Page 33 of Rules of Engagement

Jorja

As Grady and Dylan walk away, Luke runs up with Lucifer and Moose.

“Can Lucifer spend the night?”

Jocko takes a knee to discuss it man to man. “Not this time. He's still adjusting to civilian life.”

Luke’s hopeful face drops.

“When he's ready for a dog sitter, you'll be the one I call. In the meantime, you need to come over and learn his commands. He has had extensive training, so he needs someone who understands him.”

Luke nods as he looks longingly at Lucifer.

Jocko says, “He has some amazing tricks. Want to see some?”

Luke’s face lights up again. “Now?”

“Sure. Go grab a balloon.” He stands and watches Luke run off. The love on his face shines like a beacon, and my heart melts a little more. He isn’t the meanie I always thought he was.

“Is everything okay, dear?” Betsy puts her arm around me and gives me a gentle squeeze. “I take it his arrival surprised you too?”

I nod my head.

“Overwhelmed?”

“Yes, ma’am. Jocko called it ‘shock and awe.’”

She smiles. “From the day Jocko was born, he has been a force to be reckoned with.”

We look at him standing tall, proud, confident, and relaxed, waiting for Luke to return with the balloon.

Gawd, he is sexy as hell.

Betsy continues softly. “But after his parents died, even more so.”

I cut my eyes at her, and her face softens when she looks at him. “Did you know his father was Chief’s brother?”

I shake my head.

“And his mother was one of my best friends? When they passed in that horrific accident, we took him in. We were worried Jocko’s emotional scars would be his undoing. He couldn’t talk about it. He bottled it all up inside. My boys stepped up and made sure he knew they were there if he needed them, but it was Luke that pulled him through it.”

I look back at him, seeing him through her eyes. Watching him as he takes a balloon from Luke, then bats it straight up in the air.

As it returns, Lucifer leaps twelve feet to bat it back up.

Luke shouts, “WOW!”

Betsy continues, “We couldn’t be more proud of the man he's become.”

We watch in silence, then suddenly, I confess the thing that has bothered me the most. “I haven’t heard a word from him since he left.”

Betsy squeezes my shoulder again. “I know that hurt, and I won’t make excuses for why I think he didn’t, but I will tell you this. He asked about you every time he called to check-in.”

“What?” I look at her, gobsmacked.

She smiles, “He always asked how you were doing when he called. He didn’t ask for details, just that you were okay.”

I stare at her in shock.

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