Perfect Soldier: The Complete Story (5-Part BBW Military Romance Novel) by Haley Nix Read Free Book Online Page B

friends, no
family. I’d lost touch with my friends there. They’d all moved on, gotten desk
jobs, started families. It was hard for me even to speak to them anymore. No
common ground, as some might say. My younger sister had moved to Dallas. I’d
make a point of visiting her sometime before I left again. My parents, well…
    There was no need to go into it now, I told myself
as I glanced over at Cat. We were seated in the red Civic, the air blasting out
of the car radiator, heating up the small interior. We were headed over to
Garrett’s parent’s house. She was dropping me off a bit early, since she had
some errands to run before heading into the bar.
    When we left each other, I told her that me and the
guys would stop in tonight for a few drinks, keep her company during her shift.
She seemed to like that idea. I opened the car door, but before leaving, I
turned to give her one last kiss, hot and long, hinting at our earlier sexual
intimacy. After closing the door, she waved at me and I stood on the sidewalk
watching her take off down the road, her foot heavy on the gas pedal, as usual.
I had to laugh to myself. It was cute how she was always in such a rush.
     
    ***
     
    Inside, Garrett and Tyson were still passed out. I
wagered they must be pretty hung over after the night’s drinking. I could have
waited around for them to wake up, but I was looking to get things moving. I
woke them up and they lay on the floor grumbling, begging for another hour of
sleep.
    “Come on, boys. Rise and shine,” I said, flipping on
the bright fluorescent lights of the basement.
    “Dammit, Colt. Stop being a bastard,” said Tyson.
    “Listen, buddy. Are we going to Vegas or not? If
we’re driving all that way in Garrett’s beater of a truck, we’re at least going
to have a shop do a tune-up before we head out.”
    “My truck’s fine. Ford Tough,” said Garrett, turning
his face away from the light.
    “I’m not spending this trip walking to a gas station
after your truck breaks down on the side of a desert highway.”
    “He’s got a point,” said Tyson.
    “Fine. Get me some Tylenol and let’s get some food,”
said Garrett.
    “Keys. Give me the keys,” I said.
    “They’re up on the kitchen counter. Let me just
change clothes and we’ll head out.”
     
    ***
     
    About twenty minutes later, I was behind the wheel
of the old Ford, taking the boys to the diner for a late breakfast. I figured
that was just as good of a place as any for some food to cure these vicious
hangovers. Of course, I was feeling fine, but I knew both of them were having a
hell of a time with it.
    After we sat down and ordered, Garrett looked at me,
his face sly and mischievous.
    “So, why don’t you tell us about your night, buddy,”
he said, stirring cream into his coffee.
    “What about it?” I asked, my voice even.
    “Hey, we know you better than anyone. Don’t think we
don’t know you went home with that girl from the bar.”
    “Cat,” I said, correcting him.
    “Yes, Cat. How was she?”
    “You know a gentleman never tells.”
    “Alright, alright,” said Garrett.
    “You lucky bastard,” said Tyson, shaking his head.
“Why can’t I meet a girl like that?”
    “You’re not this handsome,” I said, deadpan.
    “Such a cocky son of a bitch,” said Garrett. “Let’s
hope you bring that confidence to the card tables.”
    “I’ll bring it,” I said.
    “Good.”
     
    ***
     
    After breakfast the boys were in much better
spirits. We dropped the car off at a nearby auto shop and called Kelly to come pick
us up. She drove us around for a bit after, helping us get a few things for the
road. Mostly food, beverages, stuff to keep us going during the nearly eighteen
hour drive between Tulsa and Las Vegas.
    Damn, what a trip. Part of me felt like we should fly,
save the time. But Garrett would have none of it. He wanted to see the country,
to speed down those long, straight and empty desert highways. Tyson was
inclined to agree. And