Page 59 of All of You

“Oh, big soldier man comin’ over here to lay it down. All right.” Danes gave Ben a lazy glance, then turned and dipped his head to me like he was sharing a secret, though he spoke at full volume. “When you get tired of this no-talent Boy Scout riding your tailcoats and looking for hand-me-outs, you give me a call.”

He tossed up a peace sign like that was an acceptable way to exit an adult conversation, and off he went.

I let out the giggle that had welled up in my throat and curled into Ben’s chest, my face right at the lapel of his jacket. “I’m guessing he meant coattails and hand-outs.”

Ben brought his other hand to my back and hugged me to him. “Yeah.”

The word sounded hollow. I looked up, fully expecting to see an amused smile on his face, but his features were serious, his brow pinched in the middle as he watched Danes walk away.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Ben

Ipulled up in front of Reese Flint’s house and turned the keys of my truck, giving myself just a minute to get my head on straight before going inside. Between Flint and Erin, I’d end up spilling my guts about Whit. I was also probably in for an inquisition about my future with the Army.

It was time. I’d been dreading facing Flint on this and letting it be final, dreading what he as a friend and mentor would think about me abandoning the life I thought I’d live. Abandoning him and everyone who’d gotten me through the last year and a half.

“Hey, stranger,” Erin said as she opened the door.

“Hi, lovely. How’s my favorite redhead?” I leaned in to hug her just as I heard Flint grumble.

“Paws off my woman, Holder,” he said, but took me roughly by the shoulders and clapped me loudly on the back.

He wasn’t delicate, wasn’t smooth, and wasn’t particularly touchy-feely, but we’d never shied away from our friendship once it had been forged.

“I have no designs on Erin.” I shook my head as he ushered me in.

The woman in question moved into the kitchen where the delicious scent I’d smelled upon entering the home intensified.

“Nothing fancy today. Just some beef stew and homemade bread.” She took a large ladle and stirred a pot on the stove.

“It smells amazing. Based on everything I’ve ever eaten that you’ve made, I’m sure it’ll be great.”

Flint handed me a beer, and I took it, even though I wasn’t sure I wanted one. What I wanted most was to get the grilling over with and move on to talk about them.

“All right. Let me have it,” I said, leaning my backside against the counter and crossing my arms.

Flint took up the same post across the kitchen from me, to Erin’s left.

“Go ahead, then. You tell us,” he said, that stern face no less intimidating than it ever was.

“I went on tour. It was a great experience. We got pretty close. I like her a lot.” I studied the edge of my bottle, then took a swig.

“Okay. And now tell me about how you were fake-dating her, but now, you’re really dating her. Let’s start there.”

Flint folded his arms, and Erin shot me a look like you better buckle up for this.

“I didn’t realize you knew about, uh, the agreement.” I shifted, widening my feet to get a better grip on the floor.

I willed the heat that threatened to rise to my cheeks away, not wanting to show him anything more than he’d already seen with his eagle eye.

“I called Whit after Thanksgiving,” he said, like that wasn’t news.

He grabbed his bottle and nodded toward the living room. I followed after him and sat on the couch. He and Erin sat together on the loveseat, as usual disgustingly cute and endearing.

“Why would you do that?” I asked, kicking my feet up.

“Because I wanted to make sure she wasn’t messing with you.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “And then, she confirmed what I’d feared—that she was.”

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