Page 24 of The Soldier

“A hangover cure, apparently.” My still-shaking hand lifts it and I take a sip. It’s creamy with a slight vanilla taste mixed with the usual grassy tones of a smoothie. I lick my upper lip and make a mumbled noise.

Then take another sip.

It’s actually nice.

I take another. Immediately I can feel the goodness filling my system and only slow down because my stomach feels delicate.

“Anyway, I didn’t mean that Marshall came inside your house.” Briar bites down onto ciabatta bread and crunches.

“No. Of course he didn’t. No one came anywhere.”

I close my eyes as the girls snicker at my abrupt response.

“I thought you were going to hook up with Nick Mariano.” Alice claims. “He seemed very keen.”

“He’s keen on almost everyone with a pulse who is smaller than a size two, Alice.” I roll my eyes, and she shrugs in agreement.

“Please do not go there,” Briar pleads.

I sip more of the green elixir, as I now call it—my energy is returning at light speed and my headache fading—and point my finger at her. “Despite popular belief, I do not sleep around.”

“That’s not what—”

“Nor am I interested in Marshall. So, let’s get that straight.” My finger points to Alice then back to Briar. “Okay? Not interested. Not sleeping with him. Not kissing him. He’s not coming in or near my fun house.”

Silence.

“Fun house being your...?”

“Vagina, Alice. My vagina.”

“Ma’am did you want another juice?” A young guy with a beet red face asks from beside me.

Crap.

Briar chuckles.

“No. Yes. Make it to go, please.”

I reach for my handbag and take out a handful of notes. I’m restless. Horny. Grumpy.

Maybe I’ll go for a run.

Or succumb to the burning need to fuck the one man I refuse to accept I’m attracted to. Just once.

I’m going to try really hard not to. Even if it would just be hate sex.

“I have to go. Please tell Savannah I can’t make her birthday party next weekend.” I kiss Briar on the cheek, then round the table and fluff up Alice’s hair and kiss her on the top of her head.

“Trina, my frizz is bad enough, stop doing that.” She grumbles as she always does, and I smile.

“Why?” Briar asks before I turn to leave.

“Something has come up.”

Something, as in a sexy soldier’s cock and I can’t be there when it happens again.

Or I’ll probably fall on the damn thing.

---