Her shoulders still shook a little as her laugh died. “Right now, I’m staying with a friend in Raleigh. I’m waiting to hear if I’ve been accepted to UNC’s PhD program.”
“We’re neighbors.” He calculated the drive time. It was four hours to Fort Bragg, so it couldn’t be that much more to Raleigh.
“Where do you live?” she asked.
“I’m in Charleston, South Carolina. Mount Pleasant actually, but most people don’t know where that is.”
“Why do Oakley and Ghost call you Ban?”
He wondered when that was going to come up again. “That’s a story for another time when I’m not trying to make a good impression.”
She smiled. “Is that what you’re trying to do?”
“Yes. Is it working?”
“Maybe a little,” she said with a shrug. “Why aren’t you married?”
“Who said I’m not?” he asked, teasing.
Her face fell and she leaned back. Immediately, he realized his mistake.
“I’m not.” He placed a hand on her forearm. “I’m sorry—I was teasing. I didn’t expect you to take me seriously.”
“I don’t know too many people who would joke about being unfaithful,” she said.
“I have a really warped sense of humor, some would even say nihilistic.”
She nodded and seemed to accept his answer, even if it was begrudgingly. It felt important that she understood it really was his poor attempt at humor.
“I’m divorced. It was finalized three years ago. Which is when I started sleeping on my brother’s couch.”
Her eyes filled with concern. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. It had been over for a while, but it was easier to stay married—especially since I was always deployed. She filed when I had to get out. She liked the prestige of being able to say she was married to a SEAL, but it wasn’t about me, it was about my Trident.”
She frowned. “Your what?”
“Trident. It’s the emblem of the SEALs.”
“The eagle thingy?” she asked.
He chuckled. “Yeah. The eagle thingy.”
“You saidhadto get out. Did something happen?”
“I blew out my knee. It required complete reconstructive surgery. I recovered enough to stay in the Navy, but not enough to go back to my unit. If I couldn’t be a SEAL, I didn’t want to be in the Navy.”
“I’m sorry.” She placed her hand over his this time. “It sounds like you loved it.”
He nodded. “I did, but nothing lasts forever. What about you? Why aren’t you married?”
She tilted her head. “Who said I’m not?”
Shane smirked, knowing she’d forgiven him for his blunder. “Good one. I’d bet my vintage MG convertible you’re not. You don’t strike me as the type of woman to linger over the last two tortillas with a guy you just met.”
“You’re right. I was engaged.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Was—but not anymore?”
