Page 7 of The Night Ride
Wyatt took a swig of beer with a pensive expression before responding.“Not sure.Evan burned a lot of bridges.”
“He sure as shit did.I’m gonna miss that fucker.”I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, but my laugh rang hollow.
“We all will.”Wyatt turned and checked the grill just as Lucas strolled outside, beer in hand.
“Jesus H.Christ, that’s it, isn’t it?”Lucas nodded to the box on his trek to one of the chairs.Lucas was a showman with a chip on his shoulder.But today his ego was muted.
“No, it’s some other package Wyatt received.He switched them out just to fuck with us.”
Lucas gave me the middle finger salute.“Sit and spin, motherfucker.”
We both grinned at one another like idiots.One thing could be said for wakes, they were a chance to cut loose and let the shenanigans ensue.
“I gotta get the steaks.You two behave while I’m gone.None of the shit you pulled on our last deployment.”
Lucas spread his arms with a shit-eating smirk.“Don’t hate the player, hate the game.”
“Idiots.”Wyatt shook his head, rolling his eyes toward the sky as if he was asking some higher power for patience not to crack our heads together, and left us alone on the patio.
On our last deployment, after a few beers, we snuck into another unit’s tent, stole all their underwear and hoisted their tidy whities and boxers up a flagpole.It was fucking hilarious.Well to everyone who wasn’t in that unit.We had our asses handed to us by the base commander and were sent to dig new latrines as punishment.It had been worth the penance to witness the varied range of expressions from horrified to downright side-splitting laughter.
Evan had damn near laughed himself into a hernia, after reaming our asses.“When was the last time you spoke to Evan?”
“Dunno.”Lucas shrugged and sat on one of the chairs.“Couple of weeks.You know how it is.He was busy and so was I.Hard to believe your ugly ass survived this long.When I thought for sure you would wind up six feet under.”
“Right back at ya!”I tipped my beer in salute.Because what he didn’t say was that we both had outlived Evan.As our commander, he had been the one busting our asses if we stepped a toe out of line or missed a mark.
“Looks like Wyatt planned ahead.”He jerked his chin toward the two huge coolers on the patio filled with ice.
“It’s like you don’t even know him.I’m sure he has the rest of his life planned out the moment he retires.”
“Hmm.I don’t know.Say Wyatt?”he asked as the man in question strode outside with a platter filled to the brim with big meaty slices of raw steak.
“Yep.”
“You got your life planned out after retirement.”
“If I did, do you really think I would explain it to you numb nuts?”
Lucas tossed his head back and howled with laughter.I almost choked on my beer as I tried not to laugh.But I gave up the fight.
I was a happy drunk, always had been.Couple beers in, I turned beet red and was everyone’s best friend.It’s why I kept my drinking to a minimum most days.
Today wasn’t most days.We buried a friend.In my book, it gave me an all-access pass to get shitfaced.I might puke my guts up later.
But I figured, fuck it.Life was too goddamn short.
“I gotta visit the men’s room.Back in five.”Lucas rose from his chair.
“Breaking the seal already?”
“Naw.Gotta drop some kids off at the pool.Make room for that steak.”He rubbed his belly as he rose.
“Just make sure you use the air freshener when you’re done,” Wyatt sighed, while he added steaks onto the grill.
“Noted.Need anything?”he asked as he headed toward the house.
“I could use another beer.”I lifted my almost empty bottle.
