“I don’t know. I’m her boss. She’s young. Too damn young for me. And…”
Colt frowned. “And what?”
Noah’s jaw clicked. He also hadn’t told Colt about the real reason he’d left the military. Was now the time? Hell, was thereevera time?
His fingers tightened around his beer. “There’s something I haven’t told you.”
“Okay, so tell me now.”
“My contract wasn’t up.”
Colt’s frown deepened. “What do you mean? How did you leave?”
“I left on a medical. Combat-related PTSD.”
Another silence, this one heavier.
He wasn’t sure what he’d expected Colt to say. Maybe to ask about the specifics of the cause of the PTSD. Maybe ask why he hadn’t said anything earlier.
He asked neither of those things. “How are you doing now?”
Noah swallowed. It was a good question. “Sometimes I’m okay. A lot of the time I’m not.”
Finally, he looked up. There was no pity in his friend’s eyes. But then, he shouldn’t have expected it. PTSD was well-known by soldiers.
“What can I do?” Colt asked.
“I don’t think there’s much youcando. I’m the one who has to do the work.”
“Are you talking to someone?”
“I was. But not since I got home. I didn’t find therapy helpful.”
“I’ve heard some people need to try a few therapists before they find one who works for them.” Colt gripped his shoulder. “Tell me if there’s anything I can do to help.”
“I appreciate it.”
The women returned to the table. And the second Noah saw Addie, he forgot about his shit and focused on her. On how paleher skin was. On the way she kept looking at her phone like she was waiting for something.
“Expecting a text?” he asked.
Her gaze shot up, eyes widening. “No.”
“Addison, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
A damn lie. “Addie—”
“I need to make a call. I’ll be back in a second.”
Then she was gone. He watched her find a quieter corner of the bar and put her phone to her ear.
“I don’t know what’s going on with her,” Cass said. “She was fine when she got here, but she’s gone really quiet since.”
Fuck it. He was finding out what was going on. He didn’t care that they hadn’t known each other long or that he was technically just her boss. She was new to town. She didn’t have many people. If she needed help, he wanted to be that help.
He passed a large group of guys who were drinking and being rowdy. He ignored them, reaching Addie just as she was turning.
