Page 42 of SEAL's Sunshine
Miranda focusedon Cam’s breathing in an effort to steady hers. She’d freaked out, scared herself, and worried him. There was danger but it wasn’t aimed at her based on what Cam told her. There was no reason for him to lie to her. So why had she lost it?
PTSD. She answered her own question. Everyone around her saw it, and she’d tried to ignore it. Put it up on a shelf in a pretty jar that could be left to get dusty. Except it refused to be ignored. The movie and wine would help, so would snuggling with Cam, but it wouldn’t make it go away. Or prevent the inevitable nightmare that would visit her later. It was time for her to take control. Cam was right, seeing a therapist would rehash everything, but it would get it out in the open and help her work through her fear.
“More wine, Sunshine?” Cam’s voice was filled with concern. No wonder he’d been moody, he’d been worried about her reaction on top of not knowing where the threat would come from next.
“Yes, please.”
“I still can’t believe Robert Redford is an actual octopus?”
“I know.”
“Do you want to watch something else? It’s obvious you’re not paying attention.”
“What?”
“You just agreed that Robert Redford is a real octopus.”
“Dang, sorry. I do want to see this. I was just thinking.”
“Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not yet. I’m fine, really, and we will. But right now, I want to snuggle and watch the movie.”
“You got it, nothing I enjoy more, okay, maybe there’s one thing,” he answered and lifted her chin for a quick kiss.
“I hope that option isn’t off the table?”
“Are you kidding me? It’s always on the table and can literally be if you want to give it a try.” He waggled his eyebrows and it cracked her up. They moved so much it was hysterical. The laughter helped her unwind a bit. The wine did the rest.
Sharing the remainder of the bottle of wine and the bowl of popcorn, then watched the movie. As the afternoon wore on, Miranda relaxed, the threats pushed back into the recess of her mind, for now.
“I never get tired of that movie. But damn what Hydra did to Bucky, fuck.”
“He was a jerk at the end of the other movie. Jealous of Cap. But you’re right, no one deserves to go through what they did to him.”
“What do you want to do now? Watch another movie? Grab an early dinner? Go out for a drink? Stay in for more drinks?”
“Wow so many options. What to do, what to do?” She tapped her finger against her lips and batted her eyelashes. The wine and the movie had helped her relax. But the thought of going out set her heart racing. “I have an idea. Since we were in ‘Mexico’ for lunch how about ‘China’ or ‘Japan’ for dinner? Someone must deliver, right?”
“Yeah, or I can go and pick it up.”
“Delivery is better. We’ve had a few glasses of wine, it’s safer to not drive.” She doubted that she fooled him, but he didn’t disagree.
“That’s true. I have some menus, let’s see which country appeals to you more based on food choices.” She was relieved he played along. They could have a picnic in the living room and watch another movie.
After much back and forth, they decided on Chinese and Cam called in the order. “It’ll be here in twenty minutes.”
“That’s so funny.”
“What is?”
“It’s just I can’t remember a time when I ordered Chinese food and they didn’t say twenty minutes, can you? It’s like their standard response.”
Cam laughed. “You’re right, they always say it. Sometimes they get here faster sometimes longer, but you’re right. They always say twenty. I wonder if it’s on a post-it next to all phones in Chinese restaurants.”
“You know, we’re going to have to experiment. Every time we order, let’s order from a different restaurant and see what they say, just to prove our hypothesis.”
“Are you going to want that much Chinese food while you’re here?”
