Worth the Test (Eternity #4)

Chapter 1

A lex

June

It’s a rare Friday night where I’m out with my two brothers and two brothers-in-law. Their wives are home with their children, and it’s remarkably empty without all the chaos. My two kids are with my parents, as they usually are on the rare opportunity for me to go out.

“Thanks for coming with me, guys,” Luca says after we all grab a beer from the bar. We’re here, at a hole-in-the-wall pub on the southwestern side of Denver, to see a band.

“Remind me why we’re here?” Stone asks as he takes a long swig of his beer. Stone has been my best friend since we were kids. It took me a bit to get on board with him and my baby sister, but looking back, I can see they were inevitable. Arianna shows him the joys of life, and he brings a peace to her that she craved.

“I played hockey with Declan growing up. He played in Dallas, and retired this year. He moved back to Denver and invited me to come watch his band. He plays the bass,” Luca explains, pointing to a tall guitarist. My brother recently retired from the Denver Wolves NHL team, and has since accepted a coaching position with the Eternity Springs High School hockey program, home of the fighting Eagles.

I’ve already received five texts from my daughter, Abbie, for various reasons. She’s twelve going on twenty, and her mood swings rival those pirate ship rides at a carnival, where we just don’t know if it’s going to flip all the way over or not .

Tonight’s infractions? Her nine-year-old brother, Ben, looked at her wrong, whatever that means. Her bestie from school, Heather, apparently gossiped about Abbie’s hairstyle today, and now Abbie hates Heather. Nani, the nickname all the grandkids have for my mom, had the audacity to only make spaghetti for dinner, when Abbie expected Nani’s homemade lasagna.

The horror.

“You still getting texts from Abbie?” Dom asks, peering over my shoulder.

I sigh and nod. “She’s doing my head in.”

“Sienna is too. I didn’t think hormones and puberty would be an issue this early.” Sienna is a year younger than Abbie, and Dominic’s oldest. She’s struggled over the years since her mom decided to leave, but fortunately Dom asked Kate to nanny his kids, and then fell in love with her. I’ve never seen my brother smile so much, and it’s been incredible watching his three children blossom. It wasn’t just the addition of Kate that made them grow. It was the way Kate helped Dom to be present in every experience, and to show everyone in his life how important they are to him.

“Apparently we’re the lucky ones to experience it early,” I murmur. Dom doesn’t respond, but I can feel what he almost said. He’d undoubtedly talk about how Kate is helping, how it’s so great she’s in their lives now to give a female perspective. I wish I had that, honestly. Because six years ago, our world stopped turning when my wife, Sara, was killed in a car accident. I was on assignment overseas and didn’t find out for a week. Abbie was six, and Ben was only three. While Abbie was old enough to have a few fleeting memories of Sara, Ben barely remembers his mother.

I honestly don’t know how I functioned that first year. Sara knew me like no one else. She was my other half, the only person I’ve ever met that could calm me down. Whenever I had a bad day, she’d demand a dance party in our kitchen. It never failed to raise my spirits.

I haven’t danced like that since she died, and I don’t know if I ever will .

“You okay, man?” Stone asks, his eyes studying me. I don’t bother hiding my pain.

“No, not really. But I’ll be fine. I always am.”

“Can I ask you a personal question?” Stone inquires.

I can’t help but chuckle. Even if I say no, he’ll still ask. “Yeah, go ahead.”

“When’s the last time you got laid? You’re pretty tightly wound.”

I wrack my brain. “Fuck, man. I don’t even know. It’s been at least a year. Probably closer to two.”

“Is there a reason why you aren’t at least pursuing some one-night-only situations?” he asks.

I shrug. “I don’t know. I haven’t wanted to deal with dating. I’m too old for that shit.”

“You do know you can fuck without dating, right?” Stone laughs.

“Yeah, but there’s still conversation and flirting. That’s what I don’t want to deal with. My hand doesn’t expect dinner and chemistry.”

“Jesus,” Luca says from behind me. “I had no idea you were this depressing, Lexy. I’m glad I got us some shots. Let’s loosen you up.”

“Great,” I mutter, as I take the shot glass with an unknown clear liquid inside. It’s probably tequila. If anyone were to do tequila shots, it’s definitely Luca.

We all cheers , then toss back the shot. My eyes immediately water as the liquor burns my throat. Fucking tequila is disgusting. Travis watches with an amused grin as Dom slaps me on the shoulder, placing another shot in front of me. “You need another one, Lexy.”

“Why must you always bring out that nickname when we’re out?” I groan.

“Because we know how much you hate it,” Luca snickers. “Bottoms up.”

“I drove, asshole. Not about to get a DUI,” I retort. I’m a fucking police officer. Kinda frowned upon in our ranks.

“I’ll get all of us home safely. I promise,” Dominic answers, a weird glint in his eye. “Come on, Alex. You deserve a night to let loose. We’ll make sure you have fun, but also that you get home in one piece. Unless you end up going home with someone.”

“That will not be happening,” I tell him, completely horrified at the thought. I’m thirty-eight, and I’ve only had a couple of one-night stands in my life. It’s not my preference. Plus, I met Sara when I was twenty-three. Since her death, I’ve barely looked at another woman with thoughts of a relationship. Sure, I’ve had sex a handful of times in the last five years, but it’s been more to scratch an itch and less to make a connection. I have no desire to connect with anyone.

“You deserve to have some fun,” Luca says quietly. “Even if you just hang with us. Take the shot, we’ll play some darts, and we can all relax.”

I sigh, a sound full of resignation and frustration. I know my brothers are right. They aren’t pushing me toward anyone. They just want me to enjoy myself. I’ve focused so much on providing for my kids that I’ve ignored what kind of social life I could have. Other than Stone, I barely have contact with any friends from high school. Sara’s funeral brought tons of people out of the woodwork, but I was in no place to interact with them. My heart and soul were crushed. I barely had a moment to grieve before I was thrust into single parenthood, and it wasn’t long before I deployed again. I’m thankful my parents could take Abbie and Ben in, giving them at least a tiny bit of normalcy in a world that was violently shaken up. But it’s been nonstop ever since.

So, yeah, I could probably stand to use some time to relax and unwind. Which is why I don’t say no to the third shot.

I’m in no way drunk. I have a pretty high tolerance for alcohol. I kinda had to, considering military life isn’t for the faint of heart. I learned to love beer quickly, and I figured out the best tricks for not getting hangovers that lasted all day. Three shots tonight has me feeling relaxed, enough that I’m actually enjoying the evening.

After excusing myself to hit the men’s room, I’m in a back hallway with crappy lighting where the floors are undoubtedly sticky no matter the time of day, and I overhear a couple arguing. The woman’s voice sounds somewhat familiar, but I can’t place where I’ve heard it .

“It was one time,” the guy says, exasperation evident in his tone.

“It wasn’t one time. This is the fifth,” she replies. Damn. Fifth time for what? Cheating?

“So? It’s your fucking fault anyway. If you did things like I tell you to do them, none of that would ever happen. I run this fucking show, little girl. You’ll do as I say.”

“I broke up with you, Rob. That isn’t how any of this works,” the woman says with a noticeable tremor to her voice. When I finally find the couple in question, they’re shrouded in darkness. All I can see are two silhouettes, the male towering over the female.

“I say if this relationship ends, not you.”

“No, I —” she stammers, and he takes a threatening step closer, grabbing her arm and yanking her toward him harshly.

“I will shut you up any way I fucking please.”

Oh, fuck that.

“Woah, woah, woah!” I shout, sliding in between them and pushing the guy back.

“The fuck you think you’re doing?” he snarls.

“You don’t treat a lady like that, asshole.” I stare the guy down — what was his name? Rob? He looks like a Rob. We’re about the same height, but I’ve got him beat in weight. One look at his scrawny arms tells me I’ve got him beat in strength too. Looking quickly over my shoulder, I see the hint of a black eye on the woman. Her green eyes widen when I catch her gaze. I know her. I swear I do.

“You better back the fuck up,” Rob growls, he shoves me hard, then bitch-slaps me across the face. I find joy in that movement. Because now my response is considered self-defense.

“Mistakes were made, Robbie,” I tell him cockily as I crack my knuckles.

“The fuck does that mean, assh —” Thwack! My fist crashes into his face, the sound of his nose breaking like music to my ears. It’s been a while since I’ve had any need for hand-to-hand combat. With each passing year in the Air National Guard, I had more managerial responsibilities and fewer fun and physical activities. But it seems my taekwondo training from decades ago is ingrained in my muscle memory, because I quickly take a stance to protect the woman behind me.

As soon as Rob staggers back toward me, he throws up a fist, ready to fight back, but I’m quickly surrounded.

“I’d like to fucking see you try to win this one,” Luca says deeply, his arms crossed as he glares at Rob. My brother, though retired from the NHL, is still a massive brick wall of a man. Stone and Dominic stand off to the side of Luca, ready to get involved if needed. I have no idea where they came from, but I’m glad they’re here.

Turning, I say to the woman, “Are you okay?”

I take in her gorgeous features. Beautiful chocolate brown locks of hair cascading down her back, smooth alabaster skin, and eyes such a unique shade of green, they remind me of a clear mountain lake.

“Alex,” she breathes, her voice soft and hesitant as she stares up at me. She knows me. Knows my name. And I realize why her voice sounded so familiar. But before I can say anything, she throws her arms around my neck, and kisses me.

I’m being kissed. It takes me a moment to respond, and I know I will shove her away. In a second. Maybe a minute.

I’m not sure how my hands find her ass, or how my tongue circles hers perfectly. Or how I feel her moan into my mouth, and the sound goes straight to my cock.

I forgot how much I love kissing, and this is one hell of a good kiss. Great kiss, even.

But I certainly never thought I’d be kissing her.

My sister’s best friend.