Chapter 40 Six Weeks Later
SIX WEEKS LATER
Cami
“Ican’t believe how well this color works,” Gina said. “What’s it called, again?”
“Persimmon,” I answered. “We can’t believe it, either. But we tried three different colors, then cycled back to this one. And when the rug and furniture arrived, it just came together.”
Darla, who had held up her phone throughout the tour of Kyle’s finished house, too, now looked into the camera. “It’s really great in person. Maybe I can talk Kyle into hosting the clinic holiday party here, too.”
“Maybe.” I looked over her shoulder so I could see the faces of Ally, who was back and college, and Mike, who was visiting her. “I promise we’ll plan it around your break schedule.”
“I can’t wait!” Ally said, and I was so relieved to see her happy and enthusiastic again, after all we’d been through. “And I can’t wait to meet the two new vets.”
I wrapped one arm Gina’s and the other around Darla’s. “They’re fitting in great, and they’ll be here today.”
Everyone except Ally and Mike were joining our first annual office picnic party.
And it wasn’t just a party for the clinic staff.
Gina had floated the idea of including Kyle’s “security company” colleagues, and Kyle and Darla had jumped right on board.
With spouses and significant others, as well as Kyle’s part-time teammates, Samantha Bond and Pasco’s boss Jensen, we were hosting twenty guests.
The past week had been a whirlwind of preparation as we’d put the finishing touches on the recently finished rooms, with some help from our friends.
We said goodbye to Ally and Mike, then Gina turned in a circle to take in the open space of the kitchen and dining room.
“I understand why this is Bella’s favorite space,” she said, pointing to the dog bed where the pup spent most of her indoor time when we were on the first floor. “But I want to know more about those extra bedrooms.”
“Um… They’re guest rooms. Places where visitors can sleep, like Kyle’s brother and his fiance, when they visit next weekend.”
“I’m familiar with the concept of guest rooms,” Gina said. “But how comfy are the stunt beds?”
“What’s a stunt bed?” I asked. From the look on Gina’s face, I regreeted my question immediately.
“It’s a bed where you try out all the sex stunts,” she said. “That way, in case you break the stunt bed, you still have your main bed for sleeping.”
“That’s…” I glanced at Darla, who was smiling and offering no help.
We were saved by the interruption of Kyle coming into the house to pull more trays out of the fridge. His face lit up when he saw me. I never tired of seeing that reaction.
“Most of the guests have arrived,” he said. “We’re still waiting for Hayes and Savannah, and for Wheeler. But everyone else is asking for you.”
“Thank God,” I said, glancing at Gina.
She continued to smile as she looked out the glass door. “It looks like my husband and Logan are having a good talk.”
“Yeah, I think Logan actually likes Vince.” Kyle shook his head. “That’s a new one for me.”
“I’m sure he likes you,” I told Kyle. When he arched an eyebrow, I went to him and gave him a kiss. “Well, I like you.”
“That’s all that matters,” he said, and gave me a very earnest kiss back.
“Okay, well, if you two need to try out a stunt bed, Darla and I will entertain the masses,” Gina said.
“Don’t ask,” I told Kyle, then helped him carry food trays out to the deck.
Our friends were spread out across the lawn.
Bella was making the rounds, begging for food and occasionally succeeding.
I knew better than to allow it, but she was so happy and outgoing among a crowd of people who loved her, I didn’t have the heart to curtail her fun.
And she didn’t even know yet that her favorite playmate, Rocky, would be coming along with Ryan.
I spent the next twenty minutes greeting everyone.
Kat and Gage were chatting with Alisha Gore and Sarah Pickney, the new full-time vets at the practice.
Both women had also been victims of Scott.
But more importantly, they were wonderful vets and truly good women.
Together, the three of us felt stronger for what we’d been through, and we were excited to be working together.
Pasco introduced me to Jason Jensen, whom Kyle had told me was the head of IT at HEAT. Pasco referred to him as the world’s second-best hacker and worst bartender. Jensen argued about the first but seemed unperturbed by the second.
“We’ve made a special drink in your honor,” Jensen said.
“Oh.” I smiled tightly, having tried Pasco’s concoctions more than once and been warned by Savannah about Jensen’s role in creating the team-building exercise of enduring terrible cocktails together. “Can’t wait.”
Jensen laughed. “I see my reputation precedes me. Don’t worry. It’s nothing dangerous. Bond wouldn’t allow it.”
Catching her name, Samantha, standing several feet away from us, shook her head at her friend. “I’m not sure we should inflict your skills on civilians.”
“These are no ordinary civilians.” I turned to see Logan Lang approaching. He shook hands with Jensen, then turned to me. “You have good team, Cami. How are the new docs working out?”
“It’s been great,” I answered as Logan and I walked a few feet away from the others. I had the sense he wanted to speak with me privately. “What’s up?” I asked him.
“Just checking in,” he said. “Rogers mentioned you’ve talked to a PTSD therapist.”
“Yes,” I said. “X recommended a therapist who has been a huge help to all of us.”
“Glad to hear it.” He lowered his voice. “I also wanted to say, although it’s none of my business, you’re good for Rogers.”
“Thanks.” I grinned. “You like him, don’t you? Don’t worry, I won’t tell him if you don’t want me to.”
He scowled, then returned his face to neutral. “I’m good with having him as my second.”
I nodded solemnly, pretty sure that was high praise coming from Logan.
By the time I’d circled back to the deck, Savannah and Ben had arrived. Every time I saw her, which was at least once a week now that she and Mai had officially adopted Gina, Darla, and me into their girls’ night out group, she looked more pregnant. And every time I ran into Ben, he looked happier.
“Sorry we’re late,” Savannah said when she hugged me. “We have so much trouble getting out the door these days.” She winked at her husband.
I didn’t ask any follow-up questions, suspecting that their reasons for running late were personal, and wanting to respect boundaries, unlike my bestie.
Savannah brought me up to date on Mai’s schedule, and promised another fun girls’ night out with my friends and I along with Savannah, Kat, Samantha, Mai, and Mai’s HEAT partner Cynthia.
“She’s another kickass woman,” Savannah said. “You two will love each other.”
Was that how she saw me, as a kickass woman?
Before I could ask, Ben said loudly, “Where the hell is Wheels?” He used the nickname Kyle had come up with for Ryan Wheeler. “How are we supposed to perform our song?”
I glanced at Savannah, who frowned.
“Kyle, Ben, and Ryan have a song they do as a trio,” she shared.
I arched my eyebrows. “How have I not heard about this?”
She grinned. “You kept the team busy, so they haven’t had time to bring out the karaoke machine. Ben brought it along today.”
I smiled, too. “This sounds interesting. I have to know what the song is.”
“The rickroll,” she said. “You remember that internet trick from the aughts, where you’d click on a link and instead of going where you expected, it would take you to a video of an 80’s song?”
“Oh, I do. Never Gonna Give You Up was the song, right? I can’t wait to hear their rendition.”
“Don’t get too excited,” she whispered “Honestly, they’re all a little pitchy. But they’re also so damn cute.”
“Before anyone sings,” Pasco’s voice rose above the crowd, “it’s time for a special toast. I promised Cami a drink in her honor.”
Everyone clapped, then fell silent as Pasco and Jensen circulated through group. They handed a rocks glass, to everyone except Savannah, who cupped her belly and grinned. Lucky woman.
I took my ice cold glass. The liquid was clear. Innocuous-looking. How disgusting could it be? Then I made the mistake of smelling it.
I pressed my hand over my mouth and nose. “It smells like an uncleaned dog kennel.”
Everyone else was becoming aware of the vile odor as well, as one by one our guests turned pale.
The glass door to the house slid open. “Pasco, are you seriously passing out horrible drinks without me?” Ryan, wearing his aviators pushed up onto his blond hair, stepped onto the deck.
Rocky followed him, and Bella raced over to greet her favorite dog friend.
Then someone else emerged from the house.
Recognizing a familiar face, Kyle and I exchanged a glance.
I wasn’t sure if she’d arrived on her own or was here as Ryan’s guest. Ryan dated a lot of women, but he didn’t tend to bring them to HEAT gatherings, so, either she was just his friend, or she was very special to him.
Ryan put his arm around her and grinned. They were definitely more than friends.
Kyle
“When your team and my team get together, they kiss ass and take names,” I told Cami as we surveyed the spotless kitchen. “It’s almost like we never had a party.”
“Really?” She cocked an eyebrow. “Have you seen the ten pounds of food stuffed into the fridge?”
I stretched my arms over my head, then settled one over her shoulders. “Well, if I’m going to fire up the grill, I might as well get some good use out of it.”
“And enough food to feed both our teams for the next week.”
From her new favorite dog bed in the dining room, Bella let out a snort, followed by a snore. Our sweet girl was sacked out from the excitement of the day, and content in the knowledge that after a long night’s sleep, we’d be here in the morning to take care of her.
“God, you two make me happy,” I told Cami.
“I was just thinking the same thing. Well, that, and wondering about what Kat said.