Page 54 of Badd Ass

I snagged my cell out of my jeans pocket and plugged it in, then reclined in the bed, pulling up my text thread with Bast.

Me:You up?

Him: Yeah. What’s up?

Me:Random question, and you can’t get up in my shit about it. How’d you know you wanted to be with Dru? Like, that it was a real thing with her?

Him:That hot medic, huh?

Me:The boys have been talking? Gonna have to beat some ass.

Him:Nah, I saw you take off with her at the wedding.

Me:So? How’d you know, with Dru?

Him:I fucking hate that I’m saying this, but…you just know, man.

Me:That’s a shitty answer.

Him:I know. I’m sorry. But it’s the real answer. If you can’t make yourself let her go, then you know. If the idea of her leaving and never coming back makes you crazy, then you know.

Me:So let’s say, hypothetically, that I’m about to sleep, JUST sleep with her, and my heart is pounding and my hands are shaking worse than before my first combat drop?

Him:Then I’d say you probably know.

Me:So what do I do?

Him:How the hell should I know? Don’t let her go? Figure it out. If you can earn a bronze star, you can figure out what to do about a woman you’re hung up on.

Me:How’d you hear about that?

Him:Why, is it a secret?

Me:I just don’t talk about it.

Him:Marco?

Me:Yeah.

Him.Sorry.

Me:I told Mara about Marco.

Him.Damn.

Me:I know.

Him:You’ll figure it out, and if not, we’ll be here for you, bro. Now, I’m gonna go back to sleep with my wife.

Me:Why didn’t you tell me I woke you up?

Him:Because you’re my brother and you wouldn’t text me at 5:45 in the morning if it wasn’t important.

Me:Well thanks.

Him:NP. Later.

Me:Later.