Page 35 of Matched

Chapter Fourteen

Inara

Iplop facedown on my bed, my body beyond exhausted. Every muscle aches, even ones I didn’t know existed. My skin is warm to the touch, thanks to the sun shining through the clouds, even though it’s been overcast lately, leaving me with a slight sunburn.

The SAR callouts have been nonstop the past two weeks, on top of work and helping Bennett. My body needs a break. Not that I’m out of shape, because our trainings are no joke, but when it comes to saving someone, it gets a whole lot harder.

Half of me wishes Tony was here. It’s a weird thing to admit, given the freak-out I had when I first discovered we’d been matched, but I miss having my husband around. Not only his sexy body and wisecracks, but the way he went out of his way to help me out. If he were home, I know he’d happily save me from dragging my exhausted body to the grocery store, have home-cooked meals waiting for me after extra-grueling days, and save me from the mountains of laundry I never quite conquer. All while making me smile.

The other half of me is happy he’s gone. If he were back, I’d have to explain why I’d stormed off the day he left, and I’m not sure I’m ready to admit those reasons. Not even to myself. I’d gone for a drive while I wrestled with my unexpected feelings at his news, followed by a walk along the beach. By the time I returned home, Tony was gone.

Just as I’m about to knock out for a midday nap, my phone buzzes with a reminder. Shit. It’s Taya’s birthday. She didn’t mention it, but with everything on her mind these days, she might have even forgotten.

Chingado!I close my eyes. I’m a terrible friend. But I can fix this. Hell, Tony and I threw Trevor’s party together in a matter of hours. And of course my mind goes right back to Tony’s goddamn sculpted and beautiful face, and the wounded look in his eyes when I’d rushed off the day he’d left for training. But I was scared. And I hate surprises. Especially bad ones. The two of us had been having a moment there, and then his phone buzzes and just like that, he’s off on a new mission.

I lean back and sigh. And what a moment it was. Our lips had only met briefly, but I still remember the sweetness of the flan on his tongue, and the flames licking over my skin.

Stop.

What’s the point right now of focusing on him or the sultry look in his eyes before he laid that last kiss on me? He’s not here, so why torture myself? Besides, nothing has changed. If anything, the way he took off without a text or anything showed me all I need to know about how seriously he’s taking this relationship.

I scroll through my contacts and text Marge, knowing if she can’t find a babysitter, it’ll be hard to get her out of the house. She calls me back almost immediately. “I’d love to celebrate Taya’s thirtieth! Mason’s mom should be able to keep Leslie a little longer since they’re already on a playdate. Hell, she owes me one after Mason had the nastiest stomach virus while staying with us a few months ago. So, what do you have in mind?”

Shit, I don’t have any ideas yet. Taya and Jim were going to fly out to San Diego for Comic-Con, but those plans changed. Nothing like Special Forces’ schedules. I drum my nails against the countertop. Maybe there’s another geeky kind of fun gals’ day we can still pull off. “Marge, do you have a superhero costume?”

She chuckles. “Unfortunately, yes.”

I speed through details of a possible plan with Marge as they pop into my head. Pretty much we’re all going to be wild and silly, and all the things we often forget we are while our husbands are home. We’ll wear our favorite costumes and go to the little tapas place that overlooks the beach. It’ll be a nice distraction. Marge is on board with all of it and asks if Hayden could join since she’s home for the summer.

“Of course,” I say, and after a quick goodbye, I hang up and dial Taya.

She answers after what has to be about twenty rings. “Yeah?”

“Happy birthday!” I make sure to sound cheery and not at all as exhausted as I am.

Taya doesn’t say a word, not even a thank-you. She just sighs.

“Yes, I know you’d much rather I had a sexy, deep voice and a nice big dick, but alas, you are stuck with my whiny voice. I have a fantastic idea. Get dressed in that digital-blue girl costume you were planning on wearing to SDCC. You know, the one from that video game you and your husband love so much.”

“Um, why?”

“Because I’ve got a hell of a day planned for your birthday, so don’t ask questions.”

Taya grumbles but ends up agreeing. I hang up with her and start getting ready fast. I’m not great with comics, but I do have a Wonder Woman costume that still fits. I throw everything I can possibly need into a bag since I’ll probably knock out on Marge’s couch tonight. I text Taya to tell her to bring some comfy clothes as well and that I’ll pick her up in twenty, and she agrees.

The blue spandex bottoms are riding up my ass and thick, scratchy material digs into my armpits. Part of me again wishes Tony were here so I can dole out the sass that comes with wearing this costume. What fun it would be to boss him around. The shit I do for my girl. Thankfully, the drive to Taya’s is so easy I can do it from memory. By the time I get there, she is fully dressed and ready to go.

Taya climbs into my car and her eyes are a bit puffy with a wet sheen. I shake my head and point a finger at her. “No tears on your birthday. I won’t allow it.”

She snorts but continues to stare out the window. “Last year was the first year my dad wasn’t around. Plus, you remember what happened at dinner and how my birthday got ruined. This year Jim’s not around, and it’s my thirtieth. Not that I’m one for milestone celebrations, but for once, it would’ve been nice to have something that is all mine.”

I reach over to give her shoulder a quick squeeze. “I know, honey.”

“Not to mention, I just didn’t know how much it would hurt each time Jim leaves.”

When Taya says “each time” my heart speeds up. For some reason, the fact that being in Special Forces will have Tony gone for more than two hundred days a year didn’t really compute until just now. It wasn’t a fact I thought about when I signed up for the program, nor when Tony showed up. But now my chest aches from his absence. The more I see what Taya goes through, the more I question if signing up to marry someone in the military was such a great idea.

Given my reaction when Tony first got the news he was leaving? Yeah, I’m not so sure I’m cut out for this. God, I’m just like my mom. Jumping into marriage without thinking it through.

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