Page 26 of Property of Camo

“I have to get back to the station and make that call.” Tate sighs. “Walk me down.”

I get to my feet, meeting him by the door, and we walk down the stairs to where my three friends are waiting for us by the reception desk. They all look at me with concern in their eyes, and as I get closer to them, my stomach knots up.

“Officer Sexy,” Clark purrs, making Tate chuckle.

“Hey, Clark.” Tate smirks at my bestie.

“Tate,” my other bestie Eva chimes in, her cheeks carrying a tint of pink from her workout.

Tate looks at Eva and I swear I see his eyes flare as he drags his gaze over her body, taking in her workout gear.

“Did you come to your senses and decide that you want me and not some two-bit whore?” Clark jokes, smiling wide, pulling Tate’s gaze from Eva.

“You dreaming again there, Clark?” He winks, then looks at me. “I will reach out and see what information I can find out. Do me a favor, honey? No more taking stragglers home with you without contacting me first.”

I feel my best friends all look at me, but I keep my gaze locked on my ex-lover. The concern shining in his eyes has me nodding, pushing down my stubborn tendencies. He has a point, but there was no way I was going to leave Aston out in the cold last night.

I do a dramatic eye roll and sigh, leaning against the desk behind me.

“Fine. No more taking in strays.”

“Thank you. I know that this boy needs some help and I will do what I can, Skyla, but please do not get yourself in any trouble for him, when there is a possibility that I can do something, okay?”

“Yeah, I hear you.”

“How was he this morning?” Eva asks, before taking a drink of her morning smoothie.

She is dressed in some very short workout shorts and matching sports bra. Eva is stunning with her long blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin. My bestie is a fucking knockout, and I know that she has the attention of a certain ex-lover of mine but will not go there, no matter how many times I have told her it is okay.

I would love to see them together.

“Quiet, but putting on a brave face. Dropped him at school; he had everything in his backpack, like he knew when he ran last night that he was not going to go home, but straight to school this morning.”

“That poor boy. Children are brought into the world to be cherished, not treated like dogs.” The tone of her voice lowers, tears filling her eyes.

To my surprise, Tate steps to her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his solid chest. Rocky and Clark look at me with wide shocked eyes, but I just smirk.

Tate pulls her close, her body going willingly.

“I will do what I can, like I told Skyla. There is someone I know who works in the child services department, and I will see if she can help us find something for Aston, okay?” he informs her, kissing the top of her head.

My heart swoons at seeing them.

“Is this ‘she’ someone you have slept with?” comes a shaky voice from Eva.

Tate chuckles. “No, honey. She is a high school friend of mine and is happily married with a son.”

My friend just nods her head, then pulls from Tate’s embrace.

“I am going to get ready for my next class.” She nods at me then looks to Tate. “Please do what you can.” With that, she leaves.

Tate watches her walk away, before he turns to look back at me.

“Will she be, okay?”

“She will. Eva had a bad childhood. She will tell you when she is ready.”

“Didn’t we all,” Rocky adds.

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