Page 6 of Xavier

I chuckle at my best friend’s text before heading inside. There’s no hostess on duty right now, so I walk toward the back of the bar and slide into a booth.

The older man standing behind the bar glances my way and asks, What will you have?”

“One large Guinness, please. Actually, make that two.”

He grunts in response and grabs two beer mugs out of the freezer before filling them with the dark ale.

He brings them over to the table before disappearing behind the double swinging doors that lead to the kitchen.

The bell on the front door rings as my oldest friend walks in with a shit-eating grin on his face.

“See? One minute.”

I haven’t seen him in years, since our tour in the Middle East, but he looks the same as he did back then. Except his hair.

Standing up, I reach out and shake his hand before pulling him into a tight hug.

“Damn, it’s nice to see your goofy ass face again.” Sure, I might tease him, but I mean it. It’s nice to see a familiar face in this small ass town.

He scoffs as he sits down across from me, but his smile grows. “I might have a goofy ass face, but it’s saved your ass many times.”

Lifting my beer glass up, I say, “Here, here.”

We gulp down half of our beer before setting the mugs back down on the table.

“Look at you, Gunny. You got a little Jesus thing going on.” His hair is much longer than it was when we were stationed together, and he’s wearing sandals.

His laugh echoes off the walls. “Don’t worry, civilian life will slowly take over your appearance in a few months. I’d say the first thing would be your beard, but I see you’ve already let that grow.”

“Hell yeah I did. No more shaving, just trimming when it gets unruly.”

His hand runs through his bushy beard. “I let mine grow, but the missus likes it trimmed. Guess it’s about time to trim it down for her again.”

My gaze roams over to his ring finger where a simple platinum wedding band sits.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t make it to your wedding.”

“Seeing as you were thousands of miles away on a top secret assignment, I understand. Haley loves the espresso machine you sent us. We use it every day.”

“I’m glad she loves it. The three of us need to get together after this storm blows through.”

“She wanted to come today, but I told her I get you first.”

“I feel so loved to be fought over.”

“There are some things I want to discuss with you privately today. Besides, I’m pretty sure she’s trying to find someone suitable to hook you up with.”

I chuckle and shake my head. “I just got free from a lifetime commitment to Uncle Sam. I need time to experience the single life.”

“Hence why I said no to her tagging along. We’re here for pre-storm drinks, not to get you hitched.”

“Exactly. Let me live a little.”

I down the rest of my beer and signal to the bartender for another round.

It feels good to be officially retired from the Marine Corps. Military life is all I’ve known for the past twenty years. And for that reason, my officer warned me to lie low for a few months and not get into any trouble.

The bartender brings two more beers for us. “Good to see you, Hudson. How’s married life treating you?”

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