"Because there aren't a shit ton of people in the world who would put up with your bullshit. Not to mention our friendship was forged in that hellhole of a sandbox. It was either become friends or go crazy. Personally I didn't want to go insane. Not sure what your excuse was."
I laughed at Rhett. Our friendship wasn't new. All of us on the team were recruited from the Army and knew of one another in some capacity from our time enlisted. It just so happened that Rhett and I had been thrown together since boot camp.
"I didn't want to go insane either. Plus I was still at the point where pissing my parents off was my number one goal. They would've hated knowing I made friends with a southern boy. They were Yankees through and through."
Rhett looked at me thoughtfully. "Do you ever miss talking to them? I know you always say it doesn't bother you, but did you feel the urge to call them to say you were married?"
I didn't have to think about my answer for long. "Not even a little. They made their bed when they chose to disown me simply because I didn't follow the path they wanted me to take. I rarely even think about them anymore, and I'm sure the feeling is mutual. I don't call them, and they don't call me. End of story."
The smile on Rhett's face said it all. "I'm glad to hear that. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life." I nodded my head in agreement. "Now text Molly you're sorry and maybe do something nice for her. You're still at the beginning of this whole relationship thing. It's time to woo your wife."
I had no idea what the hell Rhett meant by wooing, but I would figure it out. It couldn't be that hard.
CHAPTER TEN
MOLLY
Parker
I'm sorry I texted you so early this morning. I hope you had a great day at work.
I stumbled to a stop on my way out of the school.
"What the hell?" Elle fumbled next to me when she realized I was no longer walking next to her. "Did you forget something in your classroom?"
I shook my head. "Parker texted me again apologizing for waking me up so early."
"Aww, that's sweet." A goofy smile spread across my friend’s face before it dropped into a frown. "Wait, does that mean you never texted him back after we spoke at lunch?"
I winced at her accusation. "Ummm . . . no."
"What the fuck, Molly? Why the hell not?"
"I don't know." I threw my hands in the air and almost dropped my purse off my shoulder. "I didn't know what to say, and then before I knew it, the rest of the day flew by, and it slipped my mind."
Liar!
I hadn't stopped thinking about that text all day. It wasn't anything special, but it meant he was thinking about me when he woke up, and I wasn't sure what to do with that.
"Bullshit. I know when you're lying, and right now, you look guilty as hell."
I scowled at her before continuing with my trek to my car. "It's not nice to call someone out like that."
"It's not nice to lie to your best friend," Elle argued back.
We were parked next to each other in the lot, so it wasn't like I could escape her. We legit had to walk in the same direction. What I wouldn't give to be on the other side of the parking lot for once.
"Okay, fine, so I lied." I stopped next to my vehicle and waited for Elle to join me. "Sue me."
"I would prefer if you told me what was wrong. At lunch you seemed good with things. What happened between then and now?"
I let out a loud exhale. "Nothing happened per se. I did plan on texting him back, but when I pulled out my phone, I froze. Palms sweating. Heart racing. I couldn't get my fingers to do what my brain was telling them to. I just froze, and I have no clue why."
I could tell Elle was just as confused as I was. "Could it be that you were nervous?"
Again I threw my hands up, but this time, I was forced to grab my bag before the contents toppled to the asphalt. "Probably. But I can't be sure since I've never been nervous about anything a day in my life. This feeling is completely new to me, and I'm not sure I like it."
Elle chuckled. "It sucks to join us mere mortals, doesn't it?"
