CHAPTER 4
When the commander finally cut them all loose, Trey drove directly to Jack’s place. Jack’s convertible wasn’t parked out front.
There’d been no phone call from him either. Worse, when Trey called Jack’s cell it had gone directly to voice mail. He must have turned his phone off even though the commander had told them they were all on standby.
Wherever Jack was and whatever he was doing, he didn’t want to be disturbed.
He tried to convince himself his friend was a big boy and could take care of himself. Then he found himself carrying his cell phone into the bathroom with him and laying it on the sink while he showered in case Jack called. He was on standby, he reminded himself so he wouldn’t feel foolish waiting around like some girl sitting by the phone after a first date.
Worry squelched any interest in food, but the angry grumble of his empty stomach reminded him he needed to eat anyway. A leftover pork chop in the fridge was just calling his name when his cell phone finally rang.
Trey jumped to answer it when Jack appeared on the readout.
“Jack. You okay?”
“Um, Trey? It’s not Jack. It’s Carly down at the bar. Jack’s here with me but he’s had a lot to drink.”
Trey opened his eyes wide.
Carly. On Jack’s phone. It took him a second to shake off the shock.
“You still at the bar now?” he asked hoping—even though he shouldn’t be—that the answer was yes and not that they were at her place together.
“Yeah.”
“Okay. Keep him there. I’ll be right over. And don’t let him drive.” Trey was already shoving his feet into his sneakers.
“Of course I won’t let him drive. He’s drunk. How stupid do you think I am?” Her annoyance came through the cell clear as a bell.
He let out a breath of frustration. “I’m sorry. I’ve just been worried about him. Hang tight. I’m leaving now.”
She let out a short laugh. “Oh, believe me. I’m not going anywhere.”
Trey didn’t understand the meaning of her last statement until the moment he walked into the bar and found Jack passed out in Carly’s lap in a booth toward the rear.
He winced. “How long has he been like this?”
“Passed out? Or drunk?” She cocked a brow.
“Uh, both I guess.”
“He came in about an hour ago, downed four double shots of bourbon in under ten minutes, then passed out just before I called you. I didn’t know what else to do. His cell phone was right there in his, um, pocket. When I found your name in his contact list . . .” She shrugged and let the sentence trail off.
“It’s fine. I’m glad you called me.” Trey couldn’t help but notice how she kept stroking Jack’s hair even though he was well past the point of knowing it. For some reason, that really bothered him.
He walked over, squatted down and shook Jack by the shoulder. “Hey, buddy. Time to wake up.”
Jack moaned and rolled away from Trey and toward Carly. He draped one arm around her waist and snuggled deeper into her lap.
Great. That was even worse.
Trey jiggled him harder. He started slapping him lightly on the cheek and then not so lightly.
“Hey, be gentle. The poor guy’s having a tough night.” Carly frowned up at Trey.
She was right, of course.
Suitably chastised, Trey sighed. “I know.”
“Do you know what’s the matter?”
“Um, yeah but . . .” The sentence hung, unfinished, as Trey debated what say.
“You can’t tell me. Never mind.” She leaned down to Jack, stroked his face and said into his ear, “Jack, sweetie. You need to wake up for me.”
So it was sweetie now. Just great. And of course, sweetie-pie Jack woke right up for her and smiled even though his eyes didn’t quite look focused.
“Hey, darlin’.” He struggled to sit up, put a hand to his head and then blew out a breath. “This place is spinning like the tilt-a-whirl at the state fair. Oh, hey there, Trey. When’d you get here?”
“Just now.” Trey was not in the mood for conversation at the moment. He grabbed Jack by one arm and around the waist. Supporting his weight, he guided him up and out of the booth, pivoting them both toward the door. “Time for bed, Jack.”
Unfortunately, Jack wasn’t quite done yet. He dug in his feet and spun back toward Carly. “Night, darlin’.”
She smiled, an actual, genuine smile. “Night, Jack.”
“Trey, we were pretending I’m not in the military. She’s a really good kisser.”
That little gem of a revelation caused Trey to trip over his own feet.
This ridiculously surreal situation would have been laughable if he weren’t so miserable. “That’s great, Jack. Thanks for telling me.”
Perhaps Jack would vomit in his truck next, then Trey’s evening would really be complete.