5
They drew stares when they reentered the space and Izzy felt like they had 'yes, we fucked' stamped across her forehead. For a moment she felt bad, because she didn't want anything to take the shine from Kiko's wedding. But when a wide-eyed Ginny intercepted her, the grin she'd been fighting spread across her lips, and she had a feeling the message now read, 'Yes, we fucked, and I liked it!'.
With a final glance at Drake, Izzy allowed Ginny to pull her away.
"I can't believe you did it!" she hissed.
"Why not?" Izzy asked, curious.
Ginny waved a hand at her. "Because," she stuttered, then trailed away. "You're a goof but you're not irresponsible. I hope you took precautions."
Izzy scowled. "Really? You're trying to be my mother now? I've been a nurse for years. I think I know how to take precautions against pregnancy."
Ginny leaned forward for a hug, her long dark hair trailing over her shoulder. "I know. I just worry about you. So, does he want to meet up with you again?"
Against her volition, Izzy's gaze swung toward Drake, as if drawn. He'd rejoined a group of his buddies, had a beer in his hand and seemed to be into whatever the conversation was, but he looked up as if he knew he'd been targeted. They shared a moment of understanding, and heat, then he lifted his beer in salute. "I don't now. Maybe eventually."
She guided the conversation in another direction and hoped that her own need for more from him didn't show through too strongly.
Drake tried to keep track of the conversation, he really did, but his attention was centered on Izzy. Even with his back turned he could feel her across the open space. If he didn't know any better, he'd think he'd suddenly developed ESP or some shit.
"She's hot, in a weird, Bohemian kind of way," Wooly told him, bumping his shoulder.
Drake scowled. "Why is she weird? Because of her hair?"
Wooly seemed taken aback at the snapped questions, and couldn't find words to respond. "Uh, yeah, I guess."
Drake took a swig of his beer and turned away, suddenly very conscious of how shallow his teammates were being. They considered this entire reception a meat market set out for their consumption. Maybe he was just beyond frustrated with them. They were young, he thought with a sigh.
Gabe Carter's dark head caught his attention. He was leaning down and listening to Julie, his fiancée, as they stood waiting at the bar. Before he could think otherwise he crossed the room to them.
Gabe saw him first and held out a hand for a clasp and shoulder bump. "Zero. How the hell are you?"
It had been a long time since he'd seen Carter, and he was amazed at the change in the man. Not just the filling out he'd done, but the ease in the lines around his eyes. He looked relaxed and happy. Drake's eyes flicked to the strawberry-blond standing with him. She had a hand on Carter's arm and she looked right at home there.
"Drake, you remember Julie, right?"
He nodded, though he didn't really. She looked familiar but he didn't remember talking to her or anything. Her kind eyes smiled at him.
"Nice to see you again, Julie. Can I talk to Carter a minute?"
“Sure. I need to go see Lacey anyway.”
With a final kiss, his buddy excused himself and they moved toward the steps at the back of the courtyard. There was a secondary level of landscaping beyond the courtyard, leading down to a developed pond. Without actually talking about it, they moved out toward the water. Drake wanted something, but he wasn't sure exactly what. To reconnect? To see that there was life after the teams? To be reassured if he did take the leap?
"You look good, Carter,” he said finally. “Is it because of the company you're keeping or the company you're not keeping?"
Gabe tipped his head back and laughed. "Both probably. Don't have nearly as many people shooting at me, so that eases a man's mind."
"Mmm…" Drake hummed in agreement.
It had been a long time since Drake had felt comfortable in his environment. His eyes were always moving and his hand had a knife or gun in it probably way more than was socially acceptable. Even now on this expanse of grass behind the lodge, with a hundred other equally on-point military men keeping watch, he still felt on edge. Like he was being watched.
"Whatever you're doing, it seems to be agreeing with you."
The lines around Carter's eyes deepened making him look more mature and Drake remembered that he was actually older than Carter by a few years. But he still held the same position in the team he'd had for more than a decade.
"What are you doing now?" Drake asked him curiously.
