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Although Trevor only took me there once, it was all I needed to know just how hard he’d worked on getting himself back into shape after his amputation. He didn’t stop at his physical therapy exercises. He had his therapist, a former SEAL, help him go through the obstacle course, too. That way, Trevor wouldn’t be a liability when he had to head out to “the sandbox,” as he called it. He can’t complete the entire O-course given his amputation, but he can do it way better than I ever could.
“He must really like you to take you to the base,” Gabe says as he studies me. “What’s his name?”
“Trevor.” I eye my cousin suspiciously. “I know what you’re doing, Gabe, so stop it.”
He grins. “I’m just asking questions, but you are blushing.”
I clear my throat. “He’s also taken me to a few restaurants here and there, nothing special. Just two people hanging out.”
“Come here.” Gabe drapes an arm over my shoulders and pulls me close. “This guy better not break your heart because if he does, I’m going to beat his ass.”
I laugh. “I’m not so sure about that, Gabe. He’s Navy, remember? You may need reinforcements.”
“Alright, my reinforcements and I will beat his ass,” he says as he removes his arm from around my shoulders. “Why don’t we head back to the car? He must be wondering where you are right now.”
“Oh, shush, Mr. Lova Lova,” I say and this time, Gabe laughs. It’s one of my nicknames for him after he dated three women at the same time, something he’s never been able to live down.
I always feel happy around Gabe. He’s someone I could always trust as a young girl and even now as I’m older. He was there for me after my father died and was patient with me as I followed him everywhere when their family took us in.
My phone vibrates and I see Trevor’s name when I retrieve it from my purse.
Trevor: How was dinner with your cousin?
“You better call him and tell him you’re still with me,” Gabe says. “I wouldn’t want him sending out a search party.”
Claudia: Still with him but we’re heading to the car.
Trevor: Text me when you’re home.
Claudia: I will.
As we walk back toward the restaurant, we don’t talk although I can tell Gabe is thinking about something.
“Is he coming to your hooding ceremony?” he asks when we reach my car and I open the car door but don’t get in.
“I haven’t asked him.”
“Why not?”
I shrug. “Because we’re just hanging out, that’s all. It’s nothing serious.”
“You keep saying that word.”
“Because it’s true.” I pause, wrapping my arms around his neck. “Anyway, thanks so much for dinner…andthe job offer. You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.”
“You’re welcome,” he says as I step back. “By the way, don’t feel obligated to accept the clinic position. If you end up getting a better offer elsewhere, I’ll understand. I have to be honest, even with my investors, I don’t think I’ll be able to match what places around here must be paying.”
“Are you crazy? I’ll take working with you over anything.” I laugh. “Besides, I’ll be able to enjoy home-cooked New Mexican food again.”
Even better, everyone will see how the girl who used to manage Gabe’s clinic finally made something of herself.
Chapter Nine
Trevor
Forty minutes after replying to my text, Claudia walks through my door wearing an oversized T-shirt and yoga pants, her hair slightly damp from the shower. She looks beautiful as ever, her face devoid of makeup. She feels even better in my arms.
“How did dinner with your cousin go?”
