Her friend’s dark curls bounced when she nodded. “You know I will. And I’ll stock more chocolate. And if you change your mind, I’ll still be there. And I’ll still have chocolate.”
“Might need some tequila too.”
“Try to grab one of his socks. Or maybe something out of his wallet. So you have something to blow up when it’s over.”
“Good thinking.”
But Kaci had a feeling blowing up anything of Lance’s wouldn’t bring her any satisfaction.
Because she didn’t want to let him go.
Friday night Lancestrolled into his house with a smile in his heart, whistling a tune. He sidestepped Juice Box’s pile of crap in the laundry room, and even the scent of burnt meat didn’t kill his buzz.
He’d had a two-day mission out to Seattle this week, and tomorrow he would finally get to find out what kind of date a woman like Kaci Boudreaux would plan.
Juice Box was waving a hot pad over a smoking Crock-Pot. “Dude, how old’s this thing? My mom never burns beef like this.”
Lance glanced in the pot. “You put water in it?”
“Natural juices, Thumper. It’s supposed tohave natural juices.”
He sucked in a grin. “Thought we talked about you sayingnatural juices.”
“Shove it, old man. Nikki’s coming over tonight.”
“Same girl three weeks in a row? Reputation’s gonna take a hit if word gets out.”
“Different Nikki. Easier to remember their names if they’re all the same.”
Lance grabbed a can of peanuts from the cabinet and ignored the plush buzzard sitting on top of the mail on the counter.
Juicy had been bringing buzzards of various sizes and softness into the house the past two weeks. Kept saying someone at the squadron asked him to drop it off, but Lance knew better.
Just like he knew Devon was lying about this being a different Nikki.
The kid was trying to fit in.
“It’s not the same as homemade, butPublix makes a damn good fried chicken,” he said.
Juice Box grunted.
“Chicks dig it when you make brownies. Could get a box mix at the store. Already have eggs and oil here.” And Lance would be spending the night at Pony’s house so he wouldn’t have to know what Juicy did with his girl tonight.
“We’re just grabbing a bite before we head out to party. No big deal. You taking brownies to Dr. Blondie?” Juicy asked.
“She’d rather have a spring-loaded slingshot and a bag of vegetables to fling.”
Juice Box dropped the whole Crock-Pot in the sink and turned to face him. “You sure you know what you’re doing with this girl? She’s…not all there. You know?”
Lance tossed back a handful of peanuts and let his silence speak for itself.
Juice Box didn’t flinch. “I’m all about havingfun with a girl for fun’s sake, but you seem to be getting attached. You just got dumped, man. Seeing this chick? Not a good idea.”
“Appreciate the concern.” The kid was trying to be a good wingman. Lance got it. But his relationship with Kaci wasn’t anyone else’s business. This was for fun. A distraction. Not serious. “But you’ll do better worrying over what you’re going to feed your date tonight.”
He left the peanut can on the counter, snagged the mail and the buzzard, and headed to the master bedroom.
Juicy was wrong. Lance had this under control. Tomorrow was about fun. Curiosity.
