It was actually quite charming.
As was Dunk. During the drive, Ashley’d had a chance to tell him that she was close friends with Colleen and Bobby Taylor—and he knew Chief Taylor well. As did Lieutenant Jim Slade—the significantlylesscharming giant SEAL instructor who’d called her ahot nanny.
“I’ve got to reorganize the barracks assignments before I hand out keys,” Dunk announced after he’d parked the van in front of the big central building that bore the signMess Hall. He grinned at Ashley as he led them inside. “I’d originally given you the double, put you in with your brother, but—”
“Oh, God, no, please and thank you,” Ash said. The spacious room was filled with long picnic-styled tables with attached benches. An open counter looked into a large kitchen.
Dunk laughed. “Yeah, that’s what I thought.”
“Kenneth, are you okay sharing with Clark?” Ash asked.
“Of course.”
“You can just switch me and Kenneth,” she told Dunk.
“Yeah, no,” Dunk said. “I mean, essentially yes, thatiswhat I’ll do. I just need to check where I put Ken and… My office is right here—” he pointed to a door. “Give me ten to do that administrative work. In the meantime, feel free to wander. Gedunk’s over there—” he pointed toward a small alcove off the mess hall that bore a signHonor Gedunk“—lounge is in the back.” And with that he was gone.
“What’s aGedunk?” Ashley asked Clark as she went to look. Was it some sort of play on the man’s nickname?
The walls of the alcove were lined with tables that were filled with SEAL World hats and T-shirts and sweatshirts, as well as snacks and supplies from a drug store. Cold meds and Tylenol and shampoo and Q-tips.
“Gedunkis Navy slang for the place on a ship where sailors can buy snacks and sundries.”
She looked up to see the annoying Lieutenant Slade leaning against the alcove’s frame. He’d been limping—just a little—as they’d walked to the parking lot of the airport.
“I always liked that word:sundries,” he added with a smile that softened his harshly craggy features. With his sparkling blue eyes and dark, wavy hair she might’ve even found him handsome, had he not already proven himself to be a first-class idiot.
He pointed to an iPad that was permanently attached to one of the tables with something that looked like a bicycle lock. “If there’s something you need, you scan the barcode. I bet five dollars Dunk’s gonna give everyone their own PIN.”
“That makes sense,” she said politely, smiling slightly in his general direction as she went past him, back into the mess hall.
“Whoa, Kenneth, check this out!” Clark exclaimed as he and his friend disappeared through the door labeledLounge.
She followed them in—it was a fairly large room that had clearly once been a kid’s arcade—filled with pool and foosball tables, pinball machines, and even old-school, ancient video games.
“Oh, my God, this is an original Space Invaders!” Kenneth howled, forgetting to be British in his delight.
“PacMan’s set for five games for a quarter!” Clark, too, was over the moon.
“Space Invaders is, too!”
Ashley was more interested in the bamboo bar that stretched across a full wall. This was clearly an evening hangout area where the campers could socialize. There were several craft beers on tap, plus a large wine fridge. Like the Gedunk, it was serve yourself, although a sign proclaimed a reasonable two drink limit.
Another sign saidWe reserve the right to close this bar at any time for any reason.
That, too, seemed fair.
The boys had found a change machine, but couldn’t get it to work. “There’s nowhere to insert anything.” Kenneth was puzzled. “Not dollar bills or credit cards. It just keeps asking for my PIN.”
“I’m pretty sure the whole camp’s designed so you don’t have to carry any cash or cards.” The giant SEAL had followed her again. “Or keys. The trailers are locked with keypads.”
“Do you have any quarters?” Clark asked Ashley.
“I don’t,” she said. She’d cleaned out her bag before this trip, and she’d used her credit card for the coffee she’d bought in the airport.
“I got a few.” Lieutenant Slade had two quarters in the palm of his giant hand.
“Oh,” she said. “No, that’s okay,” even as Clark exclaimed “Yes! Thank you!” as he grabbed them and ran.
