Is she feeling warmer? Has the chill from the icy dip last night faded? Or is she still bundled up in a fleece blanket, hugging herself to stay warm?
Is it strange that I wish I could go there right now to find out for myself? Fix her soup or tea to help if she’s cold? Sit on the couch beside her, offering my warmth?
Yes, that would be strange. Especially considering we’ve never even been on a date. Never even shared a meal together, unless I count bringing soup over this afternoon, which I don’t.
No. A date with Hazel would involve a nice dinner at Mariano’s or The Laughing Goat. Or possibly a reservation at the Von Trapp Lodge if she was up for something fancier. I’d get flowers. Wear something nicer than my standard jeans and T-shirt or sweater, depending on what season it is. It wouldn’t be sitting on her couch eating takeout out of recycled cardboard containers.
Though thatwaspretty nice, too.
Sliding the window shut, I turn away from it with an exasperated sigh.
I need something to take my mind off theseconflicted feelings. Another movie. A book. An online game?—
Almost as if by magic, a distraction arrives in the form of an incoming text.
A burst of hope flares bright as I hurry to the couch to grab my phone.
Could it be Hazel?
Phone in hand, I glance at the screen, and the hope fades.
It’s not Hazel. It’s Ace, my old Green Beret teammate, who recently moved out to Portland to start up the new branch of Blade and Arrow Security, a nationally known private security company.
I’m glad to hear from him, of course. It’s just…
Shaking the thought away, I sink back down on the couch as I read Ace’s message.
Hey. Just wanted to check in. How are things going?
I settle back against the cushions before typing my response.
Good. The company’s doing well. I might have to hire another couple employees to keep up with demand. And GMG is great. How’s everything over on your side of the country?
Three dots blink for a few seconds.
Really good. We just finished our third pro-bono case and have another lined up to start next week. This time we’re heading to San Francisco, so I’m looking forward to that.
Like Green MountainGuardians, Blade and Arrow Security takes on pro-bono cases, offering protection and investigative services to clients who haven’t had luck getting help from the police and don’t have the money to pay for a bodyguard or private investigator themselves. And like Blade and Arrow, we work paid jobs to subsidize the pro-bono ones.
One difference between us and Blade and Arrow is we all have other jobs in addition to our work for GMG. I have Stowe Security Services, Ronan works part time as a medic, Knox owns his own construction business, Enzo took over his late uncle’s outdoor supply store, and Gage works remotely as a flight simulator consultant. It’s worked out pretty well for us, because we don’t take on many jobs. But recently, we’ve been talking about possibly shifting our work for the Guardians to full time or even taking on another teammate.
I’m not sure how I feel about bringing in another person. I’d rather scale back my work at my company. Promote Jake and hire a few extra employees. But it’s not just my decision to make—the whole team has to be in agreement.
Turning my attention back to Ace’s message, I send my reply.
That’s awesome. So glad things are working out for you. When things slow down here, I’ll have to come back out for a visit.
His response comes back immediately.
Of course! Come any time. You’re always welcome.
If Ace was looking for another job, which he’s not, I wouldn’t mind if he joined GMG. Or Rhett or Levi, the other two remaining members of my Green Beret split team. Levi just separated from the Army, but his brother, Matt, works for the Blade and Arrow branch in San Antonio. So if Levi was going to take a job like that, he’d probably want to work with them. Maybe Rhett, though…
I kick my feet up on the coffee table as I start to compose my response.
Halfway through the text, my phone rings.
And with it, my hopes lift.
