Page 31 of Metal & Mud

*Crap.*

"Sarge!" Logan whispered urgently, tugging her back. "Sarge!"

Adams turned, annoyance written on her face. "What, Hollywood?"

"Send me somewhere," Logan whispered back, covering his face with his hand as he turned away slightly to hide his appearance. "Go have me police up brass or something. Whatever."

"Why?"

"Because that's the lieutenant I had the bowling alley incident with."

* * *

16

SABBY

After seven days of hectic schedules with her sister coming in and out at odd times, Sabby had to admit to herself that she was tired. Jess had tried not to disrupt things, and had done her best not to wake her sister up when she'd come back late or leave massively early.

But that didn't mean much, as Jess had always been a bit of a door slammer. Jess Adams didn't enter or leave a room as much as erupt in and out of them. So Sabby had gotten woken up multiple times throughout the week.

So Sabby was looking forward to some peace and quiet. Jess might be out late, trying her luck in a local college town, but Sabby knew her sister's love of the gym would keep her from straying too far.

The alley was quiet for a Friday afternoon, but she expected that to change as her shift continued. Even if the people from Cranked Company were ditching post to scatter on a long weekend, there were still locals and the normal Friday night crew who'd be coming in to roll some games, play some pool, and more.

But she was happily surprised as four o'clock came around and the front door opened... and Logan Goodman strolled in.

"Logan!" Sabby exclaimed, and his smile helped heal the tension inside her. He was dressed more casually, in exercise shorts and a University of Miami t-shirt that made him look more like a beach boy than a rocker. He was still devastatingly handsome, though, his hair a little longer and a hint of stubble making him look...

Well, panty-dropping sexy.

"Hey." Logan came over and sat down in the same stool he'd been in before. He looked different, brighter and more casual, but also a little pensive. Sabby couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind, but at the same time took heart from the fact he was there, and he was clearly nervous about the conversation they were about to have.

"Long time no see," he started, rubbing his hands together nervously. "Sorry about that."

"No, I uh... I heard about what happened," Sabby said softly, her gut churning with emotions. "I didn't expect you back after that. Um, are you okay?"

"Yeah," Logan said with a soft laugh.

The same sexy chuckle that again made Sabby feel little butterflies in her stomach. He was still nervous, but he wasn't running out the door yet. She took hope from that.

"I've felt like crap not coming by though. I just wish I could have gotten your number before I left that night. And I wasn't sure if I could call the alley without, you know, causing trouble."

"No, I get that," Sabby said. "I had the same thought about calling the front desk at the barracks. So do you have time to get a number now?"

Logan grinned and pulled out his phone, tapping at the screen for a few moments. "There we are. Part of why I forgot was that when I was going through training at Benning I figured I didn't need a cell phone. It made no sense to keep paying for one, a phone card to call from the public phones in the barracks was cheaper, so I let my plan lapse. Moving here, coverage with my old company sucked. Shopping around I upgraded my phone, and got a new number in the meantime."

Logan turned his phone around, and Sabby grabbed a pen and paper from the register, copying the number down. "Can't keep my phone on me while working," Sabby explained before picking up Logan's phone and dialing. She let it ring, and from behind her in the staff room she heard an echoed ring from her phone. The alley really was that dead. She grinned as handed the phone back to Logan. "But that's me."

"I'll save it now," Logan said as Sabby handed it back. He typed away for a few seconds, and put his phone back in his pocket. "So uh... yeah. The situation."

"Yeah, you said everything's okay," Sabby asked worriedly. "What happened?"

"Unofficially? Let's just say the lieutenant got in trouble for how badly he messed up that ambush. He wasn't going to risk making things worse by pursuing it. Some higher-ups stepped in."

"Well that's good then," Sabby said, relieved. "Just be careful, they often ask for repayment. Buona sera and all that."

"Maybe, but the price was worth it," Logan said, his eyes softening as he gazed at her. "Especially since it means I get to come back here now... to see you."

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