Page 16 of Assigned

“Me too.” Mason high-fives the newest member of our team.

“Can’t wait for me to meet who?”

We spin around to find Tony and his wife, Inara, another couple brought together by the military’s spouse-matching program, standing in the entranceway to the kitchen. Fuck. My palms start to sweat. I’m not ready for this.

“Hola, missed everyone.” Inara scoots around her husband and runs over to Mason and gives him a hug, before hurrying over to the rest of the wives, eyes locked on Riley.

“¡Cuánto tiempo sin verlo!” Martinez wraps me in a big hug and thumps me hard on the back. “Who’s the blonde?”

Bear sets his drink down with a thunk. “Supposedly, his new wife.”

Martinez looks over my shoulder to where my wife stands. “¡Bien hecho! What’s her name?”

“Riley. Her and Dad grew up together.” After Mason throws me under the bus, he runs over and leaps into Martinez’s arms.

A chair scrapes against the floor and coughing fills the air. Everyone stops and turns to find Stephens pounding a fist on his own chest, face turning red and eyes watering. Taya runs over and pats him on the back while the rest of the group gathers in.

Meanwhile, my son is giving Martinez the biggest hug he can muster. “Missed you, Uncle Tony. Happy birthday again. Sorry we didn’t get to have cake together last month.”

“Missed you too, buddy. And don’t worry, I’m sure Mrs. Donaghue will whip up one of her yummy creations.”

He’s referring to Marge, who narrows her eyes at him, most likely as a warning not to take her for granted. But none of us do. The fiery, petite redhead does so much for all of us. Which includes being the birthday cake baker.

When Martinez finally lowers Mason, he turns to my wife and extends his hand. “You’re the infamous Riley. Encantada de conocerte. Heard so much about you. And here I thought coming home itself would be the best birthday present.”

Riley shakes his hand. “Expected more from you the way Mason carried on about his uncle being so funny.”

Martinez places both hands over his heart and balks.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Please don’t get him started.”

“Pendejo, you didn’t even tell me you signed up for the program.” Martinez shook his head. “What else have I missed? Well, besides meeting Stephens’s kid. Where is the little bugger?”

“Sleeping upstairs.” Jim folds his arms across his chest. “And don’t go waking him.”

I forgot. Riley wasn’t the only person Inara and Martinez were going to meet today. The newest—youngest—member of our family is here. I shake my head. Seems like ages ago Taya and Stephens met. Through the same program, no less. They were one of the first couples matched. Then we almost lost Taya when some psycho tried to kill her. But look at them now. A happy family, complete with a new baby. Inara and Martinez are happy together too.

Maybe the committee saw something Riley and I both missed. The success rate of the program so far is pretty high. About eighty-seven percent. They must know something about what they’re doing. My gaze falls to Riley, blond hair in a high ponytail, talking animatedly to Inara and Taya and Marge. She tilts her head back to laugh and something in my chest unfurls a tiny bit.

Maybe, just maybe, this marriage might work out.

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