Tyler is grinning at us. “What are you looking at?” I ask him.
“Just taking it all in,” he replies.
“Don’t.” I try to look stern. “I don’t want you to pick anything up from this guy.” I turn back to Gage, he’s grinning too. “What are you doing here?”
“A stop on the way,” he answers. “We’re heading for combat simulation training in California, but we have a couple of days here.”
“We?” I ask.
“You don’t think Matt would pass up a couple of days with Kendra do you?”
I shake my head. “Not a chance.”
Gage looks at me appraisingly. “Some snobby lieutenant wanted to tag along. But you already know him, right?”
My heart drops as I realize who else is here. I work to stay casual. “Michael. Yeah, he was here for a while over Christmas.”
Gage is studying my face. Finally he says, “Are there any girls around?”
I put my hand on my hip and fake annoyed. “I’m a girl.”
“Sorry, Jess. No offense, but when I told Jake I was coming here, he made it pretty clear you were off limits.”
“You just kissed me.”
Gage’s face breaks into a grin. “We don’t have to tell Jake about that. I’d hate for him to come all the way back from Iraq just to kick my ass.”
I roll my eyes. “Jasmine is spending Spring Break in Mexico, but she said something about being home for a day or two. She’d probably like to hear from you.”
“Cool.” Gage already has his phone out. He heads into the next room to make the call.
I pick up my suitcase, suddenly realizing what Gage just said. How am I to get through two days with Gage and Michael in the same house?
“Hey. You want to play with us?”
I stare at Matt in disbelief. “You want me to play football with you?”
He shrugs. “Why not?”
“Is Kendra playing?” I ask.
“No way. She’d get crushed.” Matt wraps his arms protectively around his fiancée.
“What about you, Jaz?” I ask. Jasmine is cuddled up on Gage’s lap.
“I’m not into guy’s sports,” she answers. “Except as a spectator.”
“I don't want her to get crushed either,” Gage replies, nuzzling her cheek. “Unless it’s by me. I can be very gentle when I tackle.”
I think I’m going to be sick. Jasmine and Gage have a talent for picking up exactly where they left off, no matter how long it's been or who else they've been involved with since they last saw each other. I’m not sure who’s worse, Matt and Kendra or Jaz and Gage.
“I guess nobody cares if I get hurt,” I answer pitifully.
“Naw, we just know you’re tough.” Michael punches me in the arm. “We need you to even out the teams. Besides, we're playing touch, not tackle.”
Gage narrows his eyes in Michael’s direction. Gage has assumed the role of my watchdog every time Michael is around. I get the idea that they don’t like each other. The air crackles with a kind of electric tension every time they’re together.
I shake my head. “Okay, I’ll play.”
