Page 37 of Embers in the Dark

“Yep. I just wanted out of Vegas, and to see the world. Getting an education was secondary. The military was my ticket to all of that. So, I took it, and the rest is history. Luckily, I was good at it. I met some really great guys too.” He sighs.

“You didn’t want to continue on in the military?” I hope he doesn’t mind me asking.

“Nah, I was done. I got to a point where I knew I was done. I saw a lot, and it was time to come back to start my civilian life here,” he says, a sad smile moving across his face.

“Did you have someone to come back to here?” I’m prying now.

“I had the idea of someone,” he says.

“That sounds ominous,” I say, nudging his shoulder.

“It does, doesn’t it?” He chuckles as he looks off at the water, apparently lost in thought. “Alright, sharing time is over for today, Malloy.” He turns toward me. “I know you’re avoiding being home.”

“Ha! I’d never do such a thing.” I laugh.

“You’re a shit liar, man,” he tells me.

“You don’t know me that well, Hunter,” I throw back.

“You’re not that hard to read. Plus, aren’t you shacking up with Rios’s sister? That sounds complicated.” He crosses his arms over his chest.

“Understatement of the century,” I confess. Something about Hunter tells me he understands complicated. “There’s alot to unpack between us and I just don’t know where to start with it. And she sorta unloaded a ton of shit on me last night.”

“Maybe you should go talk to her about it then,” he says.

“I sort of froze when she did.” I wince.

“Amateur,” he says. “Womendo notlike that. How did she react to that?”

“Aside from walking off and slamming her door?” I confess.

“Ouch.”

“I know. Beyond that, I wouldn’t know. She had already left for class this morning.” I look over to see him giving me an apologetic look. “Not good, huh?”

“I predict a lot of groveling is in your future,” he says.

“You’re probably right.” I scratch at the back of my neck.

“And don’t worry about any of this getting back to Rios. I take it from the seething looks he gives you at the station that he’s not too keen on his sister hanging out at your place?”

I nod.

“I won’t say anything,” Hunter says.

“I appreciate it, although it seems we aren’t on speaking terms anymore since she moved in. But she needed me, so I chose her over him and he’s just going to have to deal with it at this point. I won’t apologize for it,” I tell him.

“I get that. Rios will get over it eventually,” he says.

“I hope so. But I won’t hold my breath. He’s a stubborn ass about many things,” I explain. “Also, if it’s any consolation, you’ve got a family here with us,” I say, putting my fist out.

He looks down, and for a moment, he just stares. Then he bumps it. I hope he knows he can count on me and the guys now that he’s here.

“Thanks for the run today, man,” he says as we both make our way through the park to the street.

“I needed it,” I say, as I reach my truck.

Hunter walks toward a black motorcycle.

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