Page 63 of Finding London

We unanimously vote to go to Xochimilco. Their food is delicious, and their margaritas are even better.

Cooper parks in the lot next to the restaurant. Stepping out of the air-conditioned car, I’m hit with the thick and hot humid air. It’s one of those days where there is so much sticky moisture in the air that I can feel it as I breathe in. I’m wearing a short little sundress, but it doesn’t seem to help keep me any cooler.

I grab Loïc’s hand and speed-walk toward the entrance of the restaurant before the minimum makeup I applied melts off my face.

The restaurant is styled in typical Mexican fashion—bright colors, flashing Dos Equis and Corona beer signs, and paintings of Latino women in flowy dresses, holding bouquets of white calla lilies. We’re sat at a wooden table in the back of the room.

After ordering, Paige launches into her inquisition of Cooper and Loïc with endless questions about military life.

“So, like, what do you actually do when you’re deployed?” Paige asks yet another question. She’s extremely fascinated, apparently.

Cooper has been doing most of the answering, which I think is probably normal for him. He seems like the type of person who can talk to anyone. “It really just depends on what our mission is. The objectives vary, often daily. Many missions are reconnaissance in nature, which basically means that we explore enemy territories, hoping to gain some sort of desired information. Sometimes, we’re involved in search and rescue. Other times, we take part in humanitarian assistance, especially if a location has recently been negatively impacted by war. Because Berkeley and I are in Special Forces, most of what we do is classified.”

“Wow, that’s so cool,” Paige says with awe.

“Yeah, well, both Berkeley and I joined up right when we were eighteen and worked our way up to Special Forces. It definitely beats most jobs out there. Though, to be honest, a lot of what we do here is boring.”

“What do you mean?” Paige asks.

“Just that the day-to-day stuff here is pretty standard, not much excitement going on. I suppose, like any job, it gets to be routine. Deployment is different though,” Cooper says before taking a huge bite of his enchilada.

“All right, Paige, stop with the interrogation,” I say with a chuckle.

“What? I’m just curious.” She shrugs before taking a sip of her peach margarita.

“I know, but let the guys eat.” I glance toward Cooper’s mostly uneaten meal, which is huge actually, including several à la carte items in addition to his combo platter. “Though I don’t know how you both eat so much and stay in such great shape.”

“We work out a lot, so we get to eat a lot. It’s a little perk.” Cooper winks.

I can’t help but giggle at his playfulness. I can see why Loïc loves him. He’s one of those people who would be impossible not to love.

“You didn’t think Berkeley here was born with that six-pack, did ya?” Cooper jokes.

“Yeah, we kinda did.” Paige chuckles.

“Well, I’ll agree that my boy here has to work a lot less than most for the same results. He’s definitely gifted in the looks department—so the girls say.”

“Oh, whatever, dude. I do just as much as you. Stop being a prick.” Loïc shakes his head, sporting a grin.

Cooper shoots Loïc a sly smile before redirecting his attention to Paige. “So, Paige, what do you do?”

“Not much at the moment. London and I graduated from college a couple of months ago. Now, we’re looking for jobs.”

“Oh, yeah?” Cooper questions, sounding interested. “Where at?”

She shrugs unapologetically. “Well, nowhere yet. We’re getting around to it. We’ve been busy.”

I see the momentary confusion on Cooper’s face as he assesses the situation even though he hides it well.

In the circle of people we normally hang around with, Paige’s comment wouldn’t have been questioned, but Cooper and Loïc have never been a part of that group of people. They belong to the crowd that has had to work for everything in their lives. I find that aspect of Loïc extremely sexy, and in this instant, I’m wondering how he finds me with my privileged life appealing in the least. I’ve never felt unworthy around anyone before Loïc. I don’t like questioning my worth, but dating someone who’s had to fight for every ounce of happiness he’s experienced is sobering.

“Well, what was your degree in?” Cooper asks Paige a follow-up question.

“I majored in marketing, and London studied journalism.”

“Very cool.” Cooper nods his head.

Cooper and Paige continue to chat away, and I sip on the straw of my margarita while taking in their conversation. I turn my attention to Loïc, who is sitting across the table from me. His gaze is focused on my face, and it causes a torrent of goose bumps to populate the surface of the skin on my arms. He has this way of completely exposing me with a simple look. Though, with Loïc, nothing is ever simple.

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