How does someone get a gig like that? Asking for a friend.
Wade:
It’s him. He’s thefriend.
North:
You know it.
Bax:
No wonder you won’t come back to the team, bro.
Wade:
Reid, I don’t think this counts as lying low for a while, by the way.
Bax:
He lived with Griff’s family on base for almost a year. I think that counts as a while.
By the way, if this princess thing doesn’t work out, there’s still a spot here for you.
Wade:
No there isn’t…
North:
There will be when the rookie cracks and drops out.
Bax:
That’s happening sooner than later. Cap’s about to lose his mind.
North:
But seriously, when they inevitably kick us out I’m expecting you to get us all jobs with hot women because you clearly know what’s up.
IcurseasIlock my phone and set it on the bed next to me. Then curse again because the first one wasn’t strong enough. How did they find out? At least it’s only three guys on the text, but I’m under no illusions theywon’t eventually tell the rest of the squad that my face is all over the internet.
I knew pictures of me with Freya were going to surface at some point, but holy hell. There’s a slideshow.A freaking slideshow. Most of them are closeups ofme, as if there’s a universe where I am more interesting than the literal princess having casual conversations with people on the street.
My phone buzzes again, and I’m afraid to look. My old compatriots aren’t going to leave me alone until I respond, but what am I supposed to say? They already have all the facts about my new job thanks to the most recentHollywood Hot Scooparticle, and this is only going to fuel their attempts to get me back on the team because they won’t take my position seriously when this is what they see of it. Considering I haven’t talked to any of them in months, I don’t know why they’re trying so hard.
Worse than that, I have no idea how to interact with them anymore.
I’m in a different world from them now, and jumping into conversation with them feels like a step backward. It took me long enough to get over the guilt I felt over Griff’s death and abandoning the rest of the guys because of it, and I really need to focus on my current mission.
The current mission being convincing Freya that she’s never going to wander the city like that again.
The woman spent over an hour talking to people in the street this afternoon before I could get her to climb into the car that was waiting for us, so she’s not going to be easily persuaded. Not even a handful of irritated nobility dimmed her pride, even when they not so subtly suggested she might be forgetting her station. She held her head high throughout their criticisms, and I reluctantly have to admit that her conviction is admirable.
Even if it stresses me out.
After several more texts come in, I gingerly tap the screen and flinch when I see the previews of the texts from my old comrades. They are not holding back, now commenting onHot Scoop’s high praise for my appearance. But there’s another text below that thread, and that’s the one I open.
Derek:
