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Chapter Three

Meeting Riveragain at the café did not go as I expected. I hadn’t planned on being an ass yesterday morning—I had every intention of apologizing the next time we met. After our initial encounter four days ago, I had time to think on why I reacted the way I did.

The old me—the me before deployment wouldn’t have had that reaction. River is not the reason for my anger, just the target. No idea why, either. Well, maybe I do know a little if I’m to be honest with myself, but I’m not going there. One look at her and my hackles rise. I can blame it on the drink dumping. It really pissed me off. Not so much the getting wet part, but how easily she sneaked up on me like a freaking ninja.

I let my guard down.

Mistakes happen when I let my guard down.

Bad things happen when I let my guard down.

People die when I let my guard down.

I shake my head as if it could also shake away the thoughts inside of it. But they never really go away, do they? No. They just lie low for a while, waiting for a distraction, a weak moment, and then they come back like the sneaky little bastards they are.

Logan invited them both over for dinner. He made his lasagna. I haven’t eaten it in years. If I didn’t have such a hard-on for that lasagna, I’d go somewhere else, but I’ve been watching Logan make it for the last couple of hours. I kept trying to dunk chunks of bread in the homemade marinara sauce. The SOB kicked me out of the house and now I’m standing here on the porch steps like a kid in a timeout. The girls will be here any minute now.

I see Skye coming out of her house. Really convenient for Logan to have his girlfriend living right across the street. She’s by my side a minute later. Not sure what she’s holding in the large brown paper bag in her hands, but it smells fantastic. Something sweet for sure.

“I don’t know what that is, but please tell me I can eat it.”

She giggles a girlie laugh. There’s an air of innocence about her. Maybe it’s the clear blue eyes, or maybe it’s the fact I’ve never seen her with any makeup other than lip gloss, or the way she dresses, always casual and comfortable. She’s the complete opposite of Logan’s ex. That one had bitch written all over her.

“You sure can, but not until after dinner.”

I make an exaggerated sad face and pout. She giggles even more and goes inside without knocking. I make sure to stay out here for at least another five minutes. Don’t need to witness all the face sucking I know is happening right now. Logan is crazy in love with her and she seems to be crazy in love with him too. I’m glad. Logan needs someone who loves him for who he is and not another nutcase cheating bitch. Thinking about his ex makes me think about my father and the light mood my banter with Skye put me in evaporates. Any time my thoughts stray to my father, I’m overcome with anger. It’s such a dark and noxious feeling, I usually have to go for a run or work out the anger through my fists and a punching bag. Can’t do either right now. I take deep breaths—once, twice, three times and the anger leaves as I make a conscious effort to let it go.

Just as I start to relax, River shows up. I don’t realize it’s her at first. The black, sleek Camaro with tinted windows stops right in front of the house and the passenger door opens. She leans into the back seat and grabs something—a backpack, then leans toward the driver again. I can tell it’s a guy but can’t see his face from this angle. Did she just kiss him? What the fuck? And why do I care?

And just like that, I’m pissed all over again.