Page 56 of Rules of Engagement

She squeals, giggling.

“Be still. I don’t want to drop you.”

“Slick move there, hotrod.” Someone says behind me. It’s Coach Severs, my high school baseball coach. He reaches out, pats me on the back, gives me his Army, “Hooah,” nods his head to Jorja, then turns his attention on Desi. “Is this seat available then? I’m all about war stories.”

She nods. “Sure. Why not.”

Coach served two tours, so we talk about teamwork, and the stories flow smoothly from baseball battles to combat. People stop to speak, and some buy me a drink. As an operator, I rarely overindulged, but tonight, I make an exception and accept more drinks than I should.

Jorja starts to squirm, then finally interrupts. “I hate to miss a single word, but I have to visit the ladies’ room.” She wiggles off my lap and disappears before Desi can offer to go with her.

My attention splits immediately. Watching her thread through the crowd, politely asking to pass if she gets stalled, turning the heads of the men as she goes. When she enters the bathroom and disappears from my sight, I turn back to a grinning Coach and Desi.

Coach informs me. “I just want you to know, if you hadn’t come back to that girl, I would have kicked your ass.”

I laugh, knowing he would've made good on that. I glance back at the bathroom. “My only regret when I left Sunnyville was that I didn’t take her with me.”

Joseph Pruitt walks up. “I’m just glad I knew to back the fuck off.”

“Sup, JP?” I hold out my hand, and he shakes it. “Welcome back, Jocko.”

Jorja

Dear Lord.I pray, standing in the line waiting for a stall to open.Please do not let me pee my pants because I don’t have any panties to pee on. It will literally run down my leg!

Reaching out, I brace against the wall. I didn’t realize I was so tipsy until I stood up. Trying to take my mind off my full bladder, I focus on what a group of girls are saying.

“Jocko Malone is a fucking stud!”

“My God, he was gorgeous before he left, but now … he is FUCKING gorgeous!”

“Makes me miss my Frog Hog days, girls.”

“Frog hog? What the fuck is that?”

“SEAL whores.” She laughs. “Why do you think I went to college in San Diego? It wasn’t for the book education.”

“Damn!”

“Yeah. It was the highlight of my college days.”

“Are they good lovers?”

“Naw…. They’re great fuckers, though!”

The girls laugh.

“Every weekend, a group of five of us would go down to a bar called,Suds After BUDSand pick up one to take out back.”

“Are they all as good-looking as Jocko?”

“Nooooo…. They aren’t all hunks like him, but they all have that sexy as fuck, alpha male confident attitude that makes them stand out in a crowd.”

“Babs! What's taking so long? Come on!”

Babs yells from a stall, “Don’t leave me.” The toilet flushes. She staggers out, and I hurry in. Barely getting my dress hiked as I squat, I forget about what they've said as the joy of peeing clears all thoughts from my brain.

But as soon as I walk out of the bathroom, I remember their conversation. The blood drains from my face, and I sober up instantly. Two of the girls are at the bar talking to Jocko. One's sitting on the stool Coach Severs was on, and the other is standing between her and Jocko. My gut feels sick as I stare. Their flirting is over the top, and Jocko smiles at them as he sips his beer.

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