“Got a ring and everything.”
Lock’s mouth spread into a smile. The first good fucking thing to happen since getting back to this town. “Hell yeah, you did. Congratulations, brother!”
“If Harper wasn’t in the bar, I’d be all over you, man,” Eastern said, the same smile on his face.
Cody dipped his head. “Thanks. Now I just need her to say yes.”
Lock scoffed. “The way she looks at you? She’ll say yes.”
“I’m counting on it. Don’t be late.” Cody tapped the bar before moving over to serve a customer.
“Shit, I’m happy for him,” Eastern said.
“Me too.” And maybe there was also a tiny part of Lock that was envious that the woman Cody loved adored him back. But then, he hadn’t royally fucked up like Lock had.
“You gonna tell me where you’re living now?” Eastern asked.
“Nope.”
He still hadn’t told his brothers about the house. He wasn’t sure why. Maybe because he wanted Callie to be the first to know. Maybe because a part of him was afraid that every carefully laid plan for his future with her wouldn’t eventuate.
His phone rang, Antwan, a former teammate’s name, appearing on the screen. “I’ve got to take this.”
Eastern nodded as Lock rose and moved to a quieter corner of the bar.
“Antwan. How’re you doing?”
“Hey, Lock, sorry I missed your call a few days ago. Life’s been busy.”
All his former teammates were like brothers to him, Antwan included. And he’d been affected the most by what had happened two years ago. First, his girlfriend had been murdered in the apartment they’d shared. Then, soon after, he’d been the one to find Winnie and Remi’s bodies. He’d never been the same.
“How areyoudoing?” Lock asked.
“I don’t know what to do with all my spare time. I thought taking time off before I started working would be a good thing, but now I’m not so sure.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Tell me you’re doing great?”
Could he lie?
No. He never lied to his team. “Not sure I can do that. Coming back here’s been harder than I thought.”
He knew part of that was because he was used to living on the edge of danger on a daily basis, with his team at his back to support him. Slotting into civilian life was harder than he’d anticipated.
The larger part was because he wasn’t living the life he’d thought he would, with the woman he loved.
“But I’m gonna get there.” Lock paused. “Wanna talk options of what you can do to fill your time?” Antwan had no family, and by also not working, he’d of course have way too much time on his hands to overthink everything.
“Not really.”
Just like him, Antwan had never been good at opening up. “I was talking to Jesse the other day. He mentioned he might come down to Misty Peak and visit. You should come too.”
“To your hometown?”
“Yeah, why not?”
A deep chuckle sounded over the line. “I guess you’ve missed my sorry ass.”
