“Bull.” Was that a flash of hurt in Smith’s green eyes? “Jordan likes me. Hector’s okay.”
“Jordan is tired of your negative attitude. And so is Saint Hector.” Hector tolerated everyone and had a smile that warmed the frostiest of attitudes. And lately even he’d wanted a pass when it came to partnering with Smith. “You don’t like it here? Quit. But stop complaining all the time.” Then feeling bad for kicking at Smith, even if the truth did hurt, he added, “You work hard. You do the job. You’re a Marine. That alone makes you better than most everyone I know. Now act like it.”
Always the pacifier, that was Evan. He sighed, even as he accepted that about himself. But being a nice guy only went so far. He turned and left before he said something he’d regret.
Like asking Smith to join him for a beer after work.
* * *
Kenzie couldn’t believe she’d asked Evan on a date. For coffee, but still. And in front of everyone! The invitation had slipped out. Lost in that sexy face and body, she’d been unable to look away. Or to think.
God. I really need to get busier at work. Or get laid. No, work harder. It’s easier in the long run and much more profitable.
Daniel remained strangely silent for most of the ride home until he said, “So you like this guy.”
“What?” She swallowed. “I do not. I feel bad for the way we treated him. Frankly, I don’t know him well enough to like or not like him.”
“But you’d like to get to know him better. You asked him to coffee, Kenzie.”
“So what?”
“So you never ask guys to coffee. Not since Bryce.”
The name still had the power to hurt. “Bryce is gone.” She pretended to be more carefree than she felt. “It wasn’t meant to be and wouldn’t have worked anyway.”
“Because of me.”
“Because he and I wanted different things from life,” she corrected. “With or without you, Daniel, I don’t want to travel the world by backpack, train, or horseback. That’s something you do when you’re in college, not as a grown adult. At least, not for me.”
“So if you found out he was engaged, it wouldn’t matter?”
She felt sick and tightened her hands on the wheel. “Bryce is engaged?”
“No, but the fact you look like you want to cry isn’t good. He’s a loser who dumped us. Who needs him?”
Everything her brother said was true, mostly. But Bryce had never been a loser. He’d been a kind man, one she’d loved with her whole heart. He’d done his best, but he’d never signed on to help raise a teenager not his own. Life with Kenzie would never be just the two of them, not when she was all Daniel had left in the world. She’d explained that up front, and Bryce had tried. But the reality of her life hadn’t worked for him.
And though she knew she and Bryce were both better off, she still missed his kindness, his laughter. And the intimacy of being with a man to call her own.
She hated that a tear escaped and could only be glad Daniel didn’t see it.
She held her sniffles in on the ride home. Only after her brother had left the car did she allow herself to wipe her senseless tears and blow her nose.
She dialed Lila.
“Yo.”
“I’m Brycing again.”
Lila sighed. “Say it.”
“He’s gone. I’ve moved on.”
“And?”
“And I will date again. Someday.”Nope. Never.She never wanted to experience the pain of rejection from a lover, a true love. It sucked so hard. And especially because those same wounds that scarred her had imprinted on Daniel, possibly messing him up on relationships for life. She needed to talk to him about it, had been planning to for some time. Maybe. If she could do it without tearing up.
Lila cleared her throat.
