Page 27 of Deception and New Direction

According toArcher,Wade’suncle previously owned the pub but sold it to the guys, along with the entire building, when he retired.Thatnot only providedRangerShieldwith the huge building, but also with an initial income source via the pub, as well as a great location to scout future employees.Thepub was also a hot spot for current and former military, since it was right down the street fromDobbingtonAirReserveBase.WhileDobbingtonwas the 22ndAirForceheadquarters, it was also home toNavyoperations support,ArmyReserve,MarineReserve, andGeorgiaNationalGuard, which meant there were a lot of military-trained personnel to recruit from, which was exactly how we foundDiego.Halfof the peopleIhelped recruit for the company came fromDobbingtonin some fashion.

WhenCatandIarrived, we found her sisterValandJack’ssisterElliealready seated.Thesegirls were all quickly becoming my new best friends.I’dhad friends back inLasVegasgrowing up, butInever felt comfortable bringing them over to my house since my dad would inevitably say something mean in front of my friends.ThenasIgot older,Ididn’t want for them to be at my house and haveMalshow up unannounced.I’dmade some friends at the salonIworked at, but sinceImoved around between a few different locations every few weeks, they weren’t deep friendships.

Val,Cat, andElliewere different.Weall seemed to get along really well and enjoyed each other’s company.

We joinedValandEllieat the booth, ordered drinks, and thenValdecided to go big or go home.

“Did you andJackhave sex yet?”Valasked, andInearly choked.

“What?”Icoughed to clear my throat.

“Girl, we’re not stupid,”Valsaid. “Heis so into you.Heasks you out at least once a week, and the chemistry between you two is off the charts.”

“I think it’s cute,”Catadded.

I had planned to ask them all about it, but onceIfound out he was going on a date tonight,Ichanged my mind sinceJackhad too.

“He’s obviously notthatinto me because he has a date tonight,”Isaid, probably a bit too defensively.

“What?”Valall but shrieked then turned toEllie. “Whatdo you know about this?He’syour brother—do you know who it is?Whatdoes she look like?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,”Elliereplied. “Thisis news to me too.NotthatIreally want to talk aboutRuthieand my brother having sex, because, ewww.”

She made a gagging sound then looked back at me. “Sorry, not you.Ijust don’t want to picture my brother doing that.Jackdoesn’t really talk to me about that stuff, butIcan askWadeif you want me to.”

She was looking at me when she said it, butItried to play it off likeIdidn’t care. “It’sokay.Hecan do whatever he wants.We’renot a thing.Wecan’t be, really—we work together, so that would just be awkward if things didn’t work out.”

“Notice how she didn’t say she didn’t like him, just how it wouldn’t work because they work together,”Valsaid conspiratorially toEllieandCat.

I just rolled my eyes then looked over atEllie, who was smiling at me.

“Cat,Val,”Elliesaid to them. “Youweren’t here yet, butRuthieseems to have forgotten we had this very same conversation last year whenImoved here and first got together withWade.”

She paused and gave me a stern look then continued. “Ibelieve you told me you can’t help when the timing is right.YousaidIshould just take it slow and see where things go—and if it works out, then great.”

I did remember having that conversation, and nowIregretted it.

“I told youIwas worried that if it didn’t work out, it would be awkward, both because my brother worked with him and because he would be my boss,”Elliecontinued.

Ellie worked as a bartender and server here at theWateringHolewhile she was taking college courses, andWadewas her manager and sometimes even worked alongside her at the bar.

“I believe your exact response to me was, ‘Ellie,Iget that, but you also shouldn’t hold back from something you want just in the off chance something might go bad—and in the short term, at least you get to have some amazing sex.’Thoughjust saying, if you andJackdohave sex,Idon’t necessarily want the nitty gritty details,”Ellieadded.

“You can tell me instead, sinceI’mthe only one here not having sex,”Valcommented. “Ican live vicariously through you all.”

I had no problem being with a man.I’dhad one-night stands before.Infact, that was usually whatIpreferred, butJackwas different.Ifit didn’t work out,Ididn’t want it to get uncomfortable withJackand me at work.IknowI’dtoldEllienot to worry about that very fact, but she andWadewere different.Wadeonly rarely worked a shift at the pub—usually when multiple people called in sick.Elliealso didn’t plan to work there after she graduated college.Forme,IsawJackevery single day at work, andIhad no intention of leaving this job.

Not wanting to explain that to my friends,Iopted to change the topic instead.

“Okay, enough about me.How’swedding planning going?”Ilooked to her, hoping she would take the hint and move on.

She stared at me and gave me a small smirk before answering. “Iknow you’re deflecting, soI’lljust say this, and thenI’llmove on.Ilike you forJack, andIlike him for you even more.”

Her soft smile grew bigger before turning to the rest of the ladies. “It’sjust a small wedding, and we’re having it inWade’sparents’ backyard garden.Speakingof which,Iwant you all to be my bridesmaids.”

“Oh my goshI’mso excited!”Valscreeched. “I’venever been in anyone’s wedding before!”

“You’ve never even been to a wedding period,”Catreplied. “Neitherof us have.Well, unless you count our aunt’s wedding whenIwas five and you were one, butIdon’t remember that.”

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