Page 28 of Cowboy SEAL Homecoming

And his tattoo was not unmanly.

He headed downstairs toward the smell of fresh coffee. That was all he needed. A hit of caffeine and a few quiet moments, and the rest of the day would be fine. He could get over the weirdness of this morning. It was just forgetting a few clothes on the way to the shower. Why was he so worked up about it?

“Your brain is fine,” he muttered into the kitchen.

“You know my fourth-grade teacher told me people who talk to themselves are insane, so maybe your brain isn’t so fine.”

Alex glared at Gabe.

Gabe grinned and found himself a mug. “Worried about the state of your mental health?”

“Hell no. Forgot something this morning. I’m sure it’s fine. Hard to sleep here.”

“I think I finally got a decent amount last night,” Gabe said, pouring his coffee.

“Good because I’m getting your ass up on a horse this afternoon.”

Gabe grimaced. “I don’t know why the damn things are so much bigger than I imagined.”

“I never took you and Jack for such a bunch of wusses.”

“Watch how you throw around that word. I may have to let it slip to Jack you’re sitting here worried about your brain.”

“I’m fine.”

“Of course you’re fine. We’re all fine.”

Something about the way Gabe said it made Alex uncomfortable. Almost as if he wasn’t convinced.

“Where’s Becca?” Gabe asked. Subject effectively changed.

Alex shrugged. “Ran into her in the hall as she was headed back up to her room.” After spending a little too much time studying his tattoo.

“You ever figure out what her mom’s deal is?”

Alex wasn’t much for keeping secrets. At least not from Gabe and Jack. But at the same time, he wasn’t sure Becca’s past was really any of their business. It was probably one of those things she would tell them if she felt comfortable doing so.

“Not really.” Alex yawned and stretched as he waited for his coffee to cool.

Becca appeared after a few minutes, expressly not meeting his gaze, though she smiled at Gabe. “Morning, guys.” She crossed to a cabinet, but instead of pulling out a mug, she pulled out her thermos.

“Isn’t Jack supposed to make breakfast?” Gabe asked.

“I’ll go wake him up,” Alex offered, setting his mug aside and pushing off the counter.

“Don’t do it on my account. I’m just going to grab a protein bar. See you guys at lunch.” She put some coffee in the thermos, offered a nod and awkward wave, then headed immediately out of the kitchen.

Alex frowned after her. She was different now. Back to jumpy and a little shifty, like she’d been that first day he’d arrived. She wasn’t stuttering over her words or anything, but she certainly wasn’t comfortable.

Which was weird after last night, when she’d been very open and…a lot of other words that meant things he didn’t particularly care to dwell on.

Enticing.

Nope.

Without thinking about it, he followed her. She’d had her boots and coat on when she’d gotten her coffee, so she was already out the door while he had to pause to shove his feet into boots.

He grabbed his coat, shrugging it on as he jogged after her. “Hey, what’s your deal?”

---