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I consider his question. Is it? I’m not really ready to come back, but that’s only because of Brinley. After last night… I don’t know. I feel compelled to see what could happen between us.
“I know we have a meeting scheduled this weekend.”
“Adler, you don’t need to come see me. When I said check in, I meant a call like this one. Jesus, you’ll do anything to get back on base.” He blows out a breath. “You need to find a life. Ever since…” He blows out a breath. “You haven’t taken any leave like you should, and you’re hyperfocused on what’s going on here to the point that you seem almost obsessive about your job. It’s not healthy. You need some perspective. You’ll be a better member of the service if you take this time and use it wisely.”
He’d know, I suppose. He has a wife, three kids, and a house. On the rare occasions I’ve seen them all as a family unit, it looks nice, but I learned a long time ago that you can’t always trust how a marriage looks from the outside. My mom would smile and be nice during my stepdad’s work functions, but she was always on pins and needles that she didn’t set him off. Otherwise she might see the back of his hand once they got home.
“Yes, sir. I’m trying. But about this weekend, something’s come up and I—”
“I hope it’s your dick that came up. Except I’m not sure you ever had that problem while you were on base. Is it a girl?”
“In a way, but not the way you’re thinking.”
I can imagine his shit-eating grin as he doubts that what I’m telling him is the truth.
“Listen, I got more important shit to do than to talk to you all day. I don’t need another check-in. You report back after your eight weeks are up and the paperwork will be ready for you to sign. Remember what I said, Adler, you got one life. One life and that’s it. It’s way too short to spend it all with us. Plus, we’re getting sick of seeing your ugly mug. Have a good leave, Adler.” He hangs up.
I stare at the phone for a moment before tossing it on the couch next to me.
One thing is for sure—if I’m going camping this weekend with Brinley and her cousins, I’d better get us equipment. I’m sure Brinley thinks she has everything under control, but I have a little expertise at stuff like this.
I jot down a small list. If I was in Kodiak, I’d just go to my storage locker, but that’s not feasible, so it looks like I’m spending my day shopping.
I’m shocked when at about seven o’clock, Brinley walks into Lucky’s by herself. I’m clearing a couple glasses off the bar from a couple that just left, and I signal her over. Her dress is tight at her small waist, but it wraps around her body, so there’s a dip at her cleavage. It’s professional but still sexy as hell. I’m secretly jealous of every one of her coworkers for getting to admire her in it all day.
“You meeting someone here?” I ask.
She gives me that smile as if I’m trying to pull information out of her. “No, long day at work and I was bored at home, so I figured I’d come here and have a drink.”
“Well then, what can I get you?”
She smiles again and it’s as though we have our own secret language because she doesn’t even have to say the words. A rush of energy settles in my stomach.
“One beer, coming right up,” I say.
Sunrise Bay is expecting a storm, so Lucky’s isn’t busy, which means I get to spend a little extra time chatting with her. She drinks her beer and eats the pretzels from a new bag I opened just for her as we watch the television.
“So… this Girl Scout thing…”
Her eyebrows furrow. “What about it?”
“It’s mostly dads, right?”
She laughs then sobers when I don’t. When she leans over the bar, I shamelessly glance at her cleavage. “You can’t be jealous. We’re taking baby steps here, remember?”
“Weren’t you jealous of my dinner with a coworker last night?”
“No,” she scoffs, but she loses her serious expression a second later. “These are married dads, and I don’t go after married men.”
“I bet they aren’t all married. Some are probably divorced or maybe never married in the first place.”
“I wouldn’t know since it’s my cousins’ troop. Other than helping them sell cookies, I don’t get background checks on the parents.” She sips her beer.
I raise my hand and say goodbye to a group of four who say they need to get home before the snow gets too bad.
“I should go.” She slides off the stool.
The only people left are a twosome over by the pool tables and they’re just finishing their drinks.
