Page 41 of Moonlight Feels Right
"That's true. We just looked around and ate some lunch." She didn't want to get into the longer story now, but maybe someday she would tell her friends about her past. Just not today.
Lexie smiled. "No one cares if you are interested in each other. You know that, right?"
"For no one who cares, you have a lot of questions," she returned.
"Well, I'm curious. Hunter has always been a mystery."
"I'm just helping him with Olivia."
Lexie gave her a doubtful look. "Olivia was with Paige, and you were with Hunter, so…it's not just about Olivia."
"Maybe it isn't all about her," she conceded. "I'm enjoying getting to know Hunter, but he's on his way out. Once he's cleared for duty, he'll be gone."
Lexie nodded with understanding. "I get it. It's better not to invest too heavily in someone who has a foot out the door."
"Exactly."
"But in the meantime, you can have fun."
Lexie echoed Paige's earlier words. She didn't know if she could call the time they'd spent together fun, but there was still the afternoon, and it was a beautiful day. "Maybe I will go change into my suit," she said.
"Excellent idea," Lexie said. "I'll save you a seat."
Chapter Twelve
Monday morning, after the best weekend he'd had in months, Hunter dropped Olivia off at school, then headed to the medical center for his final physical therapy session. It was probably the first time in months he wasn't feeling stressed about the workout. And it was because he hadn't spent the weekend isolated and alone, consumed with his dark thoughts.
Instead, he'd taken surf lessons, bonded with Olivia, helped Emmalyn navigate the situation with her mother, and spent time getting to know his neighbors. While he'd done a lot of those activities in the service of Olivia or Emmalyn, they'd actually served him more because they'd brought him back to life. Now he was looking forward to showing his therapist and himself that he was ready for the upcoming tests.
Jessica greeted him with her usual no-nonsense smile. "Last day, Kane. Let's make it count."
He went through the familiar routine of stretches and exercises, pushing himself hard. At the end of ninety minutes, he was drenched in sweat, muscles burning, but he felt stronger than he had in months.
"Very good," Jessica said with an approving nod as she handed him a towel. "I think we're finished, Captain."
"It's almost hard to believe."
"Believe it. Even when you were frustrated with your progress, you never quit. And this is the result."
"I didn't do it alone. We both know you had to kick my grumpy ass more than once."
"I'm used to grumpy asses," she said. "But it's good to see you looking…lighter. I hope that's not just because you're happy to see the last of me."
"It's definitely not that."
"Well, whatever it is, it's good. You have a lot of tests to get through, and a positive mental attitude can only help."
"Hopefully, I can hang on to it." He said goodbye, then headed into the locker room to take a shower.
Thirty minutes later, he was dressed and ready to move on. As he left the locker room and headed toward the lobby, a familiar voice called his name. "Kane?"
He turned around and saw Mike Ramsey, a fellow pilot who had been injured in a different mission three months before his crash. Their recoveries had overlapped for a few weeks before Mike had returned to duty.
"Ramsey," he said, shaking his hand. "What are you doing back here? I thought you'd seen the last of this place a long time ago."
"Mandatory three-month follow-up, but everything is good." Mike's gaze ran across his face. "You look better than the last time I saw you, Kane."
"Final PT session today."
