Текст книги "Fraternizing"

Автор книги: C. Brown

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Cassie: Well, I can give you one thing. At least you're honest. I wish you could have been more forthcoming with me, though. I would have appreciated the heads up on getting pushed away and then hearing about you fucking your colleague. The one who just so happens to hate my fucking guts. If you were trying to humiliate me, congratulations, Alex, you've done that just well. Let's do what we promised to do in the very beginning and act like we don't have any history. A few more weeks and I'll be long gone anyway.

A couple of things stood out in her message. The first thing that hit me was that she would be leaving in a few weeks. I hadn't even thought about that and it sent panic flaring up inside of me. I didn't want her to leave, but the fact that she would be was very real, and it gave me even more of a push to try and make things right.

The second thing was that she said I had fucked Castillo, which hadn't happened.

Me: I did not fuck Castillo. I never meant to humiliate you, and I am terribly sorry. I don't want you to go.

Cassie: It's all out, Alex. If you fucked her, you fucked her. Can't take it back now.

Me: I'm telling you, I did not fuck her last night. Who the fuck told you this?

My patience was growing paper thin. As badly as I had messed everything up, I didn’t need any extra help with further pissing off and keeping Cassie away from me.

Cassie: Does it matter?

Me: YES!

Cassie: Ruiz.

I could have broken everything around me at that moment. Instead, I pounded on my dresser, trying to figure out how I was going to destroy that bitch for sticking her nose where it didn't belong.

Me: It's a goddamn lie. I never fucked her, Cassie. I promise you.

Cassie: Even if you didn't, something happened and I don't really want to dig into it. I have tests to study for. Have a good day, Sgt. Cruz.

Her cold and distant response was what finally sent me over the edge. I had already warned Ruiz, but she hadn't seemed to learn her lesson. Rage erupted from me, sending my drawers from my dresser flying across the room and hitting the wall with a loud thud. I could have swallowed nails in my bout of wrath, chewing them up before doing so. If there was anything more I hated than a rat, it was a person who couldn't mind their own fucking business. Ruiz had been given the warning to back the fuck off or face whatever I had on her, and thanks to Riley, I had plenty. If she was ready to play hardball with me, I was ready to smash her ass.

Monday morning finally came. I'd spent all day Sunday gathering up everything Riley had found on Ruiz and double checking it all, making sure that everything was lined up perfectly for me to bust her ass and get rid of her once and for all.

I'd tried calling Cassie, but as expected, she didn't take any of my calls. I felt like she was long gone, but I wouldn't allow myself to give up, so I kept trying. Jensen never came home after our fight, which was fine by me, but I couldn’t be sure he hadn't gone to the higher-ups and run his fucking mouth.

I left before Riley, blazing the streets trying to get to base to take care of my growing list of problems. I parked my truck and ran to the barracks duty hut, speaking to the Pfc. on duty.

"I need you to get Pfc. Angelica Ruiz for me."

He sifted through the duty book and found her name, nodding as he stood and walked out of the building. The sergeant on duty with him looked at me questioningly, probably wondering why I was in such a hurry and why I had a bruise on my left cheek. Fucking Jensen.

"I need the secondary room," I told him.

He handed me the key to that room.

"And you didn't see me here," I roughly told him, frowning my face and peering into his eyes.

He looked like he understood, so I backed up, giving him space to get back to doing whatever it was that he was doing.

I walked to the secondary room, taking a seat in the chair at the table that sat facing the door. So many scenarios ran through my mind on what I would say to her when I got her into the room. I wanted to rip her a new asshole. I wanted to break her down. I wanted to fucking destroy her.

The Pfc. knocked on the door then opened it, standing there with Ruiz by his side.

"Come on in, Ruiz."

Her eyes shot open, and I could smell the fear radiating from her body. It was a welcomed sign to me. It gave me the green light to pounce.

When the door closed and we were left alone, I stood and swiftly made my way over to her, standing directly in front of her, and laying into her.

"I fucking warned you. I fucking did. You decided to interject yourself in matters that do not concern you."

She swallowed fast and furiously.

"Why the fuck did you think you could go around spreading lies, telling Pfc. Bennett shit that never happened? Did you think I would just let that shit slide?"

"I… I'm sorry." Her feeble voice was uncharacteristic for what I had grown to know of her.

"You're sorry?" Her apology further pissed me off. My knife hand came out—all fingers extended and joined with my thumb along the side—as I used my whole hand to point in her face.

“You have the fucking audacity to spread a fucking rumor about a NCO and think there will be no consequences. Then you stand here and give me this bullshit apology. Who told you I slept with Castillo?"

She stood stunned, not moving and not speaking. Her silence was grating my nerves. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the paper with the heading Humboldt County. I unfolded it and shoved it into her face, making her painfully aware that I knew all about her and the skeletons in her closet.

"You want to fuck with me, I'll fuck with you. How the fuck did you get into the Marine Corps with this assault on a peace officer with a deadly weapons charge?”

Her eyes bulged as she took in the evidence in my hand that could do her in.

“It means you fucking lied about it, and you had a shitty recruiter who didn't check thoroughly. Or maybe he did, and you both lied about it. Either way, this constitutes a fraudulent enlistment and could land you in the fucking brig right alongside me."

I pulled the paper from her face to see a tear falling from her eye.

"You tell me who the fuck told you about Friday, right now. I'm so far gone that if you ran and ratted on me, I wouldn't even give a fuck, but I'm bringing all of you down with me. You understand that?”

She swallowed hard again as another tear fell.

"Castillo," she whispered.

"What was that?"

"Castillo. I overheard her talking to Cpl. Collins."

"Castillo said I fucked her Friday night?"

"Yes."

I should have known. The way she tried to play things off on the phone Saturday morning was too easy going.

"How did this come about?"

"I was in the gym kickboxing. She was working out with Cpl. Collins and they were talking kind of loud. I heard everything she said.”

"And you ran back and told Bennett?"

She nodded her head.

I couldn't have been more thrilled that Ruiz was singing like a canary. To know that Leti had probably orchestrated all of this was fucking infuriating, but didn't come as a shock. She was conniving when she wanted to be. I was only now realizing it.

"Your assault charge stays between me and you as long as you keep your fucking mouth shut, you understand that?"

She nodded her head furiously.

I walked over to the door and pulled it open, motioning for her to step outside. When she did, I quickly shut the door and pulled out my phone.

Me: I need to see you. This shit is getting cleared up today.

To my surprise Cassie responding immediately.

  Cassie: There is nothing to clear up, Alex. You've made your bed, now sleep in it.

Me: I'll make you see me if I have to. But I'd much rather you do it on your own accord.

A few minutes passed before my phone buzzed again.

Cassie: Where are you?

Me: Secondary room. Go the back way.

I took a long, soothing, sigh of relief that I was finally getting to see her again. I was fully prepared that she was probably going to come in hostile, but that didn't matter to me. I just wanted to see her, to smell her, to touch her.

A couple of minutes later, she was pushing the door open and sneaking in. Her cammie pants and her green t-shirt clung tightly to her body, accentuating what I had fallen for and, unfortunately, had been missing.

"Sit down," I softly ordered.

She looked reluctant to do so, but finally moved over to the table and pulled out the other chair, taking a seat while glaring at me. The whiff of her vanilla smell tickled my nose, causing me to inhale deeply. I had missed it, and I could have sat enthralled in the light, sweetness of it for hours.

"I know what's going on. Castillo spilled everything to Collins, Ruiz heard it all and came to you, rubbing it in your face."

"So you fucked her. Who cares how I found out? You did it."

"I didn't fucking sleep with her." My voice was growing low and harsh, not what I wanted when speaking to her. I quickly caught myself. "I did not sleep with her. I made a huge mistake, but I didn't fuck her. I'm being completely honest with you."

"Okay. So since we’re on honesty, and you say you didn't fuck her, what happened?"

I looked into her cold, lifeless eyes. I owed her everything she wanted and more. Taking a long hard swallow, I finally blurted out, "She sucked my dick. But I stopped her after a couple of minutes. I couldn't go through with it."

A hammer went straight to my stomach with the admission of what I had stupidly allowed to happen outside of The Tavern. Her eyes closed tightly, and she exhaled. I wanted her to say something, anything. Even if she was going to tell me how fucking filthy and disgusting I was, I needed to hear it come from her.

But she didn't say anything.

"I never meant for it to happen. I was stupid. I was told by Major Kinsley that I was getting NCO of the Quarter and everything I had done with you came flooding back in, contradicting everything that I had stood for. I handled it in the worst way possible, and I'm so fucking sorry."

She sat staring at me for a minute longer before responding.

"Anything or anyone else? You've already dug the knife in, go ahead and twist it."

Her words were punishment enough, and if I wanted any shot at getting her back to my side, I had to be completely honest.

"There was some random at the bar that night that kissed me. But that was it."

She nodded her head.

"I'm laying everything out, Cassie. I fucked up royally, and I'm trying to fix it. Please let me fix it."

She stared at me with what looked like disgust on her face.

"This weekend is a long weekend, it's Labor Day. Come with me and let me make all of this bullshit up to you."

"I’m not going anywhere with you."

That wasn't what I wanted to hear, so I stood and briskly walked around the desk and took her hand, pulling her up to me. I wrapped my arm around her waist and held her face in my free hand. The feel of her body in my arms once again sent pleasurable jolts through my body, even if she wasn't feeling the same way.

"You're. Coming. With. Me,” I muttered, using slow, deliberate words.

The look in her eyes finally shifted to what I needed to see—intense arousal.

 “I fucked up—badly, but I'm owning it. You’re mad, and you have every right to be. I can accept that, but I can't accept that you’re shutting me out. I won’taccept that. And yes, it's hypocritical, but I'm selfish. I need to be with you, Cassie Bennett. I need you to let me back in."

Her eyes were lightly shut, her body loosening in my arms. I let out a deep breath and pulled her closer, placing my lips on her soft and delicate earlobe, before whispering, "I don't deserve you, Blondie. I already know that. But just because I don’t deserve something doesn’t mean I don’t want it. And when I want something, I don’t stop until I get it.”

She pulled away from me, stepping back and gently narrowing her eyes.

“You don’t get to do that, Alex. What happens if I had been the one to suck someone else’s dick? How would you react to that?”

The question stung and sent my thoughts into a rage.

“You don’t even want to know my answer to that,” I answered, my voice frosty with a touch of bitterness.

“See? So how can you expect me to just forget that you put yours in her mouth? It just doesn’t work like that.”

She had me stumped, and I could give that to her. But while she was absolutely right, I couldn’t accept it. I wouldn’t accept it.

“We need to get away. We’re both too wound up and need to release our frustrations while you let me fix my mistake.”

"I don't know, Alex. We're so far up shit creek right now–"

"Exactly! So what else do we have to lose?" I watched as she went into deep thought, contemplating what I knew she already wanted, but was too stubborn to relent on. "You don't have to answer me right now. But think about it. I want you with me. I've pretty much signed my brig time with people finding out about us, and I'm willing to serve it. But I'm not willing to let you walk. If I have to be punished for being with you, then I at least want to have you… every last sweet tasting inch of you."

 She still didn't say anything, but her expression softened, making me suck in my bottom lip. That look, the innocence shown with it, always weakened me.

"Just think about it."

She nodded her head and then turned for the door, twisting the knob then walking out of the room. I wasn't sure what was running through her mind, but I knew what was running through mine. I was ready to throw away six years of strict, dedicated service, and the thought of it didn't even scare me. It actually made me smile.

Chapter 18

Cassie

As infuriating as Alex could be, I had to admit his words pulled me.

Did I have a right to be angry with him?

Absolutely.

Did he deserve to have me fall into his arms and forget about his selfish, erratic behavior?

Absolutely not.

Did I want to?

I was conflicted.

On one hand, I knew just how much his rejection hurt. It was a flash to my past and how I’d failed at protecting myself where my feelings were concerned. After Colton, I promised that I would never again place myself in a position to be walked over like a dirty doormat again. My fragile nerves couldn’t handle it, and it was time to put me first. Sadly, I’d allowed myself to get right back to that place.

How I’d fallen for Alex so quickly was a mystery even to me. Maybe it was his brash nature, the pit bull exterior with the teddy bear inside? Even as I sat there, completely agitated with him, his presence, the touch of his warm, smoldering body, his decadent smell and those strong, adept hands, I couldn’t help but break down a little on the inside. The man did things to me that I should have lambasted myself for. How I was hurt, angry, annoyed, and aroused was truly beyond me.

Now he wanted me to go away with him for the long weekend? The words pouring out of his mouth, rolling off of his dexterous tongue, sent shivers over my body. Running off with him for the weekend seemed like the perfect way to finally get some alone time together without the constant threat of someone finding us.

But his confessions...

Castillo, of all people, was like a knife in my back. Finding out that she touched him, in his most sacred spot, twisted the blade as it plunged even deeper. She had gotten a piece of him, and it made my heart lurch, causing a thrash of pain to spill over my chest. I didn’t want to believe that Angelica was right, and even though she was only partially correct, Castillo formulating into the equation in any way possible was enough to make my insides turn on me. The random kiss from the stranger could be overlooked, but Castillo was like a hard slap to the face, a hit on my pride, and a tear in my ego.

  How could I look past it? I knew I wanted to. I just didn’t know how. Seeing her in the schoolhouse walkway this morning sent prickles down my arms. I saw red with her smirk, but oddly, she didn’t say anything to me. My cold good morning greeting and her grin and nod was all of the interaction shared between us, and even though no further drama ensued, I was a bit taken aback by it.

Angelica had grown even more reclusive. Tearing herself away whenever she got the chance, never saying much to me. I’d asked her what Sgt. Cruz had wanted, but the panic in her eyes, the heaviness of her breathing with my words, told me that whatever it was, it was in her best interest to keep her mouth shut.

It was times like those that I wanted to look past Alex’s stupidity and love all over him. Because when he wanted to be, he could be very protective and endearing—two things I didn’t have much of in my life.

It was late afternoon when our tests from Friday were passed back. A ninety-seven percent was placed on my desk, along with a sweet, yet seductive grin from Alex. I smiled back, feeling the joy of finally performing the way that I knew I was capable of. Angelica received her test, a ninety percent, but she refused to look at Alex. I could see the restraint, and my interest was piqued. I needed to know what had happened between those two, and why the sight of him all of a sudden struck deep fear in her.

Alex had a small shiner on his face. I wondered if something had happened at the bar, or if that was a mark from Castillo because her anger at being turned away had spurred her to violence. The thought alone made my blood boil. My inner bitch was ready to pounce on her if she had dared to put her hands on him, and with that thought, came more confusion.

Why did I care?

“This week’s test is covering signal jamming as well as information from the two previous tests. This one will be much more in depth, so you’ll want to make sure that you study everything you have received thus far. Work in groups if you have to. A seventy-two depends on it.”

Jensen’s voice came blaring into my ears like a megaphone. And as I sat focusing on him, I noticed that he, too, had a shiner on his face. I was beginning to put two and two together. This was not Castillo’s doing. Jensen had found out about us, and it appeared to have not gone over too well. Their house was divided. Riley on Alex’s side, Jensen against.

My stomach knotted. The guys all seemed so close. And for me to come in and destroy that dynamic, made me feel like the Yoko Ono to their brotherhood. I had no desire to rip friendships apart. But for some reason, the idea that Alex had gone to bat for me was exciting. My mind was grappling with his stupidity at that bat and his defense of me. I wanted to let go of my hurt, but then I didn’t.

“See you all in the morning. Class dismissed.”

I stood, my eyes lingering on Alex just a tad bit too long. Newsome walked over and caught me staring, his eyebrows scrunching as he followed my line of sight. I quickly gathered my things and walked out of the room, still feeling the heat of Alex’s eyes boring into me.

“So how did you do?” Dalton asked just as I stepped out of the building. He caught me off guard, making me jump and hold my hand to my chest.

“Give me a little space next time, will ya?”

“I’m sorry. Just anxious to see how you did.” He smiled that charismatic smile, a sparkle going off in his eyes.

“Ninety-seven percent. I guess my break from Alex really did the trick.”

We both laughed, but I felt the truth in those words. Since I had turned my focus away from him, I was doing better, yet I found myself slowly being lured back in. The magnetism he possessed washed away the hurt, even if it was being done with slow, deliberate measure.

“So hey, I have to run something by you because I need your advice.”

“I’m all ears.”

“Not here. It’s Alex related,” I whispered, not wanting to bring any undue attention to us.

The doors shot open and out walked the three instructors, looking like a well put together and very cohesive unit. If there was friction between the crew, no traces of it could be found by the naked eye.

Alex shifted his eyes to me as they walked by and lowered them while slightly sucking on his bottom lip. A slight throb could be felt between my legs. The looks he gave me only made me want him even more. My immunity to him was being weakened, and he knew it.

“Let’s find somewhere to talk because if you two continue to eye fuck one another, I’m going to need to get off.”

My eyes swerved to Dalton who had lust written all over his face. I laughed at him as I hit his shoulder. We walked through the students and made our way to the path that led back to our barracks rooms. We chatted and made small talk until we reached the barracks building.

“Want to come to my room? Angelica might be in yours, and she’s an angry one right now.”

I laughed. “Yeah, that works. What about Pete?”

“He’s at the gym. He says he needs some muscle.”

We both erupted with laughter. Pete was small and nerdy looking. Poor guy.

“I’ll see you in a few.”

I jogged up the stairs and quickly made my way to my room, unlocking the door and falling down on my bed. As I sat up and unlaced my boots, my phone buzzed. I looked down to find a message from Alex.

Alex: 97%. Not bad. I think this weekend should be your reward for performing so well. And you always PERFORM well.

He was back to his old tricks. Using innuendo to get me to pay attention to him. It wasn’t fair. I was so powerless to it, and he knew it.

Me: Thank you! *rolls eyes*

I had to try and remain composed. He didn’t need to know that his charm, his sex appeal, and his words has such salacious effects on me and my body. As far as he knew, I was still pissed and wanted to avoid him. That was half true, but he didn’t need to know it.

Angelica walked through the door, threw her things down on her bed and briskly walked past me to the bathroom. She stood in front of the mirror, her face mired with emptiness, and undid her bun, brushing away at her ultra-long locks. I walked over to the area and stood in the frame, looking at her and wondering what to say.

“What the fuck do you want, Cassie?”

Her aggressiveness put me on defense.

“I’m just coming to see what’s got you so down. Don’t jump down my fucking throat.”

She turned and glared at me. Her mouth shrinking with the tight scowl she rigidly held.

“I wouldn’t go anywhere near your Cruz-cum filled throat,” she hissed.

I was taken aback. I knew she could get down and dirty, but this was shocking, even for her.

“What the fuck is your problem?”

“Really? You want to know what my problem is? My problem is you… and your fucking NCO of the Quarter boyfriend. Because he can’t keep his dick out of you, my life is being turned upside down.”

“First of all, you don’t know shit—“

She cut me off.

“Oh cut that bullshit. He pulled me in this morning and all but admitted to you two having something, so the charade is over.”

She sat her brush back down on the counter and turned around to face me, her arms folded over her chest and a sinister grin spreading across her lips. If her words hadn’t already backed me into a corner, it would have put me on high alert.

“You two are so dumb. You’re fucking… for what? These few weeks. Then what? You get orders somewhere, and he finds the next student to prey on? Damn, Cassie, wake up. You’re falling for his game, and yes, he is a fucking player.”

“You don’t know half of what you think you know, so I suggest you do what you were told and shut your fucking trap before I let him know that you’ve had more to say. Somehow, I think your career is important to you.”

“Whatever. The sooner I’m away from you the better. I thought for sure after you found out who he was, you’d use some common sense and stay away from him. But I see common sense isn’t so common, and desperate bitches will do whatever they can to get ahead.”

“Fuck you!” I growled, my heart thumping like it was about to break free from my chest. She had struck a chord, and there was no way I was about to let her get away with it.

“No, fuck you, Cassie. Now get the hell out of my way.”

She pushed me as she walked by, and on instinct I lunged for her, grabbed her hair in my hand and yanked her back to me. She turned around and punched me in the chin, a swift upper cut that knocked my teeth together. I let loose, my hands balled up into tightly wad fists, and started punching her anywhere I could. She countered, punching me until we both fell to the floor, rolling over one another while screaming obscenities.

My rage escalated, not only because she had said some awful things to me but because she had been nothing but bitchy to me since our very first night out and everything that had built up was now ready to explode. In my wild arm swings, while she sat on top of me, I swiped at her face, connecting and leaving three long lines on the side of her cheek. She stopped and held her face, her eyes bulging as she took heavy, anger filled breaths. The pause was just enough for me to buck her off of me, knocking her to the floor and going after her again.

“You’re a fucking bitch!” I yelled, my fists landing on her breasts… her arms… her face.

She held her arms up, trying desperately to shield herself from my blows. She brought her knee up, sending her bone into my ass and knocking me over.

“I can’t stand bitches like you!” she yelled out.

Her hand grabbed onto my hair, tugging fiercely as she pulled hair from my still well put together bun. It hurt like hell coming from the tight confines of my ponytail holder, and as she was yanking my head down, I grabbed her hair once again, jerking and tugging just as hard as she had done to mine, if not harder.

Just as I was tightening my grip on her, a strong set of hands wrapped around my midsection, pulling me off of her. She still had my hair in her hands, and the ache from the pull made me cry out in pain.

“Fuuucccckkkk!”

She finally let go.

“What the hell is going on in here?” Dalton’s familiar voice mixed with heavy breathing finally brought me back.

I stood glaring at Angelica, hard breaths shooting from my nose as my chest heaved in a laborious manner. She was breathing equally hard, throwing her hand into her hair and thrusting it back and out of her face.

“Ask your dick-whipped friend over there,” she said, running her tongue over her lip that now had blood coming out of it.

“You want another busted lip? Keep running your mouth.”

Dalton stepped in between us, looking like he had no clue what he would do should we decide to charge one another again. The thought crossed my mind. I had been wanting to let loose on her ever since the initial PFT when she tried to screw me. Everything from there had only escalated, and I was done sitting by, taking her shit as she gave it.

“You two had better knock this off before the duty comes up here. You’ll be in trouble for sure.”

“Trouble seems to follow this girl,” she said. “And his last name is Cruz.”

“Angelica, that’s enough,” Dalton scolded.

Her eyes fixed him, lowering into a wickedly low stare, hooded by her dark eyelashes. “Oh, you already knew? I should have known.”

“You say one more thing and he won’t be able to hold me off,” I warned. She had me so full of rage, I could take her on another round.

“Bring it bitch.”

“No one else is throwing another punch, pulling anymore hair, or bitch slapping anyone.” Dalton took a firm stand, asserting himself between both of us.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve left my mark. Her fucking boyfriend is going to wonder how she got that fucking scratch on her forehead. I’m sure I’ll be done then. And so will the two of you.”

She grabbed some clothes and stormed out of the room. I was still breathing hard, adrenaline gripping me as Dalton pulled me closer to him, taking my chin in his hand and lifting my face to meet his gaze.

“What the hell got into you two?” he asked, worry laced throughout his words.

I shook my head and stepped away from him, walking to the bathroom to run some water over my face. I took notice of the scratch on my forehead. I’d been in a couple of fights in my life, but I was never the aggressor, and I usually never retaliated the way I had done just now. I wasn’t sure where that overly aggressive me came from, but I liked her.

I only wished that she had been around a few years prior.

Looking into the mirror, Dalton caught my eye. He leaned on the frame as he looked me over, probably wondering where this rabid beast had come from since he had never seen even a glimpse of me in this state.

“I told you I was sick of her. Today was just the final straw.”

“You can’t go around getting into fights. You’ll get kicked out of school. What the hell, Cassie?”

“I don’t need your fucking lectures right now, Dalton. You have no idea what she said to me. And anyway, it was self-defense. She made first contact, and I finished her ass off.”

I walked past him, throwing myself down on my bed. He followed behind, lifting my legs and sitting down, placing them back down on his lap.

“And anyway,” I continued, “what are you doing here?”

“You didn’t answer my text. Pete has a few people in the room. Guess his gym plans got cancelled.”

He studied me for a bit before muttering, “So I guess she knows about you and Cruz?”

“She’s known. Or at least knew something was up.”

“So what happened today?”

“This morning some Pfc. on duty came up here and told her to go and see Sgt. Cruz in the secondary room. She went and came back a living mess. I can only imagine what he must have said to her. Then, when she got back in here this afternoon, she was full of all kinds of venom. She said some horrible shit that I was going to let slide until she pushed me. I had to attack.”

Dalton laughed, shutting his eyes and throwing his head back. Laughter in this situation seemed completely out of place.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

He paused for a second, wiping his eyes.

“Um, you. And what I saw when I walked in here. That was seriously one of the best catfights I have ever seen, and in my circle, I’ve seen quite a few.”

“I don’t even know what to say to that,” I joked.

“It was hot. If you two would have lost the shirts, it would have been even hotter. Even for me.”

I playfully kicked him. He knew how to bring me out of my funk and lighten the mood whenever I got down.

“So anyway, enough about that crazy ass chick. You need to tell me about this info that’s burning holes into my thought process. What’s going on with Sgt. Cruz?”