Way of the Warrior (Troubleshooters #17.5)(107)
“Yeah, you’ve always been a ball-grabber,” Jonah joked.
“Look who’s f*cking calling me that!” Kevin laughed and then he scratched his chin. “No, but seriously, thanks for hanging…you know, sticking in there, even when I was a bastard.”
“Kevin, we’ve been brothers from another mother for a long time. I even tried to marry you into the family, but noooooooooo! You had to meet Miss Perfect Julie and get married. None of my eight sisters were good enough.” Jonah winked at his buddy, and then he put down the wall sconce and looked at his friend. “Seriously, Kev, I would have taken the pain for you if I could have.”
“I know. Thanks for that. I had to figure this out on my own.” Kevin patted Jonah on the back. “Look at me now…the wife is happy and I’m f*cking employed and I’m moving into a gorgeous house! Shit happens and then you move on. Hey, when I was in the Corps, Julie and I almost had the divorce-me conversation. You know eighty percent of marriages at Camp Pendleton fail. That’s a crappy number, and we were on our way to becoming a statistic, and then this happened. It forced us to communicate, really talk to each other, and stuff changed. None of it was overnight. We had to put in the work, but this experience, in all its horror, did actually bring us closer. Not that I would have ever chosen this particular path.”
“No shit,” said Jonah. “Glad the marriage is better. You deserve the happiness and the great job, too.”
“Thanks, man. Working on the space-to-water vehicle is going to be mind-blowing.” Kevin smiled proudly. “The engineers have a special building less than an hour away and then the main facility is up the coast on the water.”
“Bastard,” said Jonah, slapping Kevin’s hand in a high five. “You are definitely a lucky man.”
“Yeah, well, now it’s your turn to find happiness and tie the f*cking knot,” teased Kevin. “You’ll get to see the pluses and minuses of what all married men know.”
“Yup, that’s the plan.” Jonah picked up his task and began wiring another wall sconce.
“Ha! I knew it. I saw you looking at Alisha. Pretty hot lady…” Kevin baited him.
“Yup…” Jonah said, nonplussed. He had it so bad it was showing all over the place. Well, he did like Alisha as well as love her. There was something about her pluck, her joy, and her energy that intrigued him. He wanted to learn more about her…and show her what he loved about life. Damn, that was corny, but he’d never had the urge to share his innermost experiences with someone before and yet, it was easy to talk to her; and the way she kissed made his body react like a race car engine going from 0 to 200 in seconds. If heat were fuel, this lady could fill all the tanks at NASCAR.
“Excuse me, you’re like a dog on the hunt, and that lady is the juicy bone,” Kevin joked.
“Nice.” Jonah frowned. “A little more class, please. That’s the woman I love.”
“Oh! I touched a nerve! You really do love her. Good to know the truth! I’ve always known you’d hit it off.” Kevin lifted his water bottle and took a long drink. “Man, I wish this was a Longboard Lager. I could use a cold one.”
“You and me both, brother,” agreed Jonah. “You and me both.”
? ? ?
Alisha blushed. He loved her. Her stomach did several flips. She loved him, too.
The reaction of her body was a surge of heat, remembering last night’s kisses. His hands caressing her body and the way she fit perfectly against him. Like they were made for each other…
Julie came out of the bathroom looking pale. “I’m never going to get used to morning sickness. Probably because it comes out of nowhere at any time of the day. Thank God, Kevin is oblivious.”
“Why haven’t you told Kevin about, ahem, you know?” Alisha nodded to the woman’s slim belly. “Not that you’re showing. How can you be five and a half months along and be that tiny?”
“Because I had twenty pounds on me when it all started.” She smiled. The expression melted from her face as a memory struck. “You know how hard it was when we lost our daughter. Kevin was destroyed. I just want to reach the six-month mark, and then I’ll say something. I…have to be sure.”
“Should I finish the, ah, baby’s room? Or wait?” Alisha hoped she could complete it. The crib and additional furnishings were in the back of her hybrid, and she was eager to play with it. Hopefully, Julie would let her do it before the party, but she could wait if they wanted it to be private.
As if her friend had been eavesdropping on her brain, Julie said, “Before the party, we’ll do it. The cravings are getting worse, and I know I’m going to have to admit it soon. Maybe the room will tip him off to the news that I’m scared to share.”
“You’re going to love it! He’s going to adore it!” Alisha hugged her. “A boy’s room is so much fun to decorate.”
“I’m sure it will be. Now, Kevin Jr. and I need more food. I’m thinking fudge. Let them know I’m heading to town. How much do I love that the gas station opens at oh-dark-nothing and has homemade fudge and jams?” Julie grabbed her phone and purse as she headed out the back door. Her friend was a woman on a mission, and that mission was chocolate. Being pregnant was ruling her world. She was surprised Kevin hadn’t caught on, yet. Men!