Page 73 of SEAL Mates

She chuckled, “That’s not my husband. That’s my Manny. Girl, we have so much to talk about. And if you’re willing to listen, then I think we’ll get on great.”

I heard the successes of all the women, and I realized the town had a lot more to offer me. I agreed to go out with them and to enjoy the fantastic night they had planned for us.

As the limo pulled up outside, even if I was just here for a couple more days, then I knew one thing for sure, I would enjoy every single moment of it.

And if the guys were up to it, I would visit once in a while just to stay in touch. I didn’t think the idea of leaving here would be so hard, but every waking moment, it was getting harder and harder to think of going back to the life I’d once lived before coming here.

I’d been alive, but I wasn’t living, not like I was now. Now, I was on a whole new level in my life, knowing what it could offer and I didn’t want to go back deep down inside, but then I knew the house I was living in wasn’t mine. The guys I were living with, weren’t too, but I didn’t care. I would have a fantastic night and just live in the moment. Something I hadn’t done in such a long time.

* * *

I walked into the bathroom sinking my feet into the heated stone-tiled floored heating, debating whether to take a shower, which was big enough for two. Derek and I had the pleasure of sharing it only yesterday. Or whether I should soak in the hydro bath tube. The beige bathroom with the wooden framed closet and two sinks, reminded me of the joys of living here. Not only was it perfectly decorated, but I'd been in a zombie state for so long, that it wasn’t until kI came here that I realized I’d been dead. Not only my vagina, but the rest of my mind and body too. This was the real reason I couldn’t write. It had nothing to do with narcissistic ex, or my husband who used me for every penny he could get before skipping town. No, it had to do with me, not being happy with myself and starting too realize a way out of the depressive hole that I had dug for myself.

I’d gone down so deep that I didn’t think it was possible to climb out. Mom had seen it and maybe she knew the signs too well. This was why she wanted me to come here, she wanted me to be the woman I could be, instead of the woman I’d become.

I decided that seeing as I had the afternoon to myself and I had the choice of a bath and a shower with no rush or urgency to do both.

I would make myself a relaxing bath. God knows that my vagina needed it. No one had felt like sex ever since Stacey went missing, and now it was full on, but not too much with the kids being around.

Then after, I would wipe away the bubbles in a quick shower. I smiled at the idea of treating myself. Something I’d never thought of doing, which was long overdue.

* * *

Hank had been spending a lot of time, not talking to me as if we were strangers. He’d been going to the garage a lot and talking to Blake about ideas for the garage, but sitting and talking with me. No. He hadn’t done it. Mom had said I should be grateful that he was still around and hasn’t gone back home to his dad.

“Hank said that he was coming tonight for dinner, so you should make an extra plate and he’s bringing a friend.”

I grinned.

“What like a girlfriend?”

“What the fuck Paula? He’s only been here two minutes, how can he have a girlfriend already.”

Then he winked at me, making me know that there was a high possibility that he had a girlfriend and it brought a smile to my face.

I chased after Blake.

“Come on. Tell me more.”

He spun around and I could tell as much as Blake made out that he wast he real man in the group, I knew he was the biggest gossip. He was partially deaf when it suited him, and when it came to hearing other people’s conversations, he made sure that he turned up his hearing aid right up.

“Ok. So, don’t tell him that I told you so, but I heard him asking her out. She came to the garage to fix her car, and as soon as she came, this is when he said that he wanted to stay a little longer. It was as if automatically from her asking if he would be around.”

I laughed as he kept on telling me the story, but then another part of me felt a little sad, even a little jealous. My son was staying, between looking for little Stacey, I had done next to no writing but I had a ton loads of memories.

“Why the long face?”

I shook my head. “No reason. I need to get on with dinner later.”

“Shit, I’ve got a big fucking mouth. Don’t tell them that I spilled the beans, but you’re not just preparing for two. Your kids are coming and so is your mom.”

I put my hand on my mouth thinking I was about to scream and knowing that between these walls, it wasn’t just Blake and I, but Alec and Derek were around somewhere.

“Shut the fuck up!”

I’d been spending too much time around him, I was even starting to sound like him.

He nodded, and laughed, probably because I hated to admit that I loved his accent and his colonialism.

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