Page 76 of Commander in Briefs

I jerk at Cade’s admission. Cade and I don’t discuss Theo and me. Ever. He doesn’t want to know and I don’t want to share. Even though Cade has become my best friend and confidant, I still don’t share my feelings for Theo with him. I’m ashamed of the things I’ve done to stay in Von Bremen’s life.

“I know that… but sometimes love isn’t enough, you know?”

He shrugs, his eyes going to the dingy, nineteen-sixties tiled floor. “Maybe you should let him go and see what happens.”

For a solid minute, all I do is blink at Cade in full-on freak-out mode. I’m talking crazy-eye staring.

He shrugs and adds, “It’s just a thought. Make him shit or get off the pot. Stop being his bitch.”

My mouth drops open in shock. “You think I’m Theo’s bitch?”

He grins, shrugging boyishly.

“I am fucking offended, Major!” I’m really not, but Cade being so forthcoming and honest about his opinion is a nice change of pace. It means he’s opening up more. I’m trying to mask my excitement by glaring shamelessly. “I can’t believe you called me a bitch.”

Cade’s eyes go wide in horror. He thinks he offended me, but the B word does not do it for me. Call me a cunt and it’s on but bitch, nah.

I laugh, unable to contain my farce any longer. “Gah! You are so damn gullible, Cade. It almost takes the fun out of teasing you.”

His returning scowl is interrupted by an underpaid minion with a bad bottle job and an attitude to match, requesting us to follow her to the back.

Fucking finally!

We go down a grimy hall to a tiny office, where we take a seat in fantastic chairs matching the ones in the waiting area and explain that we are looking to establish a foundation, given our current situation with a house full of veterans.

With a blank expression, the pimply-faced teen twirls his earbuds, completely zoned out to our pleas. Okay, he’s probably twenty and he’s twirling a pencil, but still, he’s staring at us like he hates his job and could give a shit less about our guys or the needs of the community.

“We’ll look this over and get back to you,” says the teenager with a pencil between his teeth.

Well, you can’t fix stupid. I know a dead-end when I see it and this kid is not going to do anything for us. We’ll have to find another way.

I get up, nodding my head in defeat at Pimples, when Cade shocks the hell out of me by standing abruptly, his chair sliding back into the wall behind us. With calculated steps, he crowds the teen, those bulging muscles bent over the dinky metal desk, looking like the freaking Hulk gone rogue.

“See that you do, or I’ll be back to discuss it with you personally.” He slams a meaty fist down on the desk, causing everything on the surface to jump in terror—even the bobblehead on the bookshelf behind Pimples starts nodding his head.

Holy mother of fucks! My Cade is a total badass!

Holding back a smug-ass look that clearly says,booya, I do a slight victory sway at the smarmy shit who’s nodding his agreement with a vengeance. My work here is done. My Cade has finally stood up for himself. He’s no longer the meek, I-don’t-deserve-to-live guy. The Major has fucking returned!

I’m excited when we leave, bouncing up and down on the balls of my feet. We aren’t out the door two minutes before I turn, a huge-ass grin on my face. “What the fuck was that in there, Betty Badass?”

Cade rolls his eyes, ignoring my little happy dance as we make our way to the car. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you fucking do! That was some badassery in there. I thought you were going to grab that little prick and give him a swirly in the nearest toilet.”

His raspy laugh has me doubling over, tears pricking my eyes, in sheer happiness. My Cade. My fucking Cade is getting better.

“I was going to do no such thing. Just drop it. Get in the car.”

He tosses me the keys before folding himself into the SUV, his sour expression effectively halting any further comments. That’s okay, I will let it go for now but only because I know he’s on the mend and I’m sure this won’t be the last we see of Badass Cade.

The farmhouse is quiet when we arrive that evening. Cade and I stopped by the bank, pleading our case for new renovations to house more guys. They were more willing to discuss than the Veteran’s Association, informing us of government programs and private donors that could help. The experience boosted our spirits so much that we stopped for lunch, me prattling on about my big ideas and the future I have planned for me, Cade and the guys. We even procured a little surprise for the guys. After finishing up the day at the grocery store, we’re fucking beat. Apart from the VA, today was a good day.

“Where is everyone,” I wonder out loud, noticing no lights are on save one upstairs.

Not a soul comes to assist us with the groceries. These guys are like flies on shit when it’s grocery day. With all the food they consume on a daily basis, grocery days usually come with a welcome committee.

“Did they go out?” I question Cade, who’s looking just as confused as I am.

---