Page 70 of Mariposa
“God, you’re extra grumpy today. Why the sad face, old man?”
Grimacing, I flip him off.
“I’m only two years older than you, fucker.”
“Love it when you talk dirty to me,” Booker teases. Annoyance crosses my face as I fold my arms across my chest. He pulls out his lunch—a sandwich with an apple paired with a Red Bull.
“These things are bad for you.” Stealing his Red Bull away, I open it and take a sip.
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” Shrugging nonchalantly, he pulls another Red Bull from his lunch box and places it on the floor by his feet so I can’t reach it.
“Jesus, Booker, how many fucking energy drinks do you have in there?” I lift a curious brow.
“Do we really want to talk about how many Red Bulls I carry in here, or can we talk about how Violet blushed when I stood up to introduce you? Do you think she has a thing for me?”
Something inside of me chips. The pencil I was banging against my desk cracks in half as my hands curl. The control I had inside me broke the night I tasted her. My mouth opens before I can stop the rage that rolls out.
“That’s my son’s ex-girlfriend. She is off-limits to you. Do you understand me?” A slow, clear warning intercepts every syllable of my words. I point my finger at his chest, then drop it to my side.
Fuck.
Booker goes rigid before he can take the first bite of his sandwich. He pales and cranes his neck toward me with widened hazel eyes.
“What the fuck. Kade…what the fuck?” He studies me for an answer. I inhale as I force myself to relax.
“Why are you just telling me? She was with Adam? How long have you known?!” he finally takes a bite and chews slowly. He starts to chuckle through each bite. “Holy shit. Small world.”
Standing up from my desk, I run my palm over my beard. Even my closest friend can’t stop talking about her. Still, who the fuck is she engaged to?
“Does Adam know she’s about to deploy? Does he know that she’s getting married?”
I grip the windowsill tightly until my knuckles turn white. My head falls between my collarbones as my lids fall shut. I really don’t want to talk about Violet. I don’t want to think of her.
I. Don’t. Want. Violet.
“I’d rather not talk about her. We’re about to head out on this mission, and I’d rather talk about anything else.”
“Say no more. Yet it makes sense why you’re so protective of her.”
“Booker…” My tone darkens.
I haven’t told anyone about that night at the beach. I’m not someone who opens up easily, especially regarding women. Idon’t think I’ll ever be able to come to terms with what that night was. It’s easier and better for her if she stays away from me.
“Fine. Fine. A quick and short update on my shitty love life. I found a girl that I’m interested in. She’s sweet, independent, and funny as hell. Her dark humor matches mine.” His teeth sink into his red apple.
“Who’s the poor woman?” I sneer.
“Her name is Katia. You don’t know her”—he stops chewing—“unless your son dated her too?” he antagonizes, looking dead at me. I grab the closest thing I can find and launch it at him. He dodges the tissue box before it connects with his head, and it glides across the floor.
He roars with laughter, making me smirk.
Asshole.
“Anyways, it feels good to have someone to come back home to now. Although it sucked when I had to tell her I’d be gone for a while and can’t tell her where or when I’d be back.”
“That’s how it is,” I say, crossing one leg over the other.
“Have you found anyone yet? What about Karen? That girl would do anything for you to wife her up.”
