Consolation (Consolation Duet #1)(43)

I head off to the bathroom to check my face, and when I get back, Liam and Reanell are dancing. I nearly fall over laughing because while the man can do just about anything—except diapers—he has awful rhythm. Well, there’s a flaw I found.

“Having fun?” Quinn plops in the chair next to me. Quinn and Aaron were close when he was active duty. They were in the same section and worked together a lot. He was the one person I was worried about disapproving of this whole situation.

“Yeah, how about you?”

“Where there’s beer and boobs, I’m a happy guy.”

“You haven’t changed a bit.” I chuckle and take a drink. Quinn has always been this laidback country boy. He drinks a lot, sleeps around, and has more guns than any human should ever need. His dark hair is buzz cut and you can see the scar behind his ear from when he was injured in Iraq.

“Life’s too short to change. I live like I want and if you don’t like me, oh f*cking well.”

“Such a charmer,” I playfully respond.

“Listen, I know it’s not my place and all, but . . .” Quinn runs his hand down his face. “I’m happy for you. I wasn’t at first. I mean, we have a code about wives. But, I think Aaron would be glad you found someone like him. If it helps you at all.”

I place my hand on Quinn’s. He doesn’t know that what he said matters. Or that maybe in some small place in my mind I needed to hear that. I do believe Aaron would be okay with it, it’s a matter of whether I’m ready to move forward. If I can live the life of dating a SEAL. Knowing what could happen because I’ve already had my worst nightmare take place.

“Thanks, Quinn.”

“Enough of this . . . you need another beer!” he exclaims and motions for the waitress.

“Natalie?” I hear my name and Brittany is standing behind me.

Okay, maybe I need shots.

“Yes?”

“I just wanted to say I’m sorry about Aaron,” she looks away and my stomach drops. Liam’s eyes cut to me and he stops dancing. I’m confused because I thought she knew Liam. Why the hell is she talking about Aaron?

“You knew Aaron?”

I’ve seen this girl. I know her face and it’s driving me insane. The way she looks at me as if she knows me too. Her eyes fill with tears and dread spreads through my veins.

Why would she be crying?

“Yes. I mean, I did. I-I met him and . . .” She stops talking and looks at the ground as a tear falls.

“Okay . . . I don’t understand why you’re so upset if you only met him.” I try to figure this out.

Suddenly, Liam’s hand is on my shoulder. “Brittany, you should go.” Liam steps forward and pulls me to the side. “I don’t know what shit you’re trying to pull.”

“How did you know Aaron?” I ask and push past him.

“Aaron?” Liam asks, sounding as confused as I am.

She sways slightly and I see Quinn stand and move behind me. “I didn’t really. I mean . . . I did . . . but it was . . .”

“Either you did or you didn’t,” I snap.

“I wanted to say I’m sorry. We were friends.”

“You said before you just met him.”

“You have a daughter, right?”

She’s lying. Woman’s intuition rings loud in my head. Something isn’t right. Something deep inside my soul is telling me not to trust her. Her face though—I’ve seen it.

“I’ve seen you before.” And then it hits me. “At his memorial.” My eyes flash and I remember the blonde that stood off to the side at his memorial. She rushed out before anyone could talk to her. I saw her crying in Pennsylvania. Why would anyone from Virginia drive up there if they’d only met. “You were there.”

“I don’t know what you mean.” Her voice is shaky and she starts to back away. “I shouldn’t have come over here.”

“Lee, let’s go.” Liam is trying to command the situation. I feel dizzy and anger starts to take over.

Reanell’s at my side, pulling me back, and my hands start to tremble. “You were at his funeral. I saw you! Why?” I yell. “I-I remember there was a woman crying off to the side. I thought it was strange, but I was so distraught I didn’t care. It was you.”

Liam pulls me against his side and Reanell starts to push past everyone with Mason behind her. “Natalie, there were a lot of people there,” she soothes as she turns to Brittany.

“I’m not stupid, Rea. She was there. Why were you there?”

“It wasn’t me.”

“Why don’t you leave now?” Reanell suggests to her.

Brittany turns to leave but I need to know. “How did you know him?” I ask once more and her eyes are filled with hurt.

“It wasn’t what you think.”

“Is this what you do? You come to a widow and talk about her husband? I mean, it wasn’t quiet that my husband was killed overseas. So when you were snubbed by Liam you felt as though you needed to do this?”

Brittany looks away and then back at me, “I knew Aaron very well . . . this isn’t a game. I’ve wanted to meet you for some time.”

“Why? Why would you want to meet me?”