Page 29 of Jake

“That would be great. Let him introduce you to the guys, then we’ll take care of the women and all the details you need to know to hang around a group like this.”

“Sounds great. I’m sure I’ll join you soon.”

Robyn waved, turned toward the kitchen area, dug something out of one of the coolers, then went back to where the other women sat. There looked like there was six to eight there and Heather wasn’t sure, but it seemed there were some missing.

“Ready?” Aaron’s voice brought her attention back to him.

She turned and looked up at him with a smile. “Sure. Let’s go.”

They spent the next forty-five minutes meeting and talking to different men. She still wasn’t sure how she would remember who everyone was, much less their names. Though for some reason she thought their nicknames would stick with her better than real names would have, similar to how she had an easier time remembering pets’ names than people’s. Things like Malice and Savage seemed to stand out in her mind.

“Why do they call you Jake?”

“It’s a nickname, just like Ghost, Lurch, and the others.”

“I know that, but why? There’s always a reason behind a nickname and I want to know yours.” She watched his reaction and noticed how his face turned pink.

“It’s dumb. You don’t need to know.”

“Need to? No. But I want to and the more you resist telling me, the more I want to know. The more I’m going to pester you about it. You and I both know you might as well just tell me. Cause I won’t let up until I find out… or I could just go ask someone else.” She twisted around to look toward the group of men they’d just walked away from. “Sadist seems like the kind who would tell me just to get a rise out of you.”

Aaron pinched the bridge of his nose. “Jesus. Why are you like this?”

Heather shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m just me. That’s all I can be.”

“And honestly, I wouldn’t want you any other way.” He hooked an arm around her waist and tugged her close as he took a deep breath and heaved out a sigh. “I’ll tell you, but it’s embarrassing.”

She wanted to stop and look at him, to watch his face as he told her but knew that would only make him more self-conscious.

“When I was in my first duty assignment after basic there was another guy with the same last name. There was some discussion as to how to tell us apart, when some smart ass pipped up and told them they should call me Jake because I looked like the guy from those stupid insurance commercials. It stuck.”

Heather started by giggling. She remembered those commercials. Not the newer versions, but the original. And now that she thought about it, he did look a little like the actor when he’d been younger. Not so much now that he’d lost some of the baby fat and put on some muscle. “He wasn’t wrong.” She glanced up at Aaron and found the scowl on his face even funnier than the reason behind his nickname. The giggles became full blown laughter. Not at his nickname or how he came by it, but at his reaction to her.

He put his hands on his hips and watched as she laughed, and Heather found that even funnier. She gasped for air, knowing this wasn’t as funny as she thought it was. Maybe it was more than the story he’d told her? She liked the way he made her feel safe, cared for but free at the same time.

She wiped tears from the corners of her eyes as she gasped for air, the laughter finally subsiding. “Thanks, I needed that.”

“Glad I could help, even if it was only by being the butt of the joke.”

“It wasn’t that. Not the way you think. It was your reaction, the look on your face. That was what was so funny.”

He shook his head at her, a smile slowly creeping onto his face. “You know, it’s a good thing I like you.”

“I guess I kind of like you too.”

He held a hand out toward her, and without thinking about it she took it in hers, weaving her fingers in with his as she let him pull her along to the next person he wanted her to meet.

21

Jakedidn’tknowhowhe found her laughter so amusing, especially when it was him she was laughing at, but oddly he didn’t mind. He just liked that she felt safe enough to laugh like that. Maybe that was part of what had caused it, the need to let off some steam. He hoped she never felt like she couldn’t be herself around him.

Once she’d finished laughing and was ready to meet the rest of the crew, he held out a hand, only realizing once he’d done it that maybe she wouldn’t be comfortable with it, but to his surprise, she took it. She wove her fingers in between his and held on. Unable to wipe the stupid grin off his face, one he knew he’d take some ribbing for later, he took her to meet the others.

By the time she’d met the guys gathered around the firepit and outdoor kitchen, her eyes had glazed over, and he could tell they’d surpassed her ability to remember names, but she remained friendly and cheerful.

“I’m going to take mercy on you, and call it good for now. We’ll worry about meeting the rest of the guys later.”

She looked at him with wide eyes, with just a little panic on her face. “There are more?”

---