17 |

Simmons Army Airfield, North Carolina

 

Niner checked his gear in the rear of the C-5 Galaxy. Atlas sat across from him, doing the same. Niner had messaged Angela telling her the bad news but hadn’t heard back. There might be no reason to be concerned since she was working, but his history of misreading women was legend, and his queasy gut had him convinced he had somehow screwed things up.

“What’s wrong?”

He glanced up at Atlas. “Huh?”

“What’s wrong? Did you hear back from her?”

Jimmy laughed. “Did she already dump you?”

Jagger looked at Niner quizzically. “Please tell me you haven’t already screwed this up. That has to be some kind of record.”

“I’m calling Guinness.”

While Niner loved the guys, at this very moment, he didn’t feel like receiving the ribbing he usually enjoyed. He was genuinely hurting, not just because he was convinced he had screwed up yet another relationship—he wasn’t that desperate to be heartbroken over a woman he had met twice—it was merely the situation. He had gone through it so many times before that he never seemed to catch a break. The number of bachelors in the Unit was dwindling, and he didn’t want to be the guy showing up to the gatherings solo anymore. He wanted to gaze across the room at a girl that loved him, that cared for him, like Atlas, Spock, Dawson, and the others who all had significant others in their lives. Whether Angela would be that person or not, he didn’t know, but he was sick and tired of being alone.

Atlas held up a hand, cutting off the barbs. “What happened?”

Niner shrugged. “Nothing. She didn’t reply.”

The others became more serious, including Jimmy. “Well, I wouldn’t read anything into that, buddy. She could just be busy at work.”

Niner nodded. “Yeah, that’s probably it. It’s just this damn job. We have to lie so much, sometimes it gets to you.”

Heads bobbed all around him, every single one of them having been in his position at one time or another.

Atlas leaned forward. “I’ve been where you’ve been, buddy. I remember the night Vanessa was hell-bent on leaving me because of all the secrecy and the lies. Thank God the Colonel let me read her in.”

Niner gave him a look. “The Colonel only let you read her in because he was terrified Hulk might get sad and start bashing things.” Everyone chuckled, and Niner hated that he felt a little better by employing his trusted safety mechanism. He batted a hand at everyone. “Let’s just forget about it. We’ve got a mission to focus on, and my pathetic love life is just a distraction.” His phone vibrated and he fished it out of his pocket, tapping the display, goosebumps racing across his skin as he read the text.

Have fun logisticating and stay safe. Will talk when you get back. XOX.

“Is that her?” asked Atlas.

Niner beamed. “Yep.”

“What did she say?”

“None of your business, but you gentlemen better start picking out your bridesmaid’s dresses.”