“What the hell?” I rubbed my neck. “She scratched me.” I pulled my hand away, half expecting blood.
Tatum burst into laughter. “I gotta wife back home.” He mimicked me in a feminine, twangy accent, clutching his hands together. Which looked utterly ridiculous, given his size and stature.
“I don’t know, okay.” I chuckled. “She wasn’t getting the memo.”
Tatum shrugged. “Looked like it could have been a good time.”
“Maybe.” I murmured, knocking back the last of my beer.
“Listen, I know you’ve got a thing for your sweetheart back home or whatever, but my man, you’ve gotta getlaidfrom time to time.”
“Sara is not my sweetheart.” My jaw flexed as I begrudgingly admitted it.
“Semantics.” He countered, “And if she’s really not, then there’s nothing stopping you from selecting something off the menu.” He turned and motioned around the bar at thecountless women, many of them specifically on the hunt to pick up a guy from the base. “How long has it been anyway?”
“I don’t keep track.” I gritted.
“Better get back on the horse before your dick falls off.”
“I don’t think that’s how that works.” I noticed the blonde was still watching me from across the bar with a scowl.
“Dude, you got it bad.” Tatum shook his head. “You gotta lock that shit down, otherwise you’re gonna be miserable.”
“It’s not like that.” I shrugged.
“What’s it like then?”
“She’s just a family friend.”That I possibly love.“Besides, her brother would kill me.”
“You sure about that?” He sipped his beer.
“Yeah.” I nodded emphatically. I really was. Losing Liam as a friend was not an option. I couldn’t afford to gamble our friendship on something like this, especially when Sara hadn’t really responded to any of my advances.
We flirted, sure, but over her birthday it’d just been a game. Something to cheer her up. When it came down to it, I didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Didn’t want to push her away again. Besides, I was here, and she was there. It wasn’t even remotely practical. I shook my head, wondering why I was even considering it. Friends. That’s what Sara was,my friend.
“Whatever, man, your blue balls, not mine.”
I sighed, trying not to think about it at all. “And how is long distance treating you?” I asked pointedly.
“It fucking sucks.” He rolled his eyes. “But what are you gonna do? She’s the love of my life and all.”
“Didn’t know you were so sappy.” I picked at the paper label on my beer bottle, feeling sorry for myself.
“Neither did I.” He scoffed, standing to stretch his arms over his head. “Next rounds on me.”
I wondered how Sara was doing after earlier. Wondered if she’d pick up the phone if I called. It wasdefinitely worth a shot. “Actually, I’m gonna head out.” I stood and grabbed my jacket off the back of my chair, hoping for the best.
“Suit yourself.”
I swung my jacket around my head, slipping it on. “See you tomorrow.”
“Drive safe.” Tatum called, pushing through the crowd towards the bar.
The drive home was relatively short, and I blinked my eyes, trying to keep them open. It was only eight, and I was surprisingly tired. I was always alittleworn out after combat training, but tonight I felt totally out of it.
I parked my Tesla outside my apartment. Surprised when I got out to see, I’d parked on the line, like a total schmuck.
I shook my head, feeling a little dizzy, and decided to leave it for the night as I climbed the stairs, heading for my second-floor apartment.
