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CHAPTER TWO

Hop wasn’t jealous of Trip. The man deserved to find the love of his life. Love wasn’t in the cards for Hop. He’d tried, and it had turned sour before the honeymoon was even half over. His ex had been sleeping around, betraying him every single day of their relationship, and he hadn’t even known. When he found out, it had crushed him. He vowed to never get involved again.

Now, if he wanted something, he picked up women at bars. Being with someone once was enough. If a woman wanted a second date, he said no. He wasn’t a dick about it, but he never actually dated anyone. Some women didn’t believe him when he said he wasn’t into dating, but he never broke the vow he’d made to himself once the divorce was finalized. He would never get involved again. The price was too steep, and he couldn’t afford another broken heart.

He’d stayed out late after Trip’s wedding, making his way home close to four in the morning. His grandmother had passed away recently, leaving him her house that wasn’t too far away from where most of the SEALs lived in Riverton. His sister had received a house in Texas, which wasn’t too far from where she and her husband, Justin, lived. It had worked out well for both of them.

Every day, Hop lifted up thanks to his grandmother for keeping both houses to give to them. She’d been a spitfire ahead of her time and had never backed down. When he’d told her he was going into the Navy, she’d promised him her house if he stayed in for more than five years. Becoming a SEAL had made her so happy for him. She’d always been in his corner, the same for Frizz. They’d been lucky.

Having a mortgage-free house made a huge difference in his life. He thought about getting a roommate since there was an extra bedroom, but on mornings like today, he liked having the place to himself.

Way too early, his phone rang. He thought about letting it go to voicemail, but it was his sister. She’d saved his life after his not-so-lovely marriage, so he answered because he still owed her.

“What’s up, Frizz?” His sister’s name was Caroline, but she had brown curly hair that went super frizzy in the humidity. She no longer got upset at the nickname, which made him love her even more.

“I need a favor. It’s big, and if you say no, that’s okay, but I’d owe you big time.”

Hop sat up, wiping his hand over his face. Frizz sounded serious, much more serious than she usually sounded. “What do you need?”

“Do you remember Vera?”

“No.”

“She was my roommate in college.”

“I don’t think I met her.”

“Yeah, you were deployed then.”

“What do you need from me? I stayed out late partying, and I’d like to go back to sleep.” He could almost hear Frizz rolling her eyes as she sighed.

“This is a huge favor. She needs a place to stay, somewhere her ex can’t find her. A place he would never think to look. She works from home, so she doesn’t need to get a job out there. She just needs to lie low until he moves on to someone else.”

Hop swung his feet over the side of his bed and blew out a huge breath. “Really? This is the favor you call in? I mean, it’s huge, but I do owe you my life. Just a sec.” He put the phone on mute as he used the bathroom, then brushed his teeth. He clicked off the mute button and sighed again. “Can you send me more details? She knows I’m not an option for a relationship, right?”

“She’s sworn off men. Also, you aren’t her type. She won’t be a bother. She’s an excellent cook, and she likes to clean. It would be just a few months until he gives up and decides to pester someone else.”

“Jesus, Frizz. I guess it’s okay. Send me her information, and I’ll call you later. She isn’t some crazy stalker type herself, right?”

“She isn’t. She just made a bad choice when it came to guys. You know how that is.”

The reminder of his failed marriage hit him hard. “Ouch. You vouch for her?”

“Yes, dear brother. She was the good roommate who helped me get my spending and drinking under control.”

“Oh, that was Vera?”

“Yeah. Mom met her. She talked about her all the time.”

“Okay, if you trust her, I’ll trust you.”

“Thank you, Ben. You’re a lifesaver.”

He chuckled. “So are you.”

They were both quiet for a moment as the past washed over them. That night, he’d been so close to letting it all go, and Frizz had talked him into facing the future and choosing life. He didn’t admit to others how close he’d come to losing it because his ex had cheated and left him. He really felt like a total loser back then. Frizz had built him back up, helping him see he had value. When he’d been ready to quit BUDs, he’d remembered his promise to Frizz. He owed her everything and couldn’t give up on something he’d wanted so very badly.

They’d been close growing up. Having only their mom around meant they had to pitch in more than their friends. After that night, they’d grown even closer. If Frizz trusted Vera, he would, too.

“I’ll call you about the details later,” Frizz said before she ended the call.

He sighed, realizing he was up for the day. The house needed a deep clean, so he guessed that was next on his agenda. At least he had a place where Vera could stay. He just hoped he didn’t live to regret this act of kindness.