Chapter 26 Then
Georgia was better than I expected. I actually enjoyed teaching, and they seemed to receive me well. It wasn't the combat action that I was used to, but it was still in the realm that I loved. I was a little surprised to fine Mendez, and Butler here, but General Wyatt soon explained why. The three of us had been on over a dozen missions together, and he thought we'd be able to help train other potential special ops teams. The school was strictly for snipers, so our lessons were on the down low.
Mendez really had a knack for the schematics, and Butler, well he was the muscle. After chewing them both out for their involvement in the whole Candy situation, we got right to work. General Wyatt even praised us, which was a miracle in itself. That man was hard as hell to please, his nickname behind his back wasn't General Dick Head just because. He was the real deal, fourth generation General, and even though he made some dumb ass decisions, he knew how to do his job.
I finally had some down time today, and it had been a while since I'd heard from Zoe. I decided I'd try and Skype with her real quick, so I pulled out my laptop, and sat down at the small dining table. I hit send, and waited, but after a minute, it said caller unavailable. Maybe she wasn't home I thought, so I tried Wes instead. Last time we spoke, he was staying at a hotel, and waiting to move into his new house. He said things got awkward with him, and Zoe when I wasn't around. I didn't bother to ask, honestly, I was glad it didn't have the opposite effect and push them together.
Wes answered a few seconds later, shirtless, and smiling. “Hey brother!” He greeted.
I took in the scene around him. “Is that the new place?” I asked.
“Part of it. You caught me getting ready to hop in the shower.” He said, moving his phone around the bathroom. “I'll give you the grand tour when you come visit.”
I heard the door squeak open, and Wes' eyes widen. He cocked his head to the side, and the door squeaked once again. “You got a girl there already?” I asked, on a laugh. “Didn't take you long to find a bed buddy. What's her name?”
“Long story man. I've got to get back.” He said, before pressing end.
That was weird. Since when didn't Wes Granger want to brag about his latest conquest? Maybe he actually cared about this one? I laughed, shaking the thought from my mind. The day that he commits, would be the day that I joined the damn circus. Closing my laptop, I sat down to put my sneakers on. I ran every morning since being here. The base was huge, and I could easily get three miles in by looping it.
I even recruited Mendez, and Butler to join me. They weren't as enthusiastic at first, but now they met me at my door every morning. To be honest I enjoyed the company. The trainees were nice enough, but these guys, with all their flaws, were my brothers. I was just about to step outside, when I heard the assholes banging on my door. “Keep your panties on ladies, I'm coming out!” I called, before opening the door. I was greeted by four middle fingers, which I quickly returned with two of my own before locking up.
The three of us jogged in silence for the first few minutes, setting our pace. And like always, Butler was the first one to break that silence. “You heard from Granger?” He asked.
“Just talked to him this morning. He had company though, so it was short. You?”
“Nah. He's still pissed about what's her face.”
“You mean his ex fiance? The one you slept with?” I asked, knowing damn well what he was talking about. I wouldn't have been a real friend though if I didn't give him shit for it.
“For the last fucking time. I didn't know she was his fucking fiance!” Butler said, tossing his hands up in the air dramatically.
Mendez, and I fell into a fit of laughter, and soon Butler joined in. It was just the way things were with us. If either of these assholes were ever nice to me, It would probably be because I was dying. Everyone needed a few friends like that. It kept us real, grounded. None of us needed big heads, especially with our profession. We counted on each other, and that was a great feeling. Knowing that no matter what you did these men would always have your back. Even when Butler screwed Wes over, he still saved his ass, time, and time again. That was just the way the army worked.
“You hear from your sister?” Mendez asked, when the laughter died down.
“Tried her first, but it just kept ringing.”
“She's probably the one in Wes' bedroom.” He said, wriggling his eyebrows. “Your sister got hot Cruz, that's all I'm sayin'.”
“Fuck you Mendez!” I said picking up my pace, and encouraging the them both to do the same. They were both too competitive not to.
We ended up completing our run in record time, and when we made it back to my place, we all plopped down on the front porch. I had bottled water at the ready, and we drained it. Sweat dripping down our faces, our adrenaline slowly slipping away, this was what made me feel alive. “Butler's buying beer tonight.” I said, pointing out that he was the last to make it to the porch.
“I bought last week!” He whined.
“Pick up the pace next time muscles.” I teased, tossing another bottle of water at him. “We're going out tonight fellas. We've all been working our asses off, it's time to blow off a little steam.”
“I'm in.” Mendez said, tossing his empty bottle into the trash can beside the porch.
“See. Even moody ass Mendez is in, you can't back out because you're a sore loser Butler.”
“Fuck you!” The both said simultaneously, making me laugh.
“See you tonight boys.” I said as I stood, and stepped inside, leaving them out on the porch, and shutting the door behind me.
It had taken time, but I was finally able to look at other women again. Actually look at them, and I needed tonight. I'd been wound up so tight lately, that a little fun would do me good. I hopped in the shower, rinsing off this mornings run, relishing in the steaming hot water. My muscles were constantly aching anymore, no matter how much I used them. I had a handful of “street clothes” as I called them, and the rest were back home in San Franscisco. Picking out an outfit wasn't too hard, a pair of jeans, and a worn in tee fit the bill, so I dressed, and I waited.
I didn't have much of a social life, I never did. Other than Evie dragging me places that I didn't necessarily want to go. So, I wasted the day away. I watched mindless television, ate salty snacks, and lounged around. It wasn't until I heard the knock on my door around six that I even realized how late it was. I checked my hair one last time in the mirror, another good thing about working here, no crew cuts.
When I pulled the door open, I thought I was going to die from laughter. Butler, and Mendez were both dressed in kahki's, button down shirts, and blazers. It looked like they fell off the pages from a polo magazine. “What the fuck are you two wearing?” I asked. “And where in the hell did you find a blazer to fit your meaty ass arms Butler?”
“The ladies like the preppy look. You'll see.” Mendez said, straightening the collar on his jacket.
“Some chick left her magazine at his place, and he's been reading all the articles.” Butler said. “All the pictures in that damn thing, this is what the men are wearing. He's a fucking idiot, but I'm with him on this one.”
Putting my hands up in mock surrender, I tucked my keys, and cell phone into my pocket. “Lead the way fellas.” I said.
Butler was the DD, since he didn't drink, which worked out great for Mendez, and I because we did. We pulled into the bar twenty minutes later, and it was already packed. A lot of the guys frequented this place, and women came there knowing they could hook up with a soldier. It was a well known watering hole, and I'd only been here one other time. A petite blonde with curves for days, walked in ahead of us, and my eyes weren't the only ones on her assets. “Dibs.” I said, locking it down before thing one, and thing two had the chance.
“A blonde?” Mendez asked.
“Time to nut up, or shut up boys.” I said, patting Mendez on the shoulder, and following the blonde into the crowd.