Page 25 of The Entire Team

“Nani, she does not like me.”

“Hush boy.” Nani looked him up and down realizing for the first time he was standing in his shorts and shoes only. “You need to shower, go.”

33

ASHE

On break while on shift, she was sitting on the wall overlooking Turtle Cove, Ashe saw the team running down the beach. Her eyes froze on Red carrying a brown-haired woman. Turning to leave she bumped into Genie. “You look like the floor is coming out from underneath you.”

“How do you know that?” Ashe asked.

Genie motioned toward the woman Red was carrying, “I’m married and have daughters. I’m familiar.”

“She’s your wife?” Ashe answered. “Why is Red carrying her?”

“Sand can be hard for Bethany to maneuver. We’ve found it’s easier for all of us if we share the load.” Genie watched his unsubtle advice hit her. “Ashe, it’s been just us for a long time. I was married to Bethany before I was part of the team, so she’s been part of the team from the beginning. It’s very normal for us. And you aren’t used to having anyone.”

Sean stopped,looking over at Genie and seeing Ashe. “Ashe is here.”

“What?” Bethany exclaimed. Her grip tightening around Red’s neck. “Where?”

“Over at the wall.”

“Go!” she smacked Red on the chest. “She doesn’t know me. Move!”

Snapping out of his surprise, he took off toward Genie and Ashe.

When he got up to them, he settled Bethany on her feet, next to Genie, and Toby broke in between Red and Ashe. Toby looked up between Red and Ashe smiling.

Bethany shoved her hand out, “Ashe, I’m Bethany. Teddy’s wife.” Genie made a slight adjustment, making sure it was lined up for Ashe to take. “I wanted some beach time and the guys’ look out for me. There’s lots of tourists but the turtles are so cool…I hear.”

Ashe took Bethany’s hand. “I’m just on a break from work, I gotta get back. Hope you have a good day out here.” She patted Toby’s head as she turned to leave.

The restof the team had stopped on the beach and was taking in the scene. Flash’s attention was drawn to a tall Spainard near a parked SUV on the street, watching Red intently. They met gazes quickly and the Spainard walked off quickly.

34

TECH

Arriving home he realized that Amari was back from her latest trip. Her bags were dropped in the main room of the condo and he could hear the water running in the bathroom. He smiled to himself and then turned toward the small kitchen to see what he could put together for dinner. Her schedule equaled his, erratic sometimes and boring others, her latest job had been a few weeks. He hadn’t planned on her being back yet and was pretty sure that the refrigerator showed it.

“You don’t have much for dinner,” Amari stated as she walked into the main room wrapped in a towel.

“Yeah, I hadn’t gone shopping yet.” Tech unnecessarily confessed.

“Come apologize and then you can take me to Teddy’s,” she sashayed back to the main bedroom while dropping her towel on the floor.

“God, I love this woman!” he said to himself following her into the bedroom, snatching up the towel on his way.

35

SYLVIE

Ashe pulled into the tight parking at Ryder’s Poke. Sylvie and Bethany were sitting outside of the small restaurant with their bowls. Amari popped out of a cab shortly after Ashe sat down.

“Amari,” Sylvie announced when she approached their small table.

Bethany looked up, “Amari, I understood you were looking for some poke. This place is humble but it’s one of the best Teddy and I have found.”

---