"None of your business."
"That good, huh?"
I lean against the Humvee next to him, avoiding eye contact. "She's amazing."
"Oh man. You've got it so bad, Bingo."
"I'm aware."
"Like, terminal. Stage four. No hope of recovery."
"Are you done?"
"Not even close." Javi grabs another tool, still grinning. "So what's the plan? You gonna wife her up? Move to Pine Valley permanently? Adopt three dogs and a cat?"
"It's been one night."
"And you're already planning the rest of your life."
He's not wrong. I've been mentally arranging furniture since I woke up in her bed.
"She's different," I say, because it's true and because Javi already knows.
"Different how?"
"She doesn't need me to be anything except what I am. She's not impressed by the uniform or the charm or any of the usual bullshit." I straighten up from the Humvee. "She sees me, you know? The actual me."
Javi's quiet for a moment. When he speaks again, the teasing edge is gone. "That's good, man. That's really good."
"Yeah."
"You gonna tell her about the re-enlistment thing?"
"Eventually."
"Eventually like when?"
"When I figure out what I'm doing."
"You mean when you figure out how to convince her to follow you wherever you go next."
"I'm not—" I stop, because that's exactly what I'm doing. "Maybe."
"Just don't fuck this up."
"Helpful advice, thanks."
"I'm serious. That woman's too good for you, but somehow she seems to like your dumb face anyway." He points the wrench at me. "Don't overthink it. Don't overplan it. Just talk to her."
"Since when are you the relationship expert?"
"Since I've been watching you crash and burn for three years and finally found someone who might actually tolerate you long-term."
The rest of the morning goes smoothly. I help Javi finish up a few maintenance checks, run Ranger through some drills at the K9 facility—he's still showing off for the memory of Callie—and generally feel more focused than I have in weeks.
Huh. Maybe I should have been getting laid regularly all along.
I'm walking back to the barracks when my phone rings. Jake's name flashes on the screen.
