Page 32 of Delta: Retribution

His buddy shook his head. “Man, war will age you.”

A couple of them nodded. Trace felt double his age sometimes, mostly when thinking about Michael and all the fun they’d had before they joined up and ended up on two separate SEAL teams. Life had been a party until then. They’d killed it in high school. Shit, that was just a few years ago… but it felt like decades.

Javier whistled. “Girl’s smokin’ hot, bro.”

“Don’t I know it.” Trace cleared his head from the walk down memory lane. He wasn’t sure he liked Mar’s hotness quotient to be up for discussion. “Dates aren’t really my thing.”

“Stability isn’t really your thing.” Ryder walked over to the table. “Dates are for stable, sane people.”

“You should talk.”

Ryder shrugged. “I’m not taking a pretty sorority girl on a date.”

“She’s not in a sorority.”

“And that’s not the point, my friend.”

No shit. He scrubbed his face. “God, I’m getting caught up in this girl.”

The waitress arrived with his beer, and Trace stepped up to the pool table. Brock broke, ran the table, and left him with a couple of crap angles when it was his turn. Brock had a knack for staying in tune with their conversation and keeping his focus on the game. Trace sank his shot, missed the eight ball, and finished off his beer. Funny how something so boring could relax him. So, burying himself in Marlena wasn’t the only option, after all.

He nodded to the guys as the waitress cleared off the tables. “Alright, I’m out.”

“What’s the final verdict?” Ryder asked. “Where are you taking her?”

“Shit if I know.”

With a tray full of bottles, the waitress walked by, smiling. “Screen on the Green opened on campus this weekend.”

He turned to her. “Screen on the what?”

“Didn’t think you boys were from around here. Screen on the Green. They set up a big silver screen, and you watch a movie while sitting on the grass.”

All of them stood there, stupid.

The waitress smiled. “It’s great, I swear.”

“Like a picnic, sweetheart?” Ryder didn’t look convinced, but at least he’d come up with something to say.

“Something like that.” She shifted the tray. “Crazy fun, I promise.”

“Right. Thanks.” Okay, Screen on the Green. He might never live down the ribbing after doing something like that. But maybe it was worth thinking about.

Javier sidled up to Trace, calling over his shoulder, “Back in a minute, guys. Need to talk to my boy.”

“What?”

Javier paused then let out a slow breath. “Is this about your brother?”

The question hit like a throat punch. “No.”

“Look, we all know your birthday’s coming up.” Javier followed Trace to the front of the bar. “You’ve been a little all over the place since you joined Delta. Being that we’re stuck stateside, I think we’re all just worried about you.”

He knocked the door open, and sunlight burned his eyes. “I’m fine.”

“Spending time with the chick—”

“Marlena.”

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