Page 140 of Kage

Both men glared at me, waiting for my response.

I finally grinned. “Hoorah!” As soon as I pounded my fist on top, both men burst into laughter.

“He’s always gotta be the dramatic one,” Maddox said.

Stone rolled his eyes and grabbed his bottle of beer. “A toast.”

“What the fuck are we celebrating?” I snagged the bottle, giving Stone a harsh look.

He shrugged. “How about to women, fast cars, and an endless supply of tacos?”

Both Maddox and I groaned. Stone would die with a taco in his stomach. “That’ll do,” I said and Maddox instantly offered a mischievous smile. The man was deadly as fuck, yet the kind of guy who could create a joke out of the worst circumstances.

He didn’t have a bad bone in his body.

Good for him. I had several.

As we all took a swig of our drinks, I reminisced about everything we’d gone through together, the brutal missions and months away from home. We’d had each other’s backs. We’d commiserated over Navy rations and the oppressive heat. We’d laughed at stupid jokes and told stories over and over again to reduce the monotony and loneliness.

We’ve never forgotten the importance of trust and loyalty. To each other. To our commander and to our entire unit.

Soldiers through and through.

Men of honor.

And above all, friends.

The memory hit me harder than any had before. There should be no reason other than that I couldn’t stop lamenting over the past, including the recent one.

I glanced at the mountains, realizing I hadn’t paid any attention to them since the snow had begun. They were majestic, the view taking my breath away.

Which is exactly what had happened when Juliette had looked at them, when I’d taken her to the lake all those months before.

Another storm had brought a few inches of snow on top of the six we’d had a few days before. Winter had taken hold, another storm predicted to bring rougher weather at the end of the week. The setting was beautiful, but fuck if I wasn’t lonely.

I absently rubbed my ring finger, the first time I’d done so in years.

Tank snorted from beside me, shaking violently from his romp in the snow. He loved the fluffy white stuff, but me? Not so much.

“Hey, buddy. Watch yourself.” I laughed and took a gulp of coffee. I’d started the morning early. And with a hangover, but the horses were used to the morning routine. With the manager of the facility taking a couple of well-deserved days off, I’d stepped up to master the art of feeding and exercising.

Another reminder I needed to get back to my daily exercise routine.

The chill was bitter, but the horses had enjoyed the crisp air. The early morning light with shades of pink and peach crisscrossing the sky had created a perfect backdrop for the few pictures I’d taken. Who knew iPhones packed a powerful punch when it came to capturing moments forever frozen in time.

Listen to me waxing philosophical.

“Let’s get inside, buddy. I got a few more chores left before the end of the day.” They included cleaning and organizing my house. I’d let it go to shit in the months since Juliette had left.

After closing the door, I turned up my nose at the mess. Somehow, I didn’t have the energy I needed. Just like usual.

I headed into the kitchen, the coffee no longer wanted. After grabbing a beer, I snatched my phone and headed to the library. At least I could make myself useful by posting a couple of pictures to my less than stellar Instagram file.

As I sat down, I suddenly remembered in my buzzed state, I’d commented on a picture I’d noticed on Juliette’s profile.

Of yours truly.

I’d been floored. I’d cringed. I’d almost demanded she take it down. Instead, I’d made a comment like the idiot I was.

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