Page 8 of Forever Yours on Christmas Eve
“Good to know.” Her gaze grew distant, just before she slammed her eyes shut and shook her head, as if she were bringing herself back to the present. “So why don’t you?”
“Why don’t I… what?”
“Have a girlfriend,” she said. “You’re good-looking, loyal. Clearly, you’ve put some thought into dating. Why no special someone?”
“My job,” he answered, interweaving his fingers with hers and letting the movement draw his gaze. “The Navy moves me around a lot, and I’m called away for weeks at a time. It’s not great for relationships.”
“Ah-ha!” she said, crinkling her nose. “I knew you were in the Navy.”
“What gave that away?” he asked, seemingly interested to know, and also realizing it was probably blatantly obvious.
“Um, your military bearing?” she said, finding herself falling into laughter with him once more. “Everything from your hair to the neat way you dress to the way you hold yourself. Not to mention the fact that you’re sitting with your back to the wall.”
Sev raised his fork toward his mouth, but stopped short in realization. “You knew I was Navy before I even mentioned it, didn’t you?”
She rolled her lips as if she were trying to prevent the smile turning up her lips. Nodding emphatically, she let loose with a laugh as her eyes twinkled with mirth.
He’d never seen a woman look more beautiful.
They continued to converse companionably, eating through their meals until they started to slow down. Eventually, Kelsey wiped her mouth with the napkin in her lap.
“I’ll be right back, nature calls.”
Sev nodded as she got up from her chair, making her way to therestrooms in the back. Pulling his phone out and checking the time, he realized his parents were going to begin wondering where he was soon. The whole family was flying to Florida tomorrow to visit his grandmother for the holiday. He was originally going to fly out with them until he got his orders. So instead, they told him to swing by later on that evening for Christmas Eve. He figured he’d bring his motorcycle along too, preferring to leave it safe in their garage than somewhere on base while he was gone.
But the idea of saying goodbye to them was something he hadn’t worked himself up to just yet. Thus, he took a detour to the Second Call.
His thoughts were broken when the atmosphere of the bar suddenly changed. Immediately tipping his head up to scan the room, he watched as a guy about his age in a brand-name gray winter jacket and matching beanie cap strolled in as if he owned the place. Sev honestly looked for an entourage the way he was performing, right down to his stride, his desperately false swagger, and his pitiful bravado.
He walked straight to the bar where Carter was drying some pint glasses. The guy stood directly opposite him, reached into his pocket, and thrust his phone at him.
“Do you know where this woman is?”
Sev’s heart began to pound. He didn’t know how, but he knew this guy was Kelsey’s ex.
Getting up, he tried to casually walk back to the restrooms, all while keeping an ear open to the conversation at hand.
“You lost someone who looks like her?” Carter asked, cocking his eyebrow as his eyes fleetingly touched down on Sev. “Sorry to hear that, man.”
“You idiot,” the man sneered, shoving his phone deeper at Carter. “She didn’t come home when she was supposed to, and her locator says she’s here. Have you seen her or not?”
Rounding the dimly lit hallway, Sev was met with Kelseywalking out of the bathroom, still rubbing sanitizer between her hands. She immediately knew something was wrong by the look on his face, and probably the speed at which he was walking toward her.
“What’s going on?”
“Does your ex have a locator on you?”
Her eyes lit up in recognition as her eyebrows hiked. “Oh my gosh, our family group,” she said, grappling for her phone tucked away in her wallet. “I haven’t been on here in ages, but… yep, we’re on it together,” she said, quickly swiping her thumbs over her screen, presumably to sever that connection as well. “It says he’s nearby?”
Sev paused as the man’s voice rose just on the other side of the wall from them. Kelsey’s eyes flew wide once more, further confirming who this guy was. Sev reached for her hand, which she eagerly gave, following him as he approached the spot where the hallway opened onto the main room. Fortunately, they could continue to hide in the shadows and take in the argument at the front of the bar. Gina was now standing there as well, a look on her face saying she was ready to give this guy a toss out on his ear.
“I can’t believe he’s here,” Kelsey whispered, clutching Sev’s hand tighter.
He looked back at her fearful face. “Do you want to say something to him? You can do whatever you like. I’m here and I’m not going anywhere.” And there wasn’t a snowball’s chance he was going to let her face this piece of garbage all on her own.
Not on his watch.
She was pensive as she took in the miserable rat who waved his hands around much like a toddler would moments before dropping to the floor to have a tantrum. She winced at his words and his volume, embarrassed by his behavior.
