Page 29 of SEAL Mates

God, I loved not only my BFF but her relationship with her hubby, they were always doing something new. Something fun. It wasn’t always smooth sailing but they had an understanding and a respect that most couples never have or abandon once they are in a relationship.

“I’m ok. I’m just old. It’s not like when we were young and we could bounce back so easily. I’ve had a nap for a little while now.”

“When did you start drinking?”

She giggled. “This afternoon, because Luke went to stay at a friend’s. So we both left work early and decided to try out this bottle of Tequila.”

Among other things no doubt, judging by her shirt revealing a little too much cleavage.

“So, the cop, mechanic and stuntman want me to move in with them to do the interview.”

“Oh my, this trip is working out a lot better than I thought it would. When do you move in?”

She’d clearly had a night of passion and wasn’t thinking straight. The Steph I knew would be talking me out of it. She would tell me that I was crazy for considering it, even if I wasn’t sure if it was a consideration.

I told her that it was getting late without looking at the time. I was tired. She agreed, and I had a feeling that as soon as I hung up, she’d fallen asleep on the couch with her phone in her hand. I knew one thing for sure she would have a good night's sleep, which was a lot more than I was going to do tonight. I had to speak to the kids. I didn’t get a chance this morning, but tomorrow after breakfast I will be sure to do it. I missed them. Even if they didn’t really miss me.

* * *

After changing my clothes four times, brushing my teeth around three times and debating about whether having my hair up or down, I ventured outside to the lobby. I was a little late maybe around ten minutes. I didn’t know if I was going to go, this morning it was all clear, but I was nervous. My palms were sweaty and my heart was racing in overtime.

“You can do this,” I muttered to myself as I drew nearer to the dining room where breakfast was served every morning, but I’d only been a couple of times. If I kept eating here, Greg would need a forklift truck to get me out of town.

I knew my limits.

I couldn’t believe it when I reached the hotel restaurant and all three of them were sitting at the table. Seeing Alec out of his uniform was a shock for me, he looked as hot as always, but seeing him as a regular guy was new to me in his jeans and black shirt. Derek was a little more formal in a black polo and matching pants. They were sitting facing each other in silence. Nothing was on the table, which meant they hadn’t started breakfast without me. They were real gentlemen. There was a buzz around the dining room as others were up and down feasting themselves on the buffet breakfast. Some were clearly new guests who couldn’t get over the range from fried, to poached, to scrambled eggs and the variety that if I sat to eat here every morning I sure would be having a heart attack in the near future. It wasn’t so much the range, but the quality of it too.

Derek was pacing around the table, clearly he was the anxious one of the three. I smiled at him, as I caught his attention as I drew closer.

My feet felt as if they were being stuck in quicksand it was a struggle to do every step.

“We’re not going to bite,” Alec chuckled as I started to sweat with each step.

I nodded, thinking I was being silly. There were three men just wanting to talk to me, and I was acting as if I was on the plank ready to meet my death.

Silly.

I relaxed as I took a deep breath and Alec held out the chair motioning for me to sit down.

“Good morning Beautiful.”

Alec said as I sat down. I went flushed as I sat down, thinking no one had called me that. Well, not in a long time. It took me aback.

“Smooth.”

Blake blurted out, as he rolled his eyes. No doubt he didn’t approve of his brother’s behavior.

I decided if anything, if I didn’t move in with them that at least having breakfast with them would be fun. This part I could feel, by the way Derek smiled and then headed over to the breakfast line.

“Do you want me to get you anything?”

“Oh suck it up!” Blake said as Alec offered to get me breakfast. It was funny watching them argue about Alec trying to act like a gentleman and Blake accusing him of being a kid. It reminded me of mom whenever she was with her siblings during the holidays. They would behave the same way, I remember Nan would always say after all these years they still hadn’t grown up.

I got up, thinking that I would just get something to eat, seeing as all the stress about having breakfast had worked up an appetite.

“Yeah. See she can get it herself. She doesn’t need you to do it,” Blake said as if he was fed up as he exhaled so loudly, as if he was agitated whilst sitting there.

Derek came by my side as I was wondering which assortment of bacon to go from. With the fried bacon with rashes or without. I shouldn’t be thinking about either, but bacon. I mean who could resist bacon? No one, not even me. The same person who was thinking about being a vegetarian.

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