Page 15 of Protecting Vera

“I had just started BUDs. It’s intense. You don’t stop. Sure, you eat and sleep some, and all the other stuff that you have to do to survive, but it’s this endless phase of working your ass off, and not getting enough of things you need to be human. It strips you down.”

“Dang, I had no idea.”

He shrugged. “It is what it is. Anyway, I hadn’t slept more than ten minutes, and we were outside when I saw a bug crawling toward us. We weren’t in formation yet, and I started hopping. I didn’t want the bug to get on me. It wasn’t the most rational reaction, but it’s what I did. Then everyone else started hopping. Our trainer stepped outside and saw all of us hopping around. He laughed his ass off. It could have gone wrong for me. You can’t be afraid of bugs or snakes or other stuff like that.”

A shiver slid down her spine. “I would never make it. I hate bugs. When I was tied to that tree, and they were crawling all over me—” A shiver worked through her. “I don’t even want to think about it.”

His lips curved up a little, and she wanted to lean in and kiss him. They weren’t dating, and forcing a connection with him would be wrong. She’d left Logan a while ago, but she didn’t need to start up with another guy.

“Yeah, being a SEAL means you get put into gross situations. There were a few times I had to shut down the ick factor for bugs and just do it. The worst is operating in rainforests. There are so many creepy crawlies.” His whole body shook as revulsion filled his face. “I can’t even think about it.”

She shook her head as she fought to suppress another shiver. “Oh, can’t, just can’t think about it.”

His chuckle warmed her. “Neither can I. I was thinking about getting food at the commissary this week. Mostly meat and a few other items. You don’t eat much compared to me. How about I buy food, and you can pay me like a third or better, a quarter of the cost? That sounds about right.”

“I could just buy my stuff at the grocery store nearby.”

“Meat is much cheaper on base.”

She thought about it for a moment. “I guess that would be good.”

“Yeah, I’d say you eat about a quarter of what I do. So I’ll buy the meat, and we’ll see how it goes.”

She appreciated him picking up groceries, but she wanted to do a few things for herself. “I think I need to buy a car.”

“Do you want something used or new?”

“I don’t know. I think I’d rather not spend a bunch of money. My last car was four years old when I got it, so it was cheaper. I don’t look forward to having a monthly bill again.”

“Yeah, that part of new cars sucks.”

She picked up her plate and took it to the sink, rinsing it off before putting it in the dishwasher. It was late, and she wanted to catch up on email, so she didn’t have a lot to conquer on Monday.

“I’m headed to my room to do a little work. Thank you for inviting me out today.”

“Sure. It was fun. I’m glad you had a chance to meet Ellis and Remi. They are both really nice.”

Vera nodded. “They are.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Have a good night’s sleep.”

“You, too.”

Spending the day with Hop had been interesting. She enjoyed his company, and his friends were so different from anything she’d experienced before. They were kind and sweet and didn’t get weird around her. None of them had hit on her. It had been refreshing.

After doing her email, she read for a little while and then headed to bed. She wasn’t sure how long she’d slept for when something woke her out of a dead sleep. Confusion filled her, and she stumbled out of bed, searching for the lamp beside her bed. Her hand hit something, and the lamp tilted. Before the lamp fell off the table, she caught it, making sure it was sitting up.

The noise intensified, and she moved to the door, pulling it open. Right then, she saw a figure and screamed. The person reached out their hand, clamping down on her arm.

“Vera, it’s me,” Hop whispered.

“Oh God, what is that noise?”

“Not sure. But we don’t have electricity now.”

“I noticed that. Is the whole block out?”

“I think?—”

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