Page 30 of S.O.S. Billboard

O’Sheaalsowanted in on the weekend activities with Ethan and the three girls. There shouldn’t be any problem getting that request granted, since she was always an asset,andshe had plenty of free time.

As the evening wore down and people finished eating—early, because everyone but O’Shea had to work the following day—she looked to Billboard for his cues to leave, which she knew he was itching to do. After the discussion he’d led regarding the Jakes’ duo, Billboard had mostly sat back and listened to his colleagues, putting in an occasional grunt or chuckle here or there. But O’Shea could tell that even with his group of “besties”, the man held back. It was sad, because she knew that if he let fly with whatever devastating history was stuck in his craw, hisgroup would stick with him no matter what. Maybe they’d even let him know how full of shit he was for holding himself from them for so long.

“You ready to head back to your hotel?” he finally asked, first to call it quits.

She threw down her napkin after wiping her mouth. “Sure. I’m full of good food and great conversation. I should sleep like a baby.”

Perk spoke up with an impish gleam in his eyes. “Youcouldgo sleep, but if you want to stay longer, Billboard can hit the road and I’ll be your ride,” he offered.

O’Shea glanced at Billboard. She was certain—because of the way he’d acted so proprietarily before—he’d tell Perk to buzz off. But…crickets. When it looked as if nothing was likely to be forthcoming from the frustrating man, O’Shea pursed her lips and answered Perk with some sass that couldn’t be mistaken.

“I’ll pass, thanks.” She ground her teeth. “I’m looking forward to some awkward silence with Billboard during my trip back to the hotel, with maybe a few terse rebuffs thrown in if I mistakenly try to make any friendly overtures.” She truncated her tongue-in-cheek speech with a pointed elbow to Billboard’s ribs.

He snorted, then he actually laughed.

“Okay. Fine. I get it,” he relented. “I’m not the most engaging of individuals. But I’m trying. A month ago, I would have made excuses for not coming out to join the group at all. Then Perkwouldhave been the one escorting you around.” He sent a “don’t-even-go-there” look toward his youngest teammate, who judiciously kept his mouth shut this time.

Right. Nowhe stepped up.

“He’s not kidding,” Del concurred. “Before Billboard started seeing his therapist, which is something, by the way, he willinglyshared with us, he missed about ninety percent of our get-togethers.”

“Because you guys are assholes,” Billboard put in.

Del ignored him. “Since his head has started getting screwed on straight, he’s made almost all our little parties.”

“Isn’t that sweet.” O’Shea reached over and laid a hand over Billboard’s. “There’s hope for you, yet,” she teased.

He rolled his eyes, but in a humorous, not a dismissive way. “That’s me. A work in progress, at thirty-four years old. Who would have figured.”

“Hey. Better late than never, BB,” Mizzay spoke up, but O’Shea could tell she wasn’t going to let the “pick on Billboard” session continue. She really was a mama-bear, looking around to see if she had to call anybody out. When no one made a peep, she continued. “Now I suggest we finish theeze beers, and get our asses home.” She smiled at Billboard. “I want to see Rory’s face when I tell her sheez goin’ to hang out with you, Sarge, Prez, and the girls on Saturday.”

O’Shea hadn’t met Rory yet, but she could imagine the squeals because… Who wouldn’t want to spend a day with these guys?

Speaking of which, that was her cue.

“Uh, do you think I can join in the fun?” she asked, turning to Billboard. “I can pretend to be the enemy. Your pupils will need to have somebody to try and fool when they hide in the woods,andI’ll make a great hand-to-hand adversary.” Her training in that genre was her strong point, having several combat disciplines under her belt.

Billboard hmphed. “Uh, maybe not. You’re unfamiliar with the Blue Hills. You might get lost.”

O’Shea laughed at his concerns. “Seriously? Fine then. In the remote possibility that I get turned around, you big-bad experts can find me. Or,” she thought smartly, “Ethan and thegirls can. It won’t hurt, having them read the signs to find a lost or even purposely hidden individual. It could actually help them track their adversaries.”

“Not a bad idea,” Wiley put in. “One never knows when the stalked could become the stalker. And now I’m jealous I won’t be able to join you.”

“Come on along then,” Sarge offered. “The more the merrier.”

“No can do,” he lamented. “Solina and I are taking a quick trip to Canada to visit her parents this weekend.” He didn’t look exactly disturbed over the fact, but O’Shea could see that he would have been happier playing in the woods with his friends.

“I can go alone,” Solina offered, obviously able to read her husband better than anyone else.

Wiley leaned over and gave her a kiss on her cheek. “Nah. I promised. And besides, your parents are great.”

Which, if O’Shea remembered correctly, hadn’t always been the case. The pair had been diplomats and workaholics in their younger years, and had dragged Solina into their world, even though she had no interest in state dinners and rubbing elbows with presidents. Since she’d met Wiley, the older couple had backed off from their overbearing propensity, content to let their daughter run her small antique store south of the city.

O’Shea bit the inside of her cheek. Brigid had said that Solina and Wiley had no intentions of having kids. She wondered how that would go over with the elder Dalats?

“If you change your mind, Wiles, just let us know,” Billboard chimed in, then turned back to O’Shea. “You ready?”

She’d been ready. O’Shea pushed her chair back and came to her feet. “Sure. Let’s go.”

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