It’s fucked up, and I don’t understand why I feel this way. I just do.
“Here.” Chad hands me a napkin.
“What’s that for?” I ask, confused. I’ve yet to take a bite of my wings.
“The drool on your chin.” He laughs.
“I blame you for that.”
“Me? How in the hell do you blame me for you drooling over my cousin?”
“You could have warned me.”
“She’s just Shayne to me. Sure, she’s beautiful, but I just see her as my cousin.” He shrugs. “As far as Shayne goes, she’s good people. The best. She’s had a hard life. She was dealt a shit hand in the parent department. She’s family…might as well be my sister. You’re my best friend. I’d lay my life down for you, and I have not a single doubt in my mind that you’d do the same for me. If you’re interested in her for more than just getting your dick wet, then go for it.”
“Is she seeing anyone? I mean, how would that work? We’re home just under two weeks. Fuck, I’m only here for a week,” I ramble.
There are a million and one questions filtering through my mind. I know that starting something when we have to go back to base is a bad idea. While we’re stateside and shouldn’t be deployed again for a while, this is the army, and you never know when that’s going to change. We could be called out tomorrow and have to go back. It’s not fair to start something and leave her. That’s what one side of my brain is saying. The other is telling me that I’ve never had a reaction to a woman like I have to Shayne, and I need to hold tight and never let go. My head is a fucked-up jumbled mess of what-ifs right now. Not to mention, I’m still thinking about what I could do to her with my hands.
“Nope. You’re not getting any more intel from me, my friend. If you’re interested in Shayne, you’re going to have to work for it. She deserves that and so much more.”
“Come on, man. You at least have to tell me if she’s seeing someone.”
“Who are we talking about?” Shayne asks, appearing in front of us. She opens a fresh bottle of beer, setting it in front of me, before doing the same for Chad. “I pretty much know everyone in this town.”
“You,” Chad tells her. “Ford here was just asking me if you were seeing anyone.”
I watch her closely as her mouth forms an O, her jaw slackening, and her eyes widen. “Me?” She blinks a few times before closing her mouth and looking between Chad and me.
I open my mouth to say something, anything to redeem myself, but I can’t seem to find the words. Instead, I sit here on the barstool looking like a damn fish, opening and closing my mouth over and over again.
“Damn, Shay, you’ve rendered my boy speechless.” Chad claps a hand on my shoulder. “Ford here’s interested in knowing more about you. I told him that my lips are sealed.”
I turn to look at my best friend, shrugging his hand off my shoulder, and watch as he pretends to zip his lips and toss the key over his shoulder.
What are we, ten?
“Ford.” Her sweet husky voice says my name, and my head turns back to face her, giving her all my attention. “Ask me,” she says, tilting her head to the side. She’s the epitome of calm, cool, and collected, all except for the towel in her hands that she’s twisting over and over again. When she bites down on her bottom lip, I swallow back the groan that tries to escape. She’s sexy as fuck, add in the lip bite, and she’s downright irresistible.
Reaching for my bottle of Bud Light, I take a long pull before placing it back on the bar. My eyes lock on her blue-greens, and I’m lost in her. “Are you seeing anyone?” I manage to form the words to the question that’s been eating at me.
“No.” She shakes her head with her words, and her hands are still twisting that towel.
I nod. “I’m here for a week,” I tell her. It’s important that she knows that upfront. That I’m not here to stay. “I’m going home to Ohio to see my family next week.” Maybe I can convince her to come with me? I mean, Chad’s coming, so it’s not like it would just be the two of us. I shake my head at the thought. I barely know this girl. Sure, I know of her and about her, but I don’t know her, and I’m already thinking about taking her home with me. This tour really fucked with my head.
“Wh-What are your plans while you’re here?”
“You tell me.” I’m willing to do anything she wants just to spend time with her. I don’t know why. I can’t explain it, but I’m drawn to her, and I think she’s worth getting to know. Maybe we can write when we go back to base and even when we deploy again. It’s inevitable that it’s going to happen. We just don’t know where or when.