Page 10 of Screwing With The Scrooge

“Yeah. Recovery was a while and I knew that I would never be able to operate at one hundred percent again. I didn’t want to let my team down by staying in.”

“I’m sure that you wouldn’t have let them down,” I argue, and he shakes his head.

“Rangers, any military squad, relies on each person. Everyone needs to be on top of their game or people die.”

There’s something in his words and the tone of his voice that has my appetite vanishing.

“You blame yourself for getting shot,” I say.

It’s a guess, but I know that I’m right.

“It was my fault.”

“I doubt that.”

He swallows a bite of chili, and I watch him. I wish that I could take away some of his pain, but I don’t know how to. Other than by being myself.

“You met Townes in the military, right?”

“Yeah, in Army boot camp. He was my bunkmate and we just clicked. His dad was military, and he was determined to become a Ranger, so we both went there after basic training.”

“He seems like a good guy.”

“He is. He’s the best.”

He’s relaxed, and I stick to lighter topics as we finish eating.

“Where was your favorite place?” I ask him as he helps me carry the dishes over to the sink.

“I liked Italy. We weren’t there for very long, but the food was good. Germany was cool, too.”

“I’d love to go there sometime,” I sigh, and he almost smiles.

“I’m sure you will. One day.”

I load the dishwasher and he puts the milk back in the fridge.

“I should get going.”

“Okay, I’ll walk you out.”

“Thanks for dinner,” Xavier says as he tugs on his coat and hat back on.

“Sure thing, and listen,” I say, leaning against the door as he makes his way down the front porch steps. He stops and turns back to me. “This was a good first date, but I expect you to plan the next one.”

His mouth drops open and he looks shocked as I grin at him and close the door. It takes him a minute, but I hear his footsteps as he makes his way back to his place, and I smile as I turn and get ready for bed.

Suddenly, I can’t wait to wake up and see what tomorrow has in store for us.

CHAPTER5

Xavier

Townes showsup at my house bright and early the next day, two to-go cups of coffee in his hands, and I take mine gratefully, draining half of the cup while he makes himself at home on my couch.

“So? How did the snowmen go over?” He asks, and I swallow.

“Good. She liked them anyway.”

---