But he couldn’t help it. This was where he felt the most comfortable. It was why he was itching to get The PX up andrunning, and his own self-serving reason for making sure they employed and catered specifically to military. He loved his family, but this was different. He missed the camaraderie he’d found with his fellow brothers- and sisters-in-arms.
“The bar we’re planning to open, it’s specifically so those in the military will have a place they can feel at home,” Thad said.
He spent the next half hour explaining the concept of The PX to the bartender, who’d introduced himself as Rob, and talking about his time in the service, pausing only when Rob had to step away to grab bottles from the back shelf.
“You know, I make a good living here, but if you need someone behind the bar, I’m willing to help you guys out,” Rob said. “I like the sound of what you’re doing. There’s a lot of those I served with who could benefit from it too.”
“That’s the whole point,” Thad said. “We want to create a place where vets and active duty can have a good time, but also feel safe enough to reach out to people who understand what they’re going through. It’s been nearly a year for me, and I’m still having a hard time adjusting.”
“It’s been five years since I left. I’m not sure that feeling ever goes away,” Rob said. He wiped his hand on a towel and stuck it out to Thad. “I’m pulling for you guys. And I meant what I said about helping you out. Hit me up when you’re ready to open.”
Thad shook his hand again. “Thanks, man.”
This is what he had been missing. That warm, feel-good rush that washed over him. He didn’t want to say that he needed this to feel whole, but…
He needed this to feel whole.
“You still here?” Von said, coming back to where Thadsat. “I thought you said you wanted to be home by ten? I figured you’d left.”
Thad looked over at him and narrowed his eyes. “Did you even get her name?”
Von’s shit-eating grin was all the answer he needed.
Thad could only shake his head.
“Hey, she didn’t ask for my name either. Didn’t stop either of us from having a good time. You ready to bounce?”
Their Uber driver was waiting when they exited the bar. Von had left his car parked at Thad’s since Thad’s house was closer.
“That bar was okay, but I wasn’t impressed with the vibe,” Von said as they settled into the back seat. “I don’t want the kind of place where you can fuck in the restroom and no one notices. Excuse the language,” Von said to the Uber driver.
“No problem, dawg,” the guy replied. “Sounds like I need to check out that bar.” He reached back and fist-bumped Von.
Thad wanted to throw them both out of the car.
He clicked into his messages. Nadia had sent a bunch of fuming-face emojis with a promise to pluck Thad in the middle of his forehead the next time she saw him for not telling their grandmother about Puddin’s television debut.
She followed the threat with a video of his nieces’ reactions when they discovered that the dog in the viral video everyone at their school was talking about was Puddin’. She said they’d watched the twenty-second clip at least a hundred times.
He replied that she needed to do a better job monitoring their time online.
Thad clicked over to his email. His jaw tightened the moment he saw the first one.
“What’s up?” Von asked.
Thad glanced at him. “Nothing.”
“I don’t think so,” Von said. “I can tell something’s wrong.”
This clairvoyant motherfucker over here.
They arrived at his house just in time to avoid Von’s questioning. But, of course, there was no avoiding Von’s questioning. He picked it back up the moment the Uber driver pulled away.
“What’s going on?” Von asked. “I know you aren’t pissed that you didn’t get any at the bar, because you had the opportunity. You still do.” He retrieved a folded napkin from his pocket. “One chick slipped me her number to give to you.”
“Still not interested,” Thad said.
“Such a waste.” Von shook his head as he stuck the napkin back into his pocket. “So, what’s up with you?” he asked as he followed Thad into the house. Puddin’ greeted them with a bark, then gave them his bare ass as he snuggled back into his doggy bed.
