Page 54 of Seamus: Unconventional
Brinks follows us out. I guess we’re all going to Nevada with the boys.
***
FBI/Badass Training Center
While everyone is watching drones play for them, I’m looking at the people gathered. Another party. When I first met Cort at the medic center, he said something about the parties before and Badass doing it better. I don’t know about better, I’ve never been to many parties before here but they certainly know how to make them fun.
Katie tips and I laugh, catching her before she falls over Judge, who stopped to look up at the UFO hovering above us. I’m so glad I didn’t losemybalance and fall overher. Mark said my cool factor slips when I fall like a toddler. “It’s a drone shaped like the new planes.”
She holds my arm to steady herself with her eyes still on the drone. “Thanks. That shoots lasers?”
I smile. “Like the planes, but it doesn’t shoot by itself, it’s controller is manned by a Brother or Bit.”
She looks around then laughs pointing out Light with the Ops IT Brother who was taken with him our last trip here. “Mark is holding the control for him. That dog isn’t a dog.”
I look up at the line of controls controlling drones. Vinny is up there with Myers. Everyone got in on the action for this impromptuwhatever their reason is this timeparty. Shaking my head, I move her around Judge. “I don’t think he is either. I’ve seen and thought of them as partners forever. Vinny is up on controls, have you seen Mark?” I’m not worried but I haven’t seen Shadow in a while and feel like he’s hiding. I feel him close but haven’t seen him.
The picture hits me and I bark out a laugh getting the attention of more than a few in this crowd. I look down but keep walking.
“What was that for?” Katie asks some pretty tough questions.
How to answer… “I think you need to see it because I cannot describe it.”
This woman who I met so recently, like weeks ago, doesn’t ever push when I say shit like wait and see. If she doesn’t agree or thinks I’m acting like I’m five she has no problem saying it but the rest of the time she’s quiet, patient. She just trusts me. I love that about her. My feet stop long enough that she turns back as she walks out of the arm that was around her waist. I shake my head. “I love you.” The words come out in a whisper.
That patient, quiet look and smile stuns me. Her hair is covering the scar that I can’t remember noting for a while now. She’s a pretty girl but the scar drew me to her because it told of her depth, her story that isn’t perfect, pretty or ordinary. Like me, she’s got more in her than what’s on the surface, she’s a fighter.
The smile grows bigger. “I thought it as you said youcannot describe it.Your background keeps you a mystery and I love seeing it show in the most average day-to-day moments. It marks them as memorable.”
I step up and kiss that perfect mouth connected to the perfect woman that sees extraordinary in average day-to-day moments. “Thank you. Life hasn’t been easy but it feels smoother looking back now.”
She shakes her head laughing at me. “A new world, I feel like that’s what you bring, I’m glad it’s what you see from me. Let’s get a drink. Aylen said they have fruit concoctions. I’ve been on base for too long. I need fruit concoctions again tonight.”
“You had a margarita last night.”
She nods pulling me along. “They got a watermelon strawberry drink tonight. I said I love melon like Zeus and Piper started planning it as a next party drink for me. She said Aylen has the recipe. It’s the next party and Aylen’s chopper is here.”
I laugh and try to keep up with her crowd weave so she doesn’t have to pull me along. My girl is excited about a melon drink. When she slows for a bottleneck, I push through snagging her waist and move her forward then stop and laugh. “This is what I cannot describe.” My arm waves as I pull her up a step so she can see around me to the right.
She steps up and bends over laughing. My partner is trying to make the cartoon character Cort first saw him as come alive in the most outrageous way possible. He’s got an old herringbone fedora, pink colored sunglasses and a red, white and blue ribbon that’s holding his Lois Pope Medal of Courage and the Medal of Bravery from the US. I wonder where his Dickin medal is but don’t ask.
Mark hits my arm reminding me that we’re not alone and I was looking for him just minutes ago.
“What’s the disguise for?” I ask.
His smile falls. “He’s dressed up, not disguised. Unless we make him a long bath robe, there’s no disguising him. He’s like a beefed up, rusty-camo-colored Scooby Doo. He didn’t want the other medals, he said it’s too much.” He hands me the other ribbons with medals attached, answering the where the others are question that I decided not to ask a minute ago. This kid is unbelievable.
I pull him closer with a quick Brother hug. “Thanks. You answer multiple questions in seconds. You asked about Dreng and Tyson.” I point at the Little Brothers I sent a heads up to before we left.
He hits my stomach in a way that bends me forward. “Thanks.” He’s running before Katie pulls me back up to standing. I shrug. I do it a lot because I cannot describe everything.
She’s smiling. “Did you feel that?”
I shake my head. “No, he must have hit muscles that react by contracting.”
She nods and bends forward to kiss Shadow’s jowly face. “You’re styling, Shadow. Don’t ever change.”
He chuffs prancing by me with her sleeve in his mouth. The picture shows me bar neon spelling bar. I follow because standing here watching him steal my girl away doesn’t work for me.
