Page 4 of What I Should Have Known

The guys resumed talking, but the words drifted away like a butterfly in the wind. My gaze searched the bar, roaming the crowd, mindlessly wanting another glimpse of that short and beautiful woman.

There was something about her. She hadn’t paid me a lick of attention for more than holding me accountable for my careless act. She hadn’t batted her long lashes that only had a light coat of mascara. Her rosy cheeks weren’t from a blush, but the heat of the densely packed bar room. The cock of her hip wasn’t a display of the goods her mama blessed her with but because she was genuinely annoyed.

Damn, I really was losing my touch.

My attention returned to the family seated around me. Brought together today by something that should have never happened. Despite the pain and grief, I was grateful they were here. I was grateful for them.

Somehow, I knew that Duncan was still with us, and he would be wherever we went.

Chapter 2

BERNIE

The softtinkof glass as I replaced the light cover echoed around the bedroom. With a final twist, I secured the opaque glass in place and gripped the edge of the step stool as quiet footsteps pattered on carpet into the room.

“Finished already?” my mom gently asked. I glanced to my left at the woman who had the same red hair as I did.

“Nothing to it, Mama,” I replied, climbing down.

Her blue eyes bore into mine, knowing more than what she let on. A sigh heaved from her lungs as I stopped in front of her. “I should’ve left more things broken around here, seeing as you finished everything within two and a half weeks.” Her soft hand brushed at strands of my unruly hair peeking from beneath my backwards ball cap. She slid her palm down my cheek, gazing up at me.

“You look more and more like him,” she whispered.

“Ten years to the day,” I muttered, and she let her handfall to her side.

“Is that why you’ve holed up at the house, because today’s the anniversary of your father’s passing?”

I sighed, glancing over the top of my mom’s head at the salmon-colored wall but said nothing.

She smoothed out some frizzy curls in her bun and brushed a wrinkle from her tank. “Your dad would’ve loved it out here,” she continued. “Though he would’ve expected you to be out and making friends.”

Clenching my jaw, I tore my eyes back down to her freckled face. “Not really in the mood. Plus, it doesn’t seem like a whole hell of a lot is going on in this small ass town,” I mumbled.

She pursed her lips and crossed her arms. “I’m aware this is a… startling change from growing up in a big city, but while you’re on leave, you should at least try and fit in. It’s slower paced. It’s nice.”

Pulling my brows together, I shook my head. “Slower paced or nothing to do?”

“Quit moping around, Benjamin.”

“Benjamin? Am I in trouble? Are you scolding me for something?” I teased with a cocked brow.

She threw her hands on her hips. “Just listen to me, will you?”

Nodding once, I gave her a gentle smile.

“This isn’t Chicago, I get that. But there are things to do. For example, you’re closer to your old commander. Or Mikey and your new teammate.”

“Are you trying to kick me out? I can head back to base instead of staying with you, if you want.” I winked. She’d asked for me to take her seriously, and I was, but at the same time, ignoring the shitstorm seemed easier.

“No, that’s not what I want. But I don’t want you moping about. What happened to my energetic, outgoing son?” she snapped.

Sliding my teeth across each other, I stuffed my hands in my jeans pocket, that ever-familiar ringing rising in my ears. “Wondering what the fuck I’m supposed to do,” I muttered under my breath.

“What have I said about using the F word?” she snapped again.

“Sorry.” I inhaled deeply and closed my eyes.

Her gentle palm rested against my cheek once more, and a heavy sigh left her. “I’m sorry about Duncan.”

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