to different duty stations and then put on different missions. Plus, I can't stay locked up here. I'm obviously not going home with anybody, or going on any stupid adventures I'll regret the next day. I'll even message you when I'm on my way back and you can meet me in here and we'll have a sleepover."

"I just..."

"I know. Trust me I do. I love you, and I really wish she hadn't made this a girl thing, but I also need to prove to myself that I can do this. Mattey, please understand."

His facial expressions give away the silent argument he's having with himself, before swallowing each one.

"What did HE say about it?"

"We're in a relationship, not an ownership. We talked about it, but it wasn't his decision to make."

"Which means he said…"

"That it wasn't his decision to make."

"And…"

"And that if anything happens I call him immediately so he can come down and disembowel whoever lays a finger on me before methodically skinning them alive with a dull dagger before he lets Tyr have a turn."

"They do it one time and now he thinks he can just cut me out of the torture rotation," he grumbles.

"Mattey—"

"Ok, fine! But you call ME first if something happens, okay? No being tough and trudging through. Someone pisses you off, looks at you the wrong way, hell—even if the wind blows the wrong way and it makes you uncomfortable…"

"You call me. Deal?"

I bite back a smile. "Deal."

"Good. Captain Asshole would draw too much attention, and everyone already expects me to be an asshole for you."

"I promise, Mom."

"Ew. That doesn't have the same charge to it that daddy does," he says, a slight smile tugging at his lips.

"Now, can we go to dinner? You've barely gotten to watch the disaster that is Bravo Company, and I need food."

"Yes, Daddy." I tease, climbing off the bed and patting his chest as I slide my shoes back on.

He makes a face, shuddering theatrically. “You just had to go and ruin a good thing for me, didn't you?"