Page 6 of No Going Back

“What are they doing?” Dex threw the baseball at Sam, who caught it easily.

“A quick, recon op. They should be back tomorrow.” He tossed the ball back to Dex. “OK. Let’s call it a day guys.” Sam said surprising them all. “Yeah, I know it’s early, but you’ve had a rough week. Get some R and R. Steve, make sure that report goes in before you go. Great job guys, as always.” The team didn’t need to be told twice. Tyler stood up, planning to go visit Mira before he left.

“Hey Ty, can I have a word before you leave.” Dex was already walking away from the others, giving Tyler no option but to follow.

“What’s up?” Tyler followed Dex into Dex’s office and closed the door. Sam had decided team leaders needed somewhere private to take calls and apparently speak to team members alone.

“That’s what I want to ask you.” Dex motioned for him to sit as he leaned against the desk.

“Nothing, I’m good. Why?”

His team leader studied him for a moment before answering.

“You’re distracted. Have been for a while.”

Distracted? That was news to him. As far as he knew his performance had been a hundred percent.

“Distracted how? You don’t think I was solid on this op?” Fuck, he was sure he had been. Yeah, his mind had been on Mira quite a bit, but only on down time. He’d made sure of that. Or so he’d thought.

“Nothing that caused a problem. But your focus was not solid.” Dex paused and Tyler swallowed. It was never good being called out.

“Anything you want to talk about?” Dex asked.

Tyler cursed and looked away sheepishly. Had he really been off his game because of a woman?

“No.”

“Ty, I’m not trying to get in your business, and you can tell me to fuck off. But you and Mira have been flirting continually. I see it. Everyone sees it. You’ve been addicted to your phone the past few weeks, barely hanging with the team, and your actions just now, when Donnie was teasing, the whole team noticed that, too.”

Shit. Some special operator he was, thinking he and Mira were keeping it quiet. Had he really been that obvious? Tyler kept his gaze averted as Dex continued.

“In the almost six years I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you distracted. Look. This isn’t the Navy. It’s not against any rules if you’re dating her. Sam didn’t give a shit about me and Kelly, and he won’t about you and Mira. Not until it affects performance.”

Tyler waited, but Dex was done talking and appeared to be waiting for a response.

“It’s not what you think. We’re not dating.”

Dex looked surprised. “Well, then I apologize that I got it wrong. But something has you off. And you need to fix it before it becomes a problem.”

“It’s complicated, but I’ll handle it and it won’t affect me. You don’t need to be concerned.”

Dex stood, grabbing two beers from the small fridge in the corner, passing him one. “My priority is making sure you are on point for the team. You don’t have to tell me anything Ty. But if you want to talk, I’m here.”

Tyler opened the can and took a long swig. He wanted to talk about it, and he knew he could trust Dex, but this was fucking weird.

“Dex, if I was distracted, I apologize, and I’ll get it sorted. It won’t happen again.” He knew there was no room for distraction in what they did, and he had to admit his mind had wandered way too many times to Mira.

“Good. Whatever is going on with the two of you, it won’t be good for either of you if you let it affect your work. And no one wants that.”

“We’re just friends.”

Dex’s face remained neutral, but Tyler realized he didn’t believe him when he finally spoke. “Your reaction in that room to Donnie’s teasing says otherwise.”

Damn, Dex was right. The thought of another man even looking at Mira had made him crazy. That freaked him out more than a little.

Tyler stood. “Look, I like her OK. A lot. But it can’t go anywhere, so there is nothing more to say,” he said defensively. “And it’s Mira. I’d never do anything to hurt her.” Even as he said it, his stomach tightened. When had it become so much more than harmless fun?

He insisted, “I’m not about to screw with one of our own.” Despite how much he really wanted to get her in his bed, it was never going to go anywhere. Mira had bluntly told him she didn’t want a relationship and that had been music to his ears. But if he saw Mira with someone else? Hell, he wasn’t sure how he would handle that. That didn’t mean he was about to spill his guts to his team leader. No matter how much he trusted and respected him. This was something he needed to sort out for himself and apparently, sooner rather than later. No way would he do anything to threaten his place on the team.

---