Page 16 of A Very Grumpy Marine

I nod and wipe the grease from my hands before striding over. Kip and Huxley have been running Semper Fly for a few years now, and they know their stuff. I respect that. It makes working for them easy.

I get to work, losing myself in the mechanics of it. My fingers work with practiced ease, my brain shifting gears to focus on the familiar rhythm of problem-solving. It’s the same focus I used to rely on during my deployments—find the problem, fix the problem, keep moving forward.

By the time I finish, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I pull it out and see a text from my brother.

Kye:Lunch? Mancini’s?

I huff a laugh,shaking my head. My brother has two moods—lone wolf or clingy. Looks like today, I’m getting clingy Kye.

Me:Yeah. Be there in 10.

I letHuxley know I’m heading out for my break and grab my truck keys. The drive to Mancini’s is short, but my mind is still locked on Lymric. She agreed to go out with me again tonight. That’s progress. Now I just need to keep up the momentum.

Kye’s already at a booth when I walk in, sipping a soda and flipping through something on his phone. He looks up when I slide into the seat across from him.

“Busy morning?” he asks.

“Same as usual,” I reply, picking up a menu even though I already know what I’m ordering. “You?”

Kye shrugs. “Finished up a project early, put up an ad for a new assistant, then figured I’d see if my big brother remembered how to be social.”

I snort. “I’m social.”

He arches a brow. “Grunting at people doesn’t count.”

The waitress comes by, and we order the meat lovers pizza before Kye leans back in his seat, eyeing me like he’s debating something.

“What?” I ask.

He smirks. “You’ve been different the last few days.”

“Hmm,” I say noncommittally.

“How’s your girl?”

“She’s good. We’re going out tonight.”

“Good. You still think that she’s the one?” He asks me, and there’s something in his voice, some emotion that I can’t quite name. It’s interest, but also maybe…jealousy? Or longing?

“She is the one. I’m sure of it.”

“When am I going to meet her?” He asks.

“Soon. You should try finding a girl. Then you can have a plus one for the wedding.”

Kye shrugs. “Maybe.”

“So, new assistant?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Yeah, business has been good, and I could use some more help.”

“Maybe your new assistant will be the love of your life,” I suggest and he rolls his eyes.

“I’m not fucking my assistant,” he snaps, and I hold my hands up.

“You never know.”

He shakes his head, and the waitress comes back over to drop off our pizza. We both dig in, and the conversation changes to plans for this upcoming weekend.

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