Page 62 of Another Love, Another Time
The guy doing the orientation releases us to go to lunch, but we need to report back in exactly an hour so our team leads can take us to meet with our teams. Since we have an hour, I’m going to drive back to my mom’s house and grab something to eat. I really hope my partner is not a cocky hard-ass or someone on a power trip. I had had enough of both in the Army.
My mom is at work, so it’s just me in the house. Spider, her black cat, rubs up against my leg as I walk into the kitchen. I’ll just make a sandwich quickly and get back.
I’m excited to meet my partner. I’ve always gotten along with everyone on my team in the past. My brain is currently hurting from this morning’s overload of information. Hopefully, this afternoon is not as taxing.
~
I got back a little bit early, but I see a few of the others walking into the building, so I decide that I might as well head back in too.
Almost everyone else is back in the room, waiting for directions. As I look around, I notice for the first time that everything looks younger than me. I guess that makes sense. We all may be starting our first jobs, but I have more experience than anyone I’m sitting next to. That makes me feel a little bit better about being a little bit older, that I’m not starting over.
The orientation leader walks into the room with a few other people. I still haven’t picked up on his name. I really hope there is not a pop quiz on the names. I would definitely not pass that test. In my head I’ve been calling him “Booger”. He reminds me of Booger off “Revenge of the Nerds”. He starts talking and the room quiets down.
“Okay, ladies and gentlemen,” he says. “The time has come to meet your team. When I call your name, stand up, and one of these guys will take you to your team. Okay, let’s get started. Smith, you’ll go with Johnson. Ruiz, you’ll go with Parker. Wait, you’ll go with Sanders…”
He keeps going until I hear my name. I stand and go to my partner as directed. He holds his hand out and introduces himself as “Mack,” but lets me know that most people call him “Mackey.” I take his hand and give it a confident shake.
“I know you’re used to being called by your last name, but I prefer first names. Is it okay that I call you River?”
“That’s my name.” I laugh awkwardly. “Why would you have to ask permission?”
“Oh, you’re going to fit right in with the team.” He chuckles.
“Are you my permanent partner?” I question, thinking he’ll be fun to hang out with. We start heading out of the room and down the hallway.
“No, your partner got held up. He’ll be back any minute. He asked if I could grab you while he finished up what he was doing; although, I think he’s going to be a little surprised.”
“Why is that?”
“Well…” He hesitates before deciding to continue, “I think he thinks you are going to a man; we only get your first initial and last name. We don’t get a lot of women on our team, especially with your experience. Just saying. Don’t worry about it. Your partner’s a good guy, but I will say, the last time he had a female partner, he had to ask for a change because his ‘girlfriend,’” he makes quotation motion, “gets extremely jealous.” He looks me up and down. “Yeah, she will definitely be jealous of you.” My cheeks redden. “Don’t be embarrassed. And I’m not hitting on you. I’m speaking facts.” I don’t doubt the truth in his words.
We reach a door, and he scans his badge before opening the door, allowing me to enter. As I’m walking forward, I look over my shoulder. I chuckle and say, “Facts, huh? Well, if that’s what we’re calling it today.”
Before I can finish, I run into a hard chest. Arms grab me to keep me from falling on my ass. The touch sends butterflies to flutter in my stomach, which has only happened with one person.
Before I look up, I know. I know who it is before I look up into the blue eyes I’ve been running from for the past five years. When our eyes finally meet, my breath catches.
“River,” he breathes.
Auggie is no longer a boy, but a man who has aged very well. His soft facial features have now sharpened to give him a more serious look. His hair is kept neater than when he was younger.
I know he’s caught off guard. Hell, I am, too. I wish I had asked more questions about what Auggie was doing. I would have been a lot more prepared.
Finally, I can’t handle him touching me anymore and back away from him.
Mackey glances between the two of us. “Well, I was going to introduce you two, but it looks like you already know each other.” Mackey turns to me, “Meet your partner: Hunt, Auggie Hunt, but I think you already know that. I’ll leave you to it. See you around, River.” Then, he turns to Auggie, “Man, you’re in deep shit.” He shakes his head, chuckling to himself as he walks away, leaving me with Auggie.
I want to run after Mackey and ask him not to leave me with Auggie, but I’m a big girl now. I don’t run anymore, and I won’t today. I don’t have anything to run from. I’m here to do a job, and I’ll do it. I turn back to Auggie to get this over with.
“What are you doing here, River?” Auggie questions.
“Working,” I deadpan.
“No, I mean here.” He points to the ground.
“I know what you mean. I’m here to do a job,” I huff.
“You don’t want to answer me.” He sounds irritated.
