Page 95 of Beast

We ordered two cold-drip iced coffees and chocolate milk for Gabriel.

Annie was turned toward the coffee bar adding milk and sugar to our drinks. Some dickhead handed her the plastic covers and said something to her to make her blush. I wanted to punch him.

She handed me my coffee. Her cheeks were red.

I put my arm around her, grabbed Gabriel’s hand, and headed back to my truck.

I texted Vic and told him we were on our way. I really wanted to see how she would act around the other Team guys and their wives. I wasn’t trying to test her, yet I couldn’t help but be curious if there was any possibility she’d ever fit into my world. I mean, I was still going to ship out and be away from her again, without a doubt. But it was like there was a part of me that wanted to know for sure, wanted to see how stupid any vague lingering idea of us…. No. This could never work, no matter how much we might both want it. I’d used her once; I was one of her johns. And despite her claiming she was better, she was probably too emotionally damaged to be in a relationship.

God, she looked hot in her dress.

Forty minutes later, we arrived at Vic’s family’s house. The smell of cumin and lime wafted from the backyard.

I didn’t need to knock. We walked around the back and opened the gate.

About twenty other Team guys, plus their wives and kids, were milling around the yard. There was one of those bouncy houses for the kids. Gabriel’s eyes widened. I wasn’t sure if he was used to kid centric parties; somehow I doubted Annie’s parents had fully embraced him, but I honestly didn’t have a clue.

Vic spotted us. He poked Kyle to get his attention and they both came over.

“Annie! You look great.” Vic hugged her. “Thanks for coming.”

A hug wouldn’t satisfy Kyle. “Hey, sweetheart!” He lifted her in the air. She seemed more excited to see him than she had to see me. Not that I had anything to worry about—we never ever hit on another Team guy’s woman. “How’ve you been? Where are all the hottie friends you promised me?”

She smiled. “I’ll hook you up.”

Vic’s mother walked over to us, his daughter Carina trailing behind her.

“Mama, this is Annie and her son Gabriel,” Vic told her.

“Hola, mija. Bienvenida.” I loved Vic’s mom; she was like a second mother to me. She never hesitated to make food for an entire SEAL Team or drive downtown in the middle of the night to pick one of us up if we were smashed.

“Encantada, Señora Gonzales. Soy Analía.”

Vic’s mom seemed impressed by Annie’s fluent Spanish. Three-year-old Carina looked up at Annie and then back at Gabriel. Vic’s little princess was adorable—huge brown eyes, long wavy hair tied up in a bow. I admired how he made her his top priority when he was in town, knowing that as long as he remained in the Teams, they would spend more time apart than together.

“You wanna see my dolls?” Carina asked Gabriel.

Gabriel nodded.

Carina led Gabriel into the house, and Vic’s mom went to the kitchen.

Our Teammate Joe’s wife Tori walked over, carrying a tray of beers. Tori was a SEALs dream woman. Gorgeous, great mom, faithful. They’d been high school sweethearts. Joe had just been selected for SEAL Team Six, our most elite Team and was currently deployed. No doubt, his success was directly attributed to the love and support of his wife.

“Annie, this is Tori. Her husband Joe is one of my best friends. He’s deployed.”

Tori reached out her hand. “Hi, Annie. Nice to meet you. How did you meet Pat?”

Annie pulled on her hair, her face now white.

Fuck, we hadn’t prepared for questions. I was about to open my mouth, but Annie started talking.

“Pat picked me out of a line-up . . . . at a country bar and asked me to dance, said I was the prettiest girl there.”

I spit out my beer. “Annie was the most beautiful girl that night for sure, but she’s also a champion soccer star and a great mom. I fell for her the moment I met her.” I winked at Annie.

“Well, you must be pretty special, Annie. Pat never brings anyone around us. Ever. I’ve known him for eight years. He’s a good guy, saved my husband’s life. Why don’t you come over and I’ll introduce you to the other wives.”

Annie looked up at me, as if asking for permission. I squeezed her hand and she and Tori walked over to the other women.