Page 32 of Embattled Ever After

Gabe grinned and nodded his head, wondering how Duncan had known he’d been on the machine. Had he come down and Gabe hadn’t even seen him? “I did. Only did four miles, though.” He massaged his right quad muscle, wondering if it would ever be as good as it had been before he’d been shot.

Duncan rocked back in his chair, crossing his arms over his muscular chest. “Do you know how long it’s been since I had a good run? Probably… ten years, something like that. It’s been a while.”

His dark eyes turned sad and Gabe suddenly felt guilty for exercising, and even guiltier for worrying about people seeing him. “Mr. Wilde, sir…”

Duncan waved him off. “Don’t worry about it, Gabe. I let it go a long time ago.”

He leaned forward in his chair and waved Gabe to the one opposite him. “Have a seat. How are you settling in?”

Gabe took the offered seat and wondered what he should tell his boss. That he couldn’t sleep when he got off shift because he felt like there was more to do? Or that he couldn’t walk down the street without settling into the old head-on-a-swivel routine? Or that his girlfriend worried that he was going off the deep end because he refused to socialize. “I’m doing good, sir.”

Duncan stared at him for a long minute, as if weighing his words. Gabe suddenly felt like he was sitting in the principal’s office again, about to get his ass reamed for pranking the substitute teacher. But there was also a sense of concern radiating from Duncan.

“When I came back from Iraq,” he said, “I was out of it for a long time. Had a lot of injuries so they had to keep me unconscious for a while. Then I was in the hospital recovering for another six months. Something like that. So when I actually left the hospital, I’d had a chance to kind of get used to stateside again. Letting go of the weapons wasn’t an issue, and the nurses kept us on a schedule, to a certain extent. So when I walked out the door, or hobbled, I guess—the world wasn’t a total shock to me. I’d watched so much TV I’d gotten sick of it, so I had a better idea of the social climate. You haven’t had much of a chance to acclimate, yet. So I thought I’d see if you’d like a little guidance with that.”

Gabe blinked, surprised at the man’s insight. But he really shouldn’t have been. Duncan Wilde was one of the most insightful men he’d ever encountered. Gabe knew he was struggling with the real world. So what could it hurt to hear the man out?

“What do you suggest?”

“I suggest you get out and do things, even though it makes you uncomfortable. I suggest you keep a schedule, but not a military schedule. You have the ability to take it a little easier now. Take Julie out for dinner and go shopping at Target when it’s not so busy. Get used to the world around you. It’s very different than living on base but if you give it time, it will get easier. And if it ever becomes overwhelming, you are always welcome to shelter here if you need to.”

Gabe swallowed and shrugged a little. “I’ve been here a good bit already. I don’t mind graveyard shift and the off days. I think Julie is having to get used to it, but we’ll figure it out.”

“Remember to keep her in the loop. If you’re having issues, you need to let her know. You get me? Julie has an excellent head on her shoulders and I have a feeling she would understand anything you’d tell her.”

He was completely right. He and Julie were friends for a long time before they became lovers and he knew he could tell her anything he needed to. But in spite of his best efforts he’d already disappointed her. Though she said otherwise, he could see it in her eyes. “I’ll talk to her.”

Duncan nodded, obviously expecting nothing less. “I’ll hold down the fort until afternoon shift gets here. Go home. Did you get her a good Christmas present?”

Gabe winced. “Not really. It was kind of last minute. I’ve been distracted. She had to work Christmas Day so we’re celebrating next weekend when she has time off.”

Duncan frowned at him, taking off his glasses. “Well, the stores are open. Why don’t you go remedy that since you have time? Is this your first Christmas together?”

With a knot in his gut, he realized Duncan was right. Julie, his ever patient Julie, had always been there for him. After Butter, his swim buddy in the Teams, had committed suicide, he and Julie had been together almost constantly. When his leg had gotten obliterated, she’d been right there with him. He loved her more than anyone else on Earth and she understood him better than he could ever imagine anyone understanding him.

Duncan was right. It was their first Christmas and he needed to find her a new Christmas present, something withmeaningthat would show her how he felt about her.

Chapter Ten

Alex smiled as shethought of Gabriel, the tall, dark, former SEAL leaving the office with determination shining in his eyes. Duncan had given him that motivation. Actually, Gabe had already had it, it just needed direction.

It also told her something else important. Duncan was a bit of a romantic.

She’d listened to him give his advice and been warmed by the caring she could hear in his voice. He’d told her on the way over that Gabriel was the newest hire, and that his girlfriend was concerned about his reintegration. But he hadn’t said that outright. Gabe was a smart guy. He knew he was having problems. And Duncan didn’t take the easy way out and throw Julie under the bus with her concerns. He’d gently guided Gabe into seeing what was before him.

Alex hoped he found her something awesome for Christmas.

She listened for movement from Duncan’s office, but he didn’t move. She heard him tapping on his computer and doing shuffling things, but he never left the cave. Alex forced herself to focus on the research paper in front of her.

It was supposed to forward her career, but at the moment she had other things on her mind. She piddled around and poured out some theories and pontifications, but the whole time her attention was on the man in the other room. Finally, she couldn’t stand it any longer.

Pushing to her feet she wandered over to the doorway. Duncan eventually looked up, wireless glasses perched on his strong nose. “Are you doing okay?” he asked her.

Alex shrugged, slipping off her own glasses and tucking them in the V of her shirt. “I thought I would go scrape up some coffee. Want some?”

Duncan nodded, already turning back to the computer screen. “I’d appreciate that, thank you. Black.”

Alex frowned but turned away, wishing he’d offered to show her where it was. Well, maybe she’d find another way to distract him.

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