Chapter Seven
Lennon
T he meeting with Chief Petty Officer Hammon went great. He has a position coming open in the next month that would allow me to keep my O-6 rank as captain with only a slight pay cut, and with the cost-of-living gap between Virginia and North Carolina, I won’t even feel that difference.
Retiring and buying into a partnership with Wade is tempting. Being my own boss after twenty-two years of being under the Navy’s command would be refreshing, and with my time served, I’d receive fifty-five percent of my current base pay and full benefits from the Navy. Which is nothing to sneeze at. However, if I finish out my career with the Coast Guard, I can retire at fifty-seven with a pension of one hundred percent of my monthly pay.
It’s a lot to consider.
Wade swings by his house to pick up Eden and her brother, Kenton, and we head to my parents’ house.
Dad is pulling burgers off the grill as we arrive.
“Take this to the patio for me, son. We gotta get some food into the women soon. They’re on their fourth pitcher of margaritas already,” he whispers as he passes me a platter.
I look over to where Mom and Nana are seated with Avie and her mother. The four of them are laughing loudly.
I scan the yard, and my eyes fall on Amiya. She has Leia’s hands clasped in hers, and she is swinging the child around in a circle as fast as she can while Leia squeals in delight.
Wade finds Sebastian and Gramps at the firepit, and he and Kenton park their behinds in the chairs beside them.
I make my way over to the folding table that is set up just outside the back door and set the platter down beside the packs of hamburger buns.
“Lennon!”
I turn to my mom, who jumps to her feet and toward me, and catch her in my arms.
“Hey, Momma,” I say as I squeeze her small frame.
Nana is next to wrap me in a hug.
I watch over her shoulder as Amiya drops Leia, and the two of them fall onto their backs.
They lie in the grass, giggling.
Amiya’s feet are bare, and my gaze follows her long showgirl legs up to the hem of her tiny white sundress. Her chest is rising and falling rapidly as she catches her breath. Eyes closed and lips tipped in a contented smile.
She’s as stunning as I remember. And my mind has replayed the memory of those legs wrapped around me many times over the last nine months.
Leia catches my eye, and she pops up instantly.
“Uncle Lennon,” she cries as she takes off running in my direction.
I kneel and open my arms.
“Hey, munchkin,” I murmur as she collides with my chest.
She wraps her arms around my neck and presses her lips to my cheek.
“I missed you,” she declares.
“I missed you too.”
“Mommy said you were going to be here for a really long time,” she notes.
“I am, and you and I are going to have a lot of fun while I’m here.”
She grins and squeezes me tighter.
“Come on. Let’s let Uncle Lennon finish helping Grandpa. You sit with Nana, and I’ll make you a plate,” Avie says as she takes Leia’s hand.
I stand, and she gives me a quick hug.
“It’s good to have you home. Thank you for coming so early. I know Sebastian is happy you’re here.”
“I am too.”
I release her and return to help Dad at the grill while Mom and Nana bring out dishes filled with baked beans, coleslaw, chili, deviled eggs, and Nana’s potato salad—my favorite.
Everyone grabs a paper plate and gets in line to pile it high.
I take a seat at the table beside Leia, who is dipping the hot dog her mother cut into small chunks into a pool of ketchup.
Amiya walks up with her dinner in hand and eyes the empty chair on the other side of me before turning on her heel and taking a seat on the ledge of the patio.
Oh, good grief.
I start to call out to her when Sebastian plops down beside me.
“I swear I could eat my weight in Mom’s baked beans and deviled eggs,” he says as he starts to shovel them into his mouth.
“I bet Avie wishes you wouldn’t,” I mumble.
Avie voices her agreement from across the table, and he grins at her around a mouthful.
My gaze returns to where Amiya is struggling to grip her burger one-handed while balancing her plate in her lap. She manages to take a bite, but mustard and chili drip down her chin and onto her chest just above the neckline of her dress.
She jumps down, sets her meal on the ledge, and starts dabbing at the stain between her breasts with her napkin as she curses under her breath.
I scoot back from the table and stand.
“Amiya,” I call, and her eyes slide to me. “Here, you come sit at the table. I’m going to eat at the firepit.”
She lifts her chin in defiance. “I’m fine over here.”
Stubborn woman.
I kick Sebastian’s chair, and he looks up at me.
“Come on. Let the girls have the table and come eat with me,” I demand.
His eyes scan the yard, and he nods.
We grab our plates and walk over to where Wade, Eden, and Kenton are seated in the Adirondack chairs by the fire.
“Eden, I think Nana is about to serve up another round of margaritas if you want to join them,” Seb says as we settle in.
I watch as she makes her way to the patio and see that Amiya has finally taken her dinner and filled my vacated seat.
She notices me looking at her, so I smile and tip my Solo cup in her direction.
And she scowls at me.
What the hell?
Maybe Seb was right, and things are going to be complicated between us now.
Fuck me.
I look over at my brother, who’s telling Kenton about the fishing excursion Gramps and Dad are planning for the boys on the day of Avie’s bridal luncheon.
He’s so damn happy.
I look back at Amiya. I need to fix this quickly because I refuse to let drama mess anything up for Seb and Avie.
“Can we talk for a minute?” I whisper into Amiya’s ear.
Dad set up the cornhole boards, and he and Wade are currently in a cutthroat game against Seb and Kenton.
“Go ahead. Talk,” she says without sparing me a glance.
“Privately,” I clarify.
She looks over her shoulder at me, and her eyes narrow.
“Please.”
She huffs but spins and stomps off toward the side of the house.
I scan the crowd, and everyone is focused on the action in front of them, so I follow her.
When she makes it out of sight and earshot of everyone, she turns and faces me. Her eyes are expectant.
“Go ahead. Talk,” she repeats.
“What the fuck is your problem?” I ask.
Her body goes stiff, and she crosses her arms over her chest. “I don’t have a problem.”
I step into her space and plant my hand against the house above her head. “Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure. Why would I lie?”
I shrug. “You just look angsty,” I say.
“Angsty?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty good at reading body language.”
“Learn that in the Navy, did you, Sailor?”
“It’s a good skill to pick up,” I say.
“Well, that skill must be on the fritz because I’m good.”
“Then, why are you acting like a brat?” I ask.
Her mouth falls open, and anger lights her eyes. “I’m not acting like anything. I’m sorry if it hurts your feelings that you’re not getting any attention,” she coos.
I chuckle at her defiant display and watch her cheeks turn red.
I bring my free hand up and tuck a wisp of hair behind her ear.
“I didn’t peg you for a woman who plays silly games.”
“I didn’t peg you for an insecure boy who can’t take a little rejection,” she says.
“Is that what this is?” I ask.
She stands up on the tip of her toes so that we’re nose to nose.
“What it is, is me letting you know that we spent a less than memorable night together, and I’m not interested in a repeat, so for the sake of Sebastian and Avie, we should just pretend it never happened.”
“I can do that,” I bite out.
“Good. So can I,” she retorts.
“Glad we cleared that up. Think you can drop the attitude now?” I ask.
Her lips curl seductively. “Sure, Seaman. I can play nice if you can.”
She plants a kiss on the corner of my mouth before ducking under my arm and sashaying back toward my family.
She has a great walk.
Just enough sway to her hips to get your attention and your imagination churning, but not enough to make it look like she is seeking to be ogled.
It’s sexy as hell and effective because I sure appreciate the view.
This is going to be a long month.