TJ shrugs. “Well, whoever she is, hopefully she gets the help she needs.”
“Amen to that,” I mutter.
“How long are you guys staying in town?” Brayden asks. “Dad wouldn’t say.”
“The way I heard it, we’re staying another week so we’ll be here for your birthday, little brother.” TJ throws his arm around Brayden. “Dad misses you more than he lets on, and I hate to ruin the surprise, but Mom is going to fly in next weekend for the party. You did not hear that from me. Got it?”
Brayden lights up at the mention of his ma. “Got it. That’s great. Really.” He almost sounds choked up a little, and I realize how hard this move must have been for him. He left everyone for this girl. His family, his brothers, his home.
“How’s the transition been?” I ask.
“The South is nothing like California, but I’m getting used to it. The food is great, and people are so laid-back and friendly. They’ll stop to help you, and they’ll say hello and give you a smile. Hell, in Cali, people barely acknowledge each other.”
TJ chuckles. “That’s the truth.”
“How’s Rebel?” I ask.
“Great. She’s happy, and the garage is doing great. What’s new back in Cali?”
“Fiona opened a cupcake shop, and she’s with a brother out of the Nevada chapter. He’s in San Jose now, so you’re not the only one switching chapters for a damn chick.”
Brayden chuckles. “Guess not.”
Soon we’re back on the road, and an hour later we roll into the clubhouse. The place is small with barely any extra rooms, so we all get rooms at a motel in town. Some of the guys who’ve been in the club longer than me were here the last time the club came out, and they remember cleaning up after a tornado had devastated the neighborhood.
When we pull back in, the grills are going and something smells great. Walking inside, girls have got us a spread laid out, mountains of food waiting. We fill our plates and eat.
I’m beat at the end of the night, and when we get back to the motel, I fall face down on the mattress, exhaustion winning out.
We spend another week in town, and Angel flies in for Brayden’s birthday party.
Cole takes her to the airport the next day after a teary goodbye with her son. While they do that, I plan to make one trip before we leave tomorrow for the long ride to San Jose.
Heading to my bike, TJ whistles, bringing my head around.
“Yeah?”
“Bro, where you goin’?”
“Huntsville.”
“Huntsville? What the fuck for?”
“Got somethin’ I gotta do.”
“Cryptic son-of-a-bitch. What’s the big secret?”
I shake my head and keep walking.
After a two-hour ride, I pull into the turnoff for the cemetery. The place is old, with low stone walls and giant trees. It’s a pretty place. I roll slowly to a stop at the office and get directions to the grave I came to visit.
All the combat medic training I’d had in the Army couldn’t save my best friend. It had always been my intention to make it into the 82ndAirborne, following in my father’s footsteps.Qualifying and making it into an open spot almost always means more than the four-year enlistment. After Ryan’s death, all my intentions of reenlisting evaporated, and I counted the days until my time was up.
CHAPTER TWO
Cody—
Unable to get leave home because our unit was now short a man, I missed Ryan’s funeral. This is the first time I’ve gotten to pay my respects at his grave. We met in basic training, both signing up straight out of high school. We even got deployed together. After three years, we were as close as brothers. I’d talked Ryan into trying for the 82ndAirborne with me.
