Page 37 of Forged By Sacrifice

Dani liked to bust their chops about being cute and cuddly sea creatures instead of hardened S.E.A.L.s.

“Dani says hi,” I told them.

The men all grunted.

“Tell her she still owes me a beer,” Nash said. And of course, I didn’t, because there was always an undercurrent to Dani and Nash’s conversations that I didn’t encourage.

“What does Angie think about that?” I asked, referring to Nash’s girlfriend of at least a year. Maybe more.

“I don’t know, let me ask her,” Nash said, waving his phone with a wicked grin that proved exactly why I didn’t leave him alone with my sister.

ME: What’s up?

BRAT: Roommate moved in.

ME: That sounds ominous.

BRAT: Only you would read dark and dreary into my words. Everything is good. You’ll like her. She’s got sass.

ME: Great. Just what I need. More women with sass in my life.

BRAT: You know you love us. When can we expect you to make an appearance?

ME: In another week or so. I’ll stop in Wilmington to store the boat, and so everyone in the family can see Truck before he flies back to Hawaii.

BRAT: Okay.

ME: Do you miss me?

BRAT: **puking GIF**

ME: So, you really, really miss me, huh?

BRAT: Just for that, I’m going to leave bugs in your bed.

ME: You wouldn’t infest the apartment.

BRAT: Sigh. You’re right.

I put my phone away.

“She still working for that senator?” Nash asked.

I nodded. “Yep. But only until I can snake her away to run my campaign.”

“God help us all. Mac the politician.” Darren grinned.

“Just for that, I’m taking all these chips,” I told him as I turned over my winning hand. Everyone groaned. I swept the chips over to my pile and added, “Anyone think they can beat me yet?”

“One day, Macauley. One day.” Darren smacked me on the shoulder.

? ? ?

Early the next morning, Truck and I left Darren’s house with a promise that we’d see each other again over Labor Day weekend. My family had a tradition of tennis and poker tournaments that were spread over the long weekend, and Tristan’s family lived close enough to my family’s homes in Greenville for them to stop by as long as their PTO held out. I hugged my friends goodbye and then was quiet while Truck and I put out to sea again.

“They’re a good group,” Truck said.

“Yep.”

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