Chapter 8
By her fifth day alone, Liz has found her groove.
She sneaks out early to workout, takes her meals back to her room to avoid the soldiers trying to talk to her in the mess hall.
She became friendly enough with one of the other sergeants, Lauren, to join her unit on their air tactic training, allowing her to still learn and work toward her thirty solo jumps.
Although that may have just been the work of Mikey, not wanting to float down to Earth with her strapped to his chest again.
While trying to do what he asked and be friendly with Matt, she can’t help but avoid him And when she is around him, she snaps.
Today is the day that needs to change. Mikey kept his word, texting her as much as he is able, just to let her know they are alive.
When she sees Matt in line at the mess hall, she knows it’s time for her to keep hers.
“Hi,” she squeaks out, picking up a to-go box from where they sit next to the trays. He looks up at her, eyes going wide in shock.
“Holy shit, did you just talk to me?” he asks, smiling so wide the dimples on his cheeks show.
“Don’t make me change my mind,” she says.
Her eyes bounce from one steaming tray to the next, waves of spices filling the air, making it hard to decide on what to eat.
Her stomach growls loudly as she peers to the salad bar.
“I already figured that was all I was getting out of you,” he says with a casual shrug.
“Actually, I was going to ask if we could talk. I’m not eating here, but I guess you could come back and have lunch in my room if you want,” she says.
Her heart pounds in her ears, not wanting to see his reaction to her words, she moves down the line, placing a piece of baked chicken into her box.
Mouth already watering at the smell of the herbs wafting around, she quickly adds a scoop of brown rice, sliding further away.
Matt is next to her a moment later, filling his own container with two heaping scoops of chicken pot pie.
They stay silent while Liz finishes up, adding roasted carrots and broccoli to her meal before closing it and walking off.
The scrape of Matt’s boots tell her he isn’t far behind.
Her hands tremble as he approaches, darting ahead to hold the door open.
She rushes through the lot, trying to make it back to her room before her mind changes.
The sounds of boots stomping in perfect unison and jeeps speeding by keeps her focus, anything but having to have lunch with someone she can’t stand.
The door to her room creaks open. The light flickers on, and she steps into the depressing, standard issue living space. The sharp whistle behind her has her rethinking every decision she has ever made. Unable to help what happens next, a sharp sigh escapes, and she turns on him.
“Problem?” she snaps
“Always so defensive, honey. I’m surprised. I thought you lived off base?” he says, only half asking.
Her eyes never leave him as he takes the food from her hands and makes his way over to the dining table.
“For one, I was trying to be nice, but if you think it’s okay to have some little pet name for me, I will drag your ass out of here and let the guys deal with you when they get back.
And second, I was staying off base with Riley, but Mikey thought it would be better to stay here. ”
He simply watches her, amused as she storms over to the table. “I won’t say what I’m thinking,” he says.
He no doubt sees the fury churning in her eyes, and that is not a battle anyone would want to face.
“Do you ever relax? Honey is short for honey badger, that’s what everyone calls you after they decided the full name was too long.
Congrats, you got a call sign, honey. It usually takes years for that honor, but, if you prefer, I can make everyone stop calling you that and it can be a special thing between us,” he says, winking at her.
Her phone buzzes in her pocket, saving his face from being slapped.
When she looks at the screen, some of her tension dissipates, and she sends a quick reply before shoving it back into her pocket and sitting down at the table.
Her eyes drift close, silently counting to five.
She lets out all the air in her lungs before beginning.
“I think I owe you an apology.” The attitude never leaves her voice, even if her tone is much lighter, mentally questioning if she will ever be able to speak to Matt without wanting to throttle him.
“Other than your incessant flirting, and weird attempts to convince me there is nothing between Riley and I, you have been trying to be part of the team and I keep pushing you out. I’m sorry for that.
” She opens her box of food and starts eating, ignoring the blatant shock plastered on his face.
“Thank you. I understand why you don’t like me, though.
You and Scott have some crazy anger toward each other.
I didn’t know he hadn’t told you guys I was joining, and I definitely should not have inserted myself into your relationship.
It doesn’t matter if I think it’s real or not, what’s between you two isn’t any of my business.
If someone did that to me, I would be pissed,” he says, digging into his own plate of food.
“True, but it’s more complicated than that.
I think you’re right, to an extent. I know what is between us.
I know with every fiber of my being that we have feelings for each other, but ever since that day, there has been some doubt.
Then you told me everyone thinks he was just being honest, and now I question everything.
Maybe he was just trying to get laid and maybe the only reason he was nice to me was guilt.
I keep reminding myself we only knew each other for a few months.
Not only that, but I stabbed him, and threatened to do it again.
I was a disgusting mess when he found me.
No one could fall for someone who went through what I did, especially someone like him.
” Her fork clatters onto the table, her mind spiraling into her worst fears.
“They might if you let them,” he says between bites.
“You’re right, but that’s not something I can do until Ry comes home, and I know if what’s between us is real or not.
Until then, I’m going to live in my delusions.
If you can respect that, and me, then I can try to be nicer.
I’ll stop avoiding you and let you do your job, at least until my guys get back. ”
“Deal,” he says, finishing his food. He picks up after himself, and re-joins Liz at the table. “So, if you don’t live with Reaper—””
“Riley,” Liz interjects.
“Sorry. If you don’t live with Riley anymore, why haven’t you spruced this place up?
If he’s not coming back, you’re going to be here for a while.
That was the first thing I did when I move onto a new base.
If you want, I can help you move your things out while everyone is away.
Honestly, I’m kind of curious about his secret cave. ”
Her stomach churns at the admission. Making a mental note of it, she shrugs it off, trying to remain nonchalant.
“Thanks, but no thanks. I was kind of a prisoner for a while, and I don’t exactly have a lot of stuff. Eventually, I will make this hell hole a little nicer, but I have to wait for Mikey to get back and take me shopping.”
“Why do you need him to take you? I thought you were a strong, independent little badger.” He leans back in his chair, smirking as he watches Liz compose herself before answering.
“Well, being kidnapped by terrorists, having your entire existence wiped out, and having to start your life over makes it just a teeny bit difficult to get a car, or license, or I.D., or literally anything an adult needs to function.”
“Go grab what you need. I can take you. There’s a huge mall not too far from here, and I’m free for the rest of the night.” He gets up, ready to rush out the door with Liz in tow, but she is not so sure.
“I can’t let you do that. We don’t even know each other. I’m not going to drag you around a mall buying home decor, that’s weird.”
“Is it weird? Or is it a good way to get to know me?” A smug smile plays on his lips, knowing she can’t argue with his logic.
Mikey’s words echo in her mind, she needs to get closer to him.
She sighs and goes to her room, changing into the pants with the gun holster built into the waistband that Riley had gifted her, tucking her small pistol into it.
Trying to multitask, she stuffs her minimal things into a small bag while trying to send Mikey a text, letting him know what is happening, just in case.
“Lead the way,” Liz says, motioning to the door.
They walk out to the parking lot, and he takes her straight to the brand new, sharkskin metallic Camaro.
She can’t help but giggle, not surprised at all he drives the most stereotypical douchebag car a man could own.
The only thing worse would be a modified Subaru.
Matt opens the door for her, and she climbs into the passenger seat, heart racing while he jogs to the other side.
The engine roars to life before they speed off and away from base.