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CHAPTER12
- DAX -
After letting a wave carry me gently into the shoreline, I stand and pluck my surfboard out of the water.
The waves have gotten the better of me today, and with the beaches packed from the holiday crowd, there was no hiding it.
I blame Millie. The distraction of her seems to be throwing off my balance.
Literally.
I carry my board back to her house, let the dog out in the backyard, and then take a quick shower to rid myself of the saltwater. Even seven hours after we parted ways this morning, my body still thrums in that contented way it usually does after spectacular sex—a sensation that seems to be amplified by a gorgeous day on the water.
I expected a lot from my summer. Days on the surf, the ocean breeze filling me, that special aroma of saltwater blended with sunscreen, and so much sand between my toes that I’d still be picking at it on a Thursday. That was what I’d hoped for.
This is one of those rare moments in my life when my reality is far exceeding my expectations.
Sex this morning—after a run, of all times—was unexpected. And I can’t help thinking of what I’d told Mason not long ago—that I’d hit the lottery when it came to housemates.
I could have gone for more, shirked the beautiful weather and spent the entire day in bed with Millie if she hadn’t needed to run to work. She left too quickly—too quickly for us to figure out exactly what the hell just happened, and more importantly, when we can do it again.
In her backyard, I toss Junie’s favorite toy a few times until she loses steam. Then, after noticing the weeds growing in what looks like a former garden bed, I start plucking them from the ground. I like helping out around here. It makes me want my own house one day when the Army stops moving me around. I’d like to plant myself someplace and just stick.
When Junie gives me the look like she’s longing to rack out on her favorite spot on the sofa again, I take her in and eat a couple protein bars because it’s just one of those lazy days where even making myself a sandwich seems too much effort.
I wonder how Millie’s holding up. First, I worked her hard on the run, and then after… well, I’m pretty confident that hersecondworkout of the morning was more worth the effort. But racing off to the diner afterward was probably not the best way to start what she said is their busiest day of the year.
So, glancing at my watch, I head to the diner to take advantage of that post-lunch lull she mentioned and see if she might be up for that coffee break I promised her.
And while we’re at it, I’d love some answers to the questions that keep popping up in my head. Like, does this mean that she’s tossing out her rule about military guys?
Does this mean I can take her out and dare to say that four-letter word she seems averse to…date?
And whatexactlywas it that I did that made her launch herself into my arms this morning so that I can replicate it every weekend this summer?
Yep. I have many questions.
On my way out, I glance at another one of the photos she has on her wall of her with her brother and sister—all three siblings flying high in the sky in a parasail.
I’ve jumped out of airplanes and helicopters, but I’ve never parasailed.
Damn, that looks fun.
It makes me smile at the connection I see among the three of them. That’s the sort of photo that always made me wish for siblings. It would have been nice to basically have a default friend living under the same roof.
Of course, we might have hated each other. I do tend to idealize the concept of siblings.
Typical only child syndrome.
After I went to West Point, I had so many honorary brothers that I rarely longed for siblings anymore. And then when I became a Ranger—well, that’s a brotherhood I’d argue is even thicker than blood.
My eyes focus on the brother for a moment before I finally head out the door.
When I take risks, I don’t have a family that worries about me back home. I always felt the lack of that.
But hearing what Millie went through when her brother was injured makes me wonder if I haven’t been lucky to not have that on my mind when I deploy.
I never need to worry about a family worrying about me. I don’t think twice about taking a risk because I don’t have a mom or dad or wife back home wringing their hands, waiting for news. Hell, the last time I got back from a deployment, the only messages I had from my parents were demands for bail money.
