“No thanks. I don’t like the taste of vodka and entitlement.”
I open my mouth to snap back, but the words fall flat. I’m too tired. Too exposed.
“I see you two have met.” Abigail flickers her gaze between the both of us.
“Unfortunately,” I mutter. “And I thought this was a house for people in need. I don’t think eating free meals just because you’re in the military accounts for that.”
“Actually, this is one of Colt’s friends. He’s going to be one of the groomsmen.” Abigail says, and I can see the humor written all over Nick’s face with that sly grin.
Of course. Groomsman. Soldier. Hero. Probably saves kittens in his spare time. But why had she never mentioned him before? As if she were reading my mind, Abigail says, “He just got back from Afghanistan six months ago.”
“I was wounded in battle and after 14 years, I decided it may be time to retire. It was wearing on my body. Besides, now I have a chance to do what I really love.”
“Good for you, commando,” I say, closing my eyes to appear annoyed, but they fling open when I feel a tiny pinch on the side of my torso. “Oww,” I dart my eyes to Abigail.
Nick chuckles as he dips his chin and then lifts it back up. “Funny, most people say thank you for your service.”
“We do, thank you,” Abigail says, eyeing me and jerking her head slightly towards Nick.
“Excuse me for being a bitch, but I’m not all about fighting and causing generations of violence just to do it over and over again. I can’t help the fact that the people running our countries are idiots and think that violence doesn’t constitute more violence. I mean how many wars do we need to have.”
Abigail and Nick just stare at me, but I don’t bat an eye.
“There you are dear, come, let’s sing happy birthday and honor the men that have served our country,” Nora says as she steps into the foyer.
“Coming right away, Grams.” Nick winks at me, flashing a toothy smile before walking off into the kitchen, beer in hand. I down the water bottle in mine, ignoring the butterflies that swarm my inside my stomach. I don’t know why Nick had this effect on me. I recoiled at the mere sight of anyone who played in any type of authority role, like a cop, a producer, or even a sergeant.
The kitchen was swarmed full of people. Some were standing up and eating and talking. Others were sitting down engaged in conversation. I recognized some of the guys from this morning, but when a woman caught my eye, I fixated on her. She was built like a man, so something told me she was also in the Army. She wore no makeup but was still pretty in a plain-Jane way. Her hair was pulled back in a tight bun, reminding me of the days when I attended ballet class after school. The blonde little girl motioned for Nick to sit beside her, which he did. Within seconds, the soldier girl is sitting down right next to him.
Pedophile and a player. Why am I not surprised?
I grab the seat in front of me and pretend like I am happy to be here, when in all reality, I could use another drink. I start to put some garlic bread on my plate and slowly nibble on the bread tomake it seem as if I’m preoccupied so no one talks to me. Conversations flow from all different angles around me, causing my anxiety to rise the longer I sit here. I grabbed the glass of water in front of me and took a long gulp. I always try to rehydrate as I dehydrate. My personal motto.
I hear my name faintly, so I look up and Abigail is looking straight at me.
“What?” I asked with a wrinkled nose.
“We met in chemistry class, didn’t we? Or was it algebra?”
“Chemistry? How did you pass that one?” Nick says, and the soldier girl tries to pretend like she’s not trying to laugh, but I know better. I perfected fake smiles.
“Probably by giving out a lot of free hand-outs, if you know what I mean.” It was that same blonde asshole from the morning talking shit again, which didn’t surprise me. “Be nice, you guys,” Colt says.
“No, it’s fine, most people are jealous of me. I’m pretty and privileged. I didn’t have to join the Army and say I'm doing it because I want to fight for my country,” I mimic in my best manly tone,” When the real reason is you had no other choice because your mommy and daddy can’t afford college or their child.” I take a bite of my bread as if I could care less about their shitty comments, but inside I was fuming. “I know it’s hard to believe, but I also have a brain, it’s why most girls feel threatened by me. I would be, too, if I were me and you were you. ” I look straight at the soldier girl, then avert my gaze to the blonde asshole
“I’m Mel, by the way, I never got your name?” I say in a sugary tone.
“Why do you want to know my name? Nick here told us you were a real bitch when telling him his.”
“That’s a bad word,” Bodie says
“Dax, kids.” Colt scolds, tilting his head toward Bodie and the little girl.
“Dax?” I snickered, “That explains a lot.”
“What? That you know how to spell?”
I glared at him.
