Chapter 15
SANTIAGO
Over the next few days, more and more of the cadets dropped out.
There was a time in every class when this happened, and it was usually around now.
There were a lot of misconceptions out there about what the Coast Guard actually did, and once they started realizing that it wasn’t all about sitting on the back of a fast boat and shouting in a bullhorn, that was when our numbers started dropping like flies.
Even those who’d made it through the helicopter crash simulation but who hadn’t realized that wouldn’t be the worst or the scariest part of their training were finally getting it. The herd was being thinned, and it suited me just fine. It left me only with those who were actually serious.
Truth be told, this was my favorite part of the program. When all the weaker contenders were gone and I could start focusing on honing the skills of those who were here because they belonged, that was when I shone. That was why I’d wanted to be an instructor.
Come next week, we’d be getting serious, but first, I had a surprise for them. As I got to the PT field where the remaining cadets were gathered and ready to go, I grinned.
“Alright, people. Your loving uncle Santiago has some good news for you. You’ve been working hard and we’ve noticed, so we’re giving you a three-day weekend off, starting today.”
Excited chatter began filling the air immediately and I sighed. “You’re in formation. There’s still no talking while you’re in formation.”
Thankfully, we were at the point where most of the troublemakers were gone and silence fell immediately after I said it.
“Okay! Enjoy your time off, but don’t enjoy it too much.
Get some rest and sleep as much as you can.
You’re going to need it for what we’ve got in store for you when you get back. Dismissed.”
They ran off so fast that I laughed, but then I realized they hadn’t all vanished. Layla was still here, frowning as if she wasn’t sure if I’d been serious or not.
When my gaze met hers, I arched an eyebrow as I approached her. “This is not a drill, Perkins. You’re free to leave. For real.”
“Uh, yeah. I got that part, but what am I supposed to do?” She looked genuinely perplexed as she stared up at me.
I shrugged, shaking my head as I tried to hold back a chuckle. “I don’t know, cadet. I’m not your personal party planner. Do whatever you feel like doing. Go out. Get drunk or go home and see your parents. Whatever you decide to do, though, it needs to be away from the Station.”
She heaved out a heavy breath, her green eyes still cloudy with confusion as she nodded and stalked in the direction of the dorms. As I watched her leave, I really tried not to appreciate seeing her walk away, but fuck me.
I really just couldn’t do it. The way she moved entranced me. I didn’t have a choice but to stare at her ass for just a fraction of a second before I finally turned away and headed back to my office. This weekend was coming at exactly the right time, as far as I was concerned.
I didn’t know what she planned on doing, but I sure as hell knew what I was going to do.
And that was whatever it took to get over this thing I had for my mentor’s daughter.
She was twenty-fucking-four years old, a cadet in my program, and Ron Perkins’s kid.
It didn’t get much more taboo than all that in my world, and I’d realized the other night that I really did desperately need to do something about it.
Touching her when I’d helped her get over that wall had nearly killed me. Feeling those legs I’d envisioned wrapped around me so many times had been hell the first time, and when she’d asked me to do it again, I’d groaned. Out loud.
She hadn’t asked about it, but I knew she must’ve heard me.
There was just no way she hadn’t. It had only been the two of us out there and the night had been quiet.
She’d heard me groan just because I’d touched her.
Over her clothes. And I hadn’t even been close to touching her anywhere inappropriate.
It was not good, and I was starting to feel like a real old pervert for looking at her the way I was.
When I walked into my office and found Neil waiting for me, I smiled.
Going out with him was exactly what I needed to get me out of this Layla rut.
He was the best wingman around and he was constantly pushing me to hit on anything that moved.
Tonight, I was going to do exactly that. “Hey, man. You excited about the weekend?”
He nodded, looking positively gleeful as he rubbed his palms together. “I have so many plans. It’s been way too long since this session started and it’s been such a damn intense one. I saw some of the assholes finally quit, though. That’s going to make it easier around here.”
“Yeah, I didn’t think anyone in Jonathan Hayes’s crew was going to fall out, but it’s for the best. He and the other original asshole have already gotten some of the cocky knocked out of them.
They also seem to be teaming up with Jameson Gray and Matt Evans more often, which is great.
The four of them are like a dream team.”
He laughed. “Think they’re going to ride this out together?”
I ran my hand over the top of my head and licked my lips, but then I nodded. “Yeah, I think they are. A few other strong contenders are emerging and they’re slowly starting to form those bonds we need them to.”
The only problem with that was Layla. She was the exception to the rule. She was one of the strongest contenders, but none of the other cadets wanted to come near her. But I’m not thinking about her this weekend. I’ll sort it out next week. Professionally.
Neil grinned as a faraway look crept into his eyes. “Ah, the bonding time. It was great, wasn’t it? Hell, I’m almost jealous that we’re not going to get to tear up the town with them this weekend. Those first few weekends away from the Station when you’re finally finding your tribe were the best.”
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m still willing to tear up the town with you this weekend. I know it’s not one of our first few weekends, but we can still have fun.”
“Of course, we can.” He shot me a lopsided grin. “At a bar, though. One they won’t go to because it’s not a club. Don’t get me wrong, I’m jealous, but I don’t really want to see them for the next three days.”
“Amen to that,” I agreed. “Want to go grab a few beers at Lucky’s later?”
“Let’s do it,” he said, then checked his watch. “Shit, I have to go. Diana wants to talk to me about that bust they made last week and I’ve got a meeting with her in three.”
“Go,” I said. “I’ll meet you at Lucky’s at six?”
“See you there.” He sped out of my office to make it to Diana’s on time, and I reviewed the notes I’d made about the cadets so far.
After crossing off the names of the ones that had quit this week, I added a few thoughts on the ones that remained and then I shut off my computer. Everyone involved with the training had the weekend off, and since I was all caught up on work, I was officially a free man as of right now.
I changed into my workout gear and went for a long run on the beach to clear my head.
Then I called my mom, and later, I showered and got dressed to meet Neil.
It was weird being in normal shorts and a T-shirt again, but as I kicked my feet into a pair of flip-flops and picked up my phone and wallet, I smiled.
This weekend seriously couldn’t have come at a better time.
Although I debated on waiting for Neil to walk to Lucky’s together, I finally decided against it. I needed to get away from the Station. The sooner, the better.
The bar we were going to was a hole in the wall a few blocks away.
It wasn’t a regular haunt for anyone from here except for us, but that was why we liked it so much.
As I walked into the dingy darkness of the interior and breathed in the scent of stale beer, I practically felt the tension melting out of my body.
There were a few pool tables in the corner, a couple of old TVs mounted on the walls, and a long, pocked bar with mats on it that had probably never been washed, but that was about it.
A few tables were scattered around with mismatched chairs pulled up to them and the only lights were orange globes covered by horrendous green shades.
Gotta love it.
After grabbing a beer from an aged bartender who didn’t know or give a damn about who I was, I went to sit down at a table in the back corner. Just on the off chance that the cadets found the place, I didn’t want to be within easy view of the door.
I was almost done with my first beer when my phone beeped with an incoming text, and I groaned when I saw what it said.
Neil: Sorry, bro. Not gonna make it. I have the damn shits.
Well, so much for that plan.
Rolling my eyes, I picked up my glass again, but as I lifted my head to drain what was left of my beer, I suddenly found myself looking right at Layla Perkins.
She dropped into the seat across the table from me like she’d been invited to and everything in me screamed to get away from her before I did something stupid.
Uh oh.
“Perkins,” I said lightly after I’d swallowed my last sip. “I was just about to leave, but have fun this weekend, yeah?”
Her brow puckered as she shook her head. “Don’t leave. Please? Just have one beer with me. I’m buying.”
It was the first time I was seeing her with her hair down—literally—and the black locks framed her face perfectly, hanging to just above her shoulders to meet the standard length requirements. I sighed and pushed my chair back.
“Thanks for the offer, but I really should get going.”
Those full lips pressed into a pout. “Please? It’s just one beer. Do you really want me to beg?”
Yes, but not for a damn beer, and that, dear cadet, is the problem. But I couldn’t turn her down. Not when she was looking at me like she’d cry if I didn’t stay. And it was then that I made the biggest mistake of my life.
I moved my chair back in and nodded. “Okay, Layla. One beer, but after that, I really do need to get going.”