Jake picked up a pillow and threw it at her. She ducked and it almost took out a vase on a nearby table. Their eyes went round as they looked at each other like a couple of kids in trouble.
Camden squeezed Elena’s knee. “See? You have nothing to worry about bringing Tina over here. She’s the most mature of the bunch.”
“Ha-ha, Joker,” Sam said. She looked at Elena. “Do you call him that yet?”
Elena looked perplexed. “No, why would I?”
“It’s my old SEAL nickname,” he told her. “And no, you really don’t need to call me that.” He narrowed his eyes at Samantha, though good-naturedly. He’d known her since she was in grade school and she’d only become more like a little sister in the intervening years. A few times, Jake had called on him to help chase off an asshole who wouldn’t leave the gorgeous young woman alone, which always infuriated her. Sam would rather toy with a jerk herself than have someone step in and fight her battles.
“Oh, I had no idea,” Elena said. “Do you guys have nicknames, too?” She looked at Jake and Costello.
Jake placed his fingertips on his chest, “I’m Crooner.” He pointed at Costello. “And he’s Psychic.”
Elena leaned forward. “Crooner makes sense for you. You have a really good voice.”
Camden laughed. “His voice didn’t sound so great when he got the name.”
Jake raised an eyebrow. “Must we?”
“Fuck, yeah, we must.” Camden leaned back. “Hell Week in BUD/S, the first night. We’re camping on the beach and our instructors wake us around midnight, yelling, shooting guns with blanks, throwing smoke grenades, it’s complete chaos, right? But what does our guy notice? Not the bombs, not the men screaming in our faces. He’s listening to the sound system they’ve got cranked to eleven playing, “Welcome to the Jungle.” And he’s singing along to it at the top of his lungs. The rest of us are just trying to find our asses and Axl over here’s putting on a concert. One of the instructors named him Crooner, so for the rest of the week, Jake would spontaneously shout out a line and the rest of us were like, shut the ever-lovin’ fuck up, Crooner. He finally went hoarse.”
“That song got me through Hell Week. Every time I wanted to ring the bell and quit, I sang instead. And now I never want to hear that song, or that story, again.”
Elena grinned at Jake before turning her attention to Costello. Before she could open her mouth, he held up his palm and said, “No, I’m not psychic.”
“Which means you’re psychic, because that’s what I was going to ask.”
Costello smiled and brushed back the dirty-blond hair falling over his forehead. “Nope, just means I’ve been asked that about a thousand times by everyone outside the military.”
“Whyoutsidethe military?”
Camden jumped in. “Because anyone who’s served or worked with Psychic knows he’s got a sixth sense for danger. What was it, a week after we started working together? I witnessed this man stop a dude from holding up a convenience store before I even knew what the hell was happening. It was downright supernatural. I don’t care what he says, he’s psychic.”
Costello shook his head. “There is no supernatural and there are no psychics. If you hadn’t been so focused on picking out potato chips, you would have noticed that guy’s flannel shirt was way too hot for the weather, but was perfect for concealing his .38. And you would’ve seen the way the dumb redneck scoped out the guy behind the counter and then us and reached for his piece.”
Camden scoffed. “Psychic here noticed all this within the first half-second the guy walked in the door. Didn’t even make it all the way in before Costello was on him, had him down on the ground and disarmed.”
“That’s impressive,” Elena said. “Oh, and before I forget again, Tina loves that little palm tree you gave us. She strung it with fairy lights. Thank you.”
Camden noticed Costello’s cheeks take on some color. He was normally so cool and detached, his other nickname could have been Mr. Logic. “You’re welcome. Plants make a house a home.” His brief, faraway look contrasted his usual sharp-as-a-falcon gaze.
The faint whir of Bette’s wheelchair announced her approach. Elena and Samantha stood, Elena still looking nervous, as Bette entered the room.
“Oh my God, Mom, where did you find my old doll clothes?” Sam asked.
Bette rolled her eyes at her daughter. “At the back of your closet where you’ve always stashed all your good stuff.” Then she smiled at Elena. “I wanted to let you know Tina’s nodding off and that you’re welcome to stay the night.”
Elena covered her heart and smiled back. “Oh, that’s very generous of you, but I think we’ll head home.” Her eyes widened. “I forgot, we didn’t drive ourselves, you sent a car.”
Camden immediately recognized Elena’s look of confusion.I bet she’s wondering what would be easier for Bette. His assumption was confirmed when Elena said, “I mean, if it would be easier to stay, or…”
“I can take them home, Ms. C.,” Camden interjected.
“Really, it’s no trouble either way,” Bette started, then he caught the twinkle in her eye as she looked from Elena to Camden. “But, don’t let me stand in the way of you being a gentleman.”
“I just need a minute to talk to the guys here, and then we can get going.” Camden was eager to hear what Gina had to say about Ron Anderson and get Jake and Costello’s impressions of the Bennetts, especially Cici.
Rachael stood and joined the other women. “I’ve come to know that means business.” She linked her arms through Elena’s and Samantha’s. “Let’s go check on Tina and get her ready to go.” Bette led the way, presumably to the home theater.
