Page 2 of Sapphire Sunset

Now, standing before the only mirror in the trailer he’dshared with his dad for months, Logan smoothed the lapel bearing the hotel’sbright gold logo with both hands. Then he smoothed it again. The gentle motionsquieted nerves that had been vibrating for days.

It wasn’t just a blazer. It was a promise the hotel hadkept, as evidenced by the way it flattered his broad chest and bulky shoulders.And kept promises were exactly what he needed.

Truth be told, he’d gone back and forth between dreading hisfancy new gig and nursing excited daydreams about it. Fantasies of escortingsome Harry Styles type to his private villa, only to have the gorgeous littleHollywoodtwinkslide his phone number into his palm.And as an added bonus, maybe his new movie star husband would be the type whodidn’t drag every Marine he met for wars said Marine didn’t start or vote for.That would be a refreshing change of pace.

Before he could savor this swell of contentment over his newuniform, there was a deafening crash from the kitchen.

He found his dad ass flat in front of the refrigerator, onehand holding to the handle above his head. Logan figured the old man had gone oversideways when he tried to open the door. When he saw his dad’s new silvercrutches leaning unused next to the sofa in the main room, his jaw ached, whichtold him he was grinding his teeth in frustration. Again.

“Old man, I swear to God with you.”

“I just wanted a sandwich,” Chip groaned.

“Then ask me to make it for you.”

“You were getting ready.”

Logan hoisted his dad to his feet, no small feat given theywere about the same size.

“And you were doing that thing you do when you’re nervous.”

“What thing?” Logan let Chip’s arm slide from around hisupper back, lowering his dad carefully onto the worn sofa.

“That thing where you clear your throat over and over againand pace like an elephant. You know, like when you’ve got a date.”

“It’s not a date. It’s a job. And elephants don’t pace.Those are tigers, which is what I’m going to turn into if you don’t starttaking your recovery seriously.”

“What if I get hungry while you’re at work?” Teeth grittedagainst the pain, Chip rolled onto one side like a beached whale.

“Sally will be over in two minutes.”

“Christ on his throne,” Chip grumbled.

“Let’s try for Chip Murdoch on his sofa, like the doctorordered.”

Chip’s eyes rolled back into his head, and he groaned like he’dbeen stuck in the gut. And that was the idea. Sally was the only other residentin their trailer park, besides Logan, capable of frightening Chip Murdoch intosilence. Her secret was that when Chip shouted at her, she shouted back louderand faster until Chip shut up and got tired. It was genius. But it was also apainful reminder. They were leaning on their neighbor because Logan’s belovedgay moms were both gone now—Fran felled by a heart attack shortly after Loganjoined the Marines, and Pam finally claimed by her years-long battle with cancerlast winter. Just a whiff of chamomile tea would bring a lump to Logan’sthroat, transport him back to their kitchen in Fallbrook where they’d spent somany special hours. He and his dad could sure use some of their wisdom now.

Logan’s dad waved his hands through the air as if he couldmake the prospect of Sally’s imminent arrival disperse like cigarette smoke.Before Sally finished her harsh series of knocks, Logan opened the door, and inwalked their neighbor, a proud tank of a woman who dressed solely for comfortand looked at everything in her path like she thought it might try to bite herand that was a good enough excuse to kick the living crap out of it before ittried. “Am I allowed to hit the sauce during this gig?”

“Wait until baby’s asleep, at least.” Logan gave the woman ahalf hug and a peck on the cheek.

She stood over the sofa and glared down at Chip like she wasdeciding which cuts from his body would make the best steaks.

Logan headed to the bathroom to brush his teeth, but thetrailer was small enough that he could hear every word as if he were still standingnext to the sofa.

“It’s payback time,Chipster.”Sally planted her hands on her hips.

“For what, Sassy Sally?” Chip kept his forearms crossed overhis face like a vampire trying to avoid the sun.

“You think I didn’t hear that thing you said to LizzyRamirez a few weeks ago? About how I look like I let my pit bull do my hair?”

“Son, you couldn’t make other arrangements?”

“This one seemed like a fit,” Logan called back, then spit.

“So did it work?” Sally asked his dad. “Did she sleep withyou?’Causeshe told me she’d rather date my pitbull, so I’m just asking, is talking smack about my hair going to be a winningstrategy for you around these parts or are you ready to give it up and learn somerespect for women?”

“Son, are you paying this woman?”

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