Finding Carly (SEAL Team Hawaii #5)(60)

Everyone burst out laughing again. Leave it to Kenna to be blunt.

“I’m serious,” she said, when everyone had themselves under control. “Women have casual relationships all the time. There’s nothing wrong with having sex with someone you have chemistry with. And, Ash, you and Slate have a shitload of chemistry,” Kenna said.

Carly nodded along with the other women.

“I’m pretty sure I annoy the hell out of him,” Ashlyn said with a shrug. “And the feeling’s mutual. He’s too bossy. Too protective. I’d never be able to deal with a boyfriend like that.”

“What about a lover?” Kenna pressed.

Ashlyn wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure that would be any better.”

“But think about all that testosterone in bed with you,” Elodie said softly. “I can tell you with confidence…it’s a hell of an experience.”

Lexie, Kenna, and Monica all nodded in agreement.

Carly felt a pang of jealousy shoot through her—followed by determination. She wanted what her friends had. She had little doubt Jag would be amazing in bed. He claimed he didn’t have a lot of experience, but she didn’t know if he was just trying to make her feel better or if he was actually serious.

“I’m not going to hook up with Slate,” Ashlyn continued. “You guys just need to deal with that.”

“So if he met someone else, you wouldn’t be upset?” Monica asked. “If that woman started hanging out with us, talking about how good her man is in bed, like we do now, it wouldn’t piss you off?”

“No,” Ashlyn said firmly.

Carly might’ve believed her if she hadn’t followed that statement with a gulp of her drink, nearly draining the glass. The thought of Slate with someone else clearly bothered her, but she wasn’t at a place where she could admit it.

“Think about it,” Lexie said gently. “Slate’s awesome. But he’s impatient as hell, everyone knows that. There might come a time when he decides he should move on.”

Everyone was quiet for a moment, before Monica broke the silence by saying, “I have to pee again.”

Carly studied Ashlyn as everyone laughed. The other woman looked almost stricken, but as quickly as the expression formed on her face, it was gone.

“Come on,” Elodie said, standing up and holding out her hand. “I’ll go with you.”

“You know we aren’t at a bar, you don’t have to go in pairs,” Kenna said.

“I know, but it’s the girl code,” Elodie insisted.

“How about we move the party to the balcony?” Lexie suggested.

“Awesome idea. I’ll get some blankets,” Kenna said, jumping up from the couch.

“And I’ll grab the rest of the malasadas we didn’t eat earlier,” Carly said.

Hours later, as Carly lay on the couch and prayed the room stopped spinning so she could get some sleep, she couldn’t stop smiling. Tonight had been fun. She’d missed hanging with Kenna and the others. Shawn had taken so much from her, and he’d almost taken this away too.

She vowed to herself, listening to Elodie snore from the large beanbag in the corner of the room, to never let anyone come between her and her friends again. She also began to plot. She wanted what the others had. She wanted Jag. Wanted him to know how much he meant to her. And since she knew she was too chicken to come right out and say the words, she’d have to show him.

She didn’t know when, but she figured she’d know when the time was right. And that time was coming. She couldn’t wait.





CHAPTER SIXTEEN





“You’re seriously not going to tell me where we’re going today?” Carly cajoled.

The days were going by surprisingly fast, and while both she and Jag were frustrated at the lack of new information about her situation, Carly wasn’t really dwelling on it anymore. Easier said than done, of course, but she was pretty proud of how well she was doing. She’d even gone down to the grocery store for the second time by herself the other day. Jag was working, and Carly felt stupid calling Kenna or someone else to come and hold her hand while she grabbed some butter. They’d run out, and she wanted to bake cookies to surprise Jag.

Jag and Slate had gone to her apartment and brought her car, an older model Ford Escape, to his complex a while ago. The trip to the store wasn’t as difficult as she thought it might be, going out the first time by herself. She kept her eye out for anyone who might be following, just as Elizabeth had taught her. Instead of looking down, or at her phone, Carly kept her chin up and met the eyes of the people she passed. It gave her the confidence she needed to get through the short trip.

It was her biggest baby step by far, and Jag had complimented her profusely. Carly knew he wasn’t happy that Shawn’s mysterious accomplice was still a viable threat, but as for herself…she was slowly coming to terms with the fact that they might never know. She couldn’t live her life hiding away, in that case. She was proud of herself for how far she’d come, though she knew without Jag by her side, pushing and being her cheerleader, she wouldn’t be where she was today.

He’d told her last night that he had a surprise for her today, but refused to tell her where they were going. His only clue was for her to wear closed-toe shoes.