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Both study me, and Alex cups my elbow, leading me to the kitchen where a pitcher of something sits amid an island full of food. He salts the rim of a glass, fills it, and slides it my way. “When do they come back?”
I take a sip and instantly moan at the explosion of tangy citrus. “Oh my God, this is heavenly. What is it?”
“Mango margarita with key lime simple syrup. Now answer.”
“They came back Thursday morning. Long enough to unpack, repack, and head to their training weekend. Except Major. He took Margo and Jewls to Kentucky for a family baby shower. Everyone returns tomorrow.”
“Where are the girls?”
“Spread out. Harley has bands playing around the city this weekend, so she’s occupied. Shayla has been at the salon, but she’s picking up night shifts at Tom’s. Ginger…” I trail off, realizing how it sounds. “They’re busy,” I finish.
“You’re lonely,” Cruz assesses.
“Ugh, it sounds needy when you put it that way. I lived by myself for years and was never lonely. Even when dipshit moved out, I welcomed the peace and quiet.”
“But not now?”
“No.” I inhale a large gulp. “Ford’s house is always bustling. Jewls sassing, Major bossing, Talon flirting, whistling, and cracking jokes.”
“And Ford?” Alex raises his eyebrows knowingly.
My heart aches at his name. Between his job and the Reserves, it’s been seven days since he’s been home.
Seven days of rushed, distracted phone calls and brief texts.
“I accidentally left a towel on the floor the other morning in my mad dash to get to the salon.”
They stay quiet, waiting for my explanation.
“I had to get to the salon because we were hosting the Med-spa nurses and management to introduce them to my product line. Shayla and I worked for days on my presentation, and the store was bursting at the walls with customers interested in learning more. When I got home, it was too quiet, too still.
“I’m not typically messy, but in the off chance I leave something out of place, Ford always picks it up and places it where it belongs. When I went to the bathroom, the towel was still on the floor. No one had been there to pick it up. Such a little thing. My chest physically hurt missing him. How’s that for needy and pathetic?”
“It’s called love.”
I snap my head to Alex, whose face is close to entertaining.
“This is not funny.”
“It is to those watching. Nothing about that is needy or pathetic. It’s the little things that make up a relationship. You look after each other in different ways.”
“I’ve never been co-dependent on anyone.”
“Co-dependent is such a derogatory connotation. Sometimes it’s falling madly in love.”
“I’ve never been in love before.”
“And that’s why it’s amusing. Let me give you a little insight.” Cruz takes a large swallow of his drink and moans in approval. “Such a wonderful concoction for a summer drink.”
“Cruz,” Alex urges.
“Right, the insight. It doesn’t happen often anymore, but when Robbie has to go away for more than two days for work, we all know what’s coming. When he gets home, the kids come to us, Uncle Thad, or Chloe. Sometimes for a few hours, sometimes for the night.”
“That’s sweet and helpful.”
“Maybe, but it’s all on Robbie. After what happened to him, Finn, and Max in the Marines, he was intense. Then he found what settles him. That’s Ember. He needs that time to just be with her. No kids, no work, no distractions.”
My heart swoons at the thought. “That’s incredibly romantic.”
