He's the Man (The Alexanders 3)

So as soon as his eyes closed, he allowed his thoughts to go back to that evening. He was riding shotgun in the ATV and his friend Cyrus was driving. Cy was only five years younger, but it felt like light-years. He’d looked up to Matt, even signed up for jump school when Matt explained the volunteer-only program was always in need of qualified recruits.

They’d been tasked with delivering medical supplies to a hospital in the city of Balad. Cy had been talking about what he was going to do on his leave. He had a girlfriend back home in North Carolina and he’d just found out she was expecting their first child. Matt had been teasing him about being busy at home on his last break when the first shot hit the side of their vehicle.

He turned on his side and squeezed the pillow between his arms. Cy had swerved. They’d hit something and he couldn’t remember exactly what had happened after that. He just knew he’d been unwilling to leave his friend behind when he’d crawled from their overturned vehicle. It was all a blur of fire, bullets, and smoke, but he remembered that much. He’d been so determined to drag his friend out that he hadn’t realized how badly his shoulder had been compromised. It wasn’t until days later that the full extent of the damage was apparent.

He’d been on disability for almost six months before he’d been cleared to go back to work. He’d gone through all the requisite Army counseling, but he still couldn’t pass the general physical fitness test.

He’d picked up most of his life just as it had been before, so most people thought he was okay. It was a wonder to him that he’d managed to fool as many people as he had.

It wasn’t possible to ever be truly okay after watching a friend die right in front of you.

Cy would never have the chance to do all the things he’d talked about—getting married, watching his kid grow up, moving to the West Coast where, in his opinion, all the best looking women were. He’d been a fighter and Matt was suddenly ashamed that he’d been sitting around feeling sorry for himself when his friend would never again have that privilege.

More than just his ego had been bruised when he’d failed part of the fitness test. His goal of being a Ranger was now more like a distant dream. He’d joined the Army to serve and protect. It felt like he was failing at the one thing he’d been sure he was good at. But everything he’d tried so far hadn’t worked, so maybe it was time to try something different. Cy would have said “If you don’t like where you are, then go somewhere else.”

He thought back to what Mara had said about Penny being a miracle worker.

He could only hope.

* * * * *

THE NEXT DAY, Matt stood on the Alexanders’ front porch. He shifted the case of sodas he held so he could ring the doorbell. Before the chime even finished, the door was wrenched open and laughter and warmth spilled over him.

“Hey! Look who’s here,” Elliott Alexander yelled over his shoulder. “Come on in, man. Everyone else is already here.”

Matt accepted a handshake from his friend’s older brother and allowed himself to be pulled into the warm, welcoming interior of the Alexanders’ ranch-style home. Mark Alexander stood next to the window, looking out. When he saw Matt, he ambled over with his hand outstretched.

“Hey there, son. I’m glad you were able to come out. It’s always good to see you.”

“Thank you, sir. It’s good to see you, too.” He followed Mark and Eli toward the source of the noise, the kitchen. Matt loved spending time with the Alexanders. There was always tons of food and just good people having a good time.

Julia Alexander walked out from the kitchen carrying a platter. She stopped short when she saw her husband and son.

“What are you two doing out here? It’s almost time.” When she caught sight of Matt, she let out a little squeal. “Matt! I didn’t think you were going to make it. Come on in, honey. Everyone else is in the kitchen.”

He put the drinks he was still carrying down on the table and followed them all into the next room. A chorus of “hellos” rang out. His friend Jackson Alexander stood next to his wife, Ridley, as she stirred a bowl of something. Nick Alexander stood across the counter from them holding a plate of oranges while his wife, Raina, ate the pieces one by one.

“Matt’s here!” Mara raced over and gave him a quick hug. “That’s everyone. Now that we’re all here, you can tell us. Is it a boy or a girl?”

Trent chuckled and just shook his head. “Mara, we’re still missing one. I’m sure Raina and Nick want to wait for Bennett.”

Matt looked at his sister in disbelief. “Have you been badgering her the entire time you’ve been here?”

Raina answered for her. “Yes, she has, but it’s okay. She’s not the only one.” She glanced at Mrs. Alexander from the corner of her eye. Matt laughed along with everyone else when Julia crossed her arms i

n mock outrage.

He thought back on the stilted Christmas dinner he and Mara had spent with their parents in Florida. He loved his folks, honestly, but spending time with his parents couldn’t be called relaxing. His father usually spent their time together rehashing his glory days as a lieutenant or badgering him about when he was going back on active duty. He sighed. It wasn’t as if Mara had it any easier. His mother had always been extremely critical of his sister until recently. Once she’d gotten wind that Trent had proposed, she was obsessed with planning a big society wedding.

Even though that wasn’t what his sister wanted.

Then he looked around at the crazy, loud bustle of people in the Alexanders’ kitchen. Everyone was accepted exactly as they came, no criticism about what they were wearing or where they’d been. No nosy questions or pressure.

When he was here, he could just be himself.

“So, how did things go with Penny?” Mara whispered.

“Fine. It was okay.” He flinched internally. A weak answer was a surefire way to get his sister interested.