“I’d love to.” Working for the Wyatt Foundation would be more than just a paycheck; I’d be helping the families of fallen heroes. Plus, finding work was easier if you had a job.
The foundation began three years ago, when John and Mary Sheppard held a fundraiser to help Beth after her husband, a Weatherford cop, died in the line of duty. Poor Beth was seven months pregnant. The small-town community got behind them, and they’d raised so much money they helped Beth and a second widow. Wanting to do more good, they created the Wyatt Foundation and held an annual event near Halloween. They raised a lot of money, and everyone had a good time.And don’t even get me started on how fantasy-inducing it is seeing the SSI guys in chaps!
An image of Nathan in chaps flashed through my mind.
My phone buzzing again erased the drool-worthy picture from my mind. I imagined shooting daggers out of my eyes straight into my phone at the disruption.
“What if it’s not him?”
She had a point, so I turned it over.Nope, it’s him. I put it back on the table with more force than I intended.
“I’m sorry, Ashley. Want Jamie to tell him to back off?”
“No. He’s not worth the energy. Besides, I don’t think he’s dangerous,” I said, trying to convince myself as much as Emily.
I broke up with him because he started showing red flags for abusive behavior: self-centered, blamed me for everything, refused to apologize, jealous fits, and the final straw was when he tried to tell me I couldn’t come home to visit my friends.
“Okay, but if you change your mind, call. You know Jamie will help.”
I did. I also knew Jamie would tell his newest employee. And with my recent luck, Casper would be the only one available to help.
Hard. Fucking. Pass.
Chapter 8
Nathan
When Jay asked if I wanted to talk about my anxiety attack, I said no. Then he surprised me by explaining why SSI had delayed my interview. He and Cate were investigating a missing person and were held hostage after their cover was blown. He didn’t go into detail, but they were tortured.
We have more in common than I realized.
“Because of the drug in my system, I couldn’t move. I watched Cate get shot.” I wasn’t hard to see that Jay still carried guilt.
While I appreciated his openness, I wasn’t ready to share yet. Though he’d be the perfect person to talk to if I changed my mind.
Jay’s situation happened more recently than mine, and he watched the woman he loved get shot. I couldn’t help but wonder, how had he healed so fast?
“Do you still have nightmares?” I asked.
“Yeah, but therapy is helping.” He paused. “It also helps that my family understands.”
Therapy and family.
One I had. One I didn’t.
Never had one. I grew up in the system. Lucky for me, I was smart and strong. One talk with a Navy recruiter, and I’d made my career choice.
“You’re lucky.”
Jay’s eyes glazed over for a second before he said, “I am.”
There’s a story there.
Growing up, I prayed for a forever family. But it wasn’t meant to be.
Joining the military was a no-brainer for me—it gave me the family I’d always wanted. I signed my enlistment papers on my eighteenth birthday. Two years later I entered BUDS, and fifteen months after that I’d earned my Trident. Having that pin punched into my chest was my proudest moment. Only I had no one to share it with.
Except my fellow newly pinned SEALs. Some we’d lost, and some I’d lost touch with after they left the Navy, but there was one person I staying in contact with.
