by C. C. Brown
“You listen to country?” I asked, lifting my head, a little surprised by it.
“A little bit, as long as it’s not about losing my dog or my truck,” he responded, before singing along to the song.
I laughed at the stereotype, then rested my head on his shoulder again, singing along with him as he barreled down the freeway, taking us back to our other, less enjoyable world.
Chapter 25
Alex
Tuesday morning came much too quickly.
My lonely bed had me craving the warmth of Cassie’s body snuggled next to mine. I fucking hated putting her into that taxi last night, sending her back to her own personal hell. Thankfully, she had Dalton in her corner, and I was slowly but surely seeing him for the loyal friend that she needed. My guard was always up though. You just never could be completely sure of everyone’s sincerity.
Ruiz was another story. I couldn’t stand the thought of her alone with Cassie. Just thinking about it was like being punched repeatedly in the face. It was painful, and the more I thought about it, the more defensive I became. The thought to have one of them removed came to mind, but like the fight with Allen and his roommate a few weeks prior, things like that got investigated and sifted through with a fine tooth comb. Surely something would come up that would spill everything, so it was best to just leave things as they were and hope for the best.
Riley was already up and in the kitchen when I walked out. He stood leaning against the island with a mug of coffee in his hand, reading the newspaper again. He looked up when he saw me.
“So, how was it?”
I nodded my head, still feeling a bit empty at the fact that I was sucked in and standing firm in my reality once again. Not having her near me was brutal, and the day before when she was dreading the return, and I was trying to make light of it, it didn’t dawn on me that it would gut me this way.
“I’ll see you later, man. I have to get shit set up and ready for class today,” I said, not bothering to grab anything before I walked out the door.
Pulling into the parking lot, I spotted Castillo getting out of her Jeep. The sight of her disgusted me. I’d let shit get much too far, and as far as I was concerned, I needed my mind bleached and scrubbed to remove the guilt-ridden memory of it all. I parked and rushed over to her before she could get inside and around people.
“Hey, Alex. Long time no see. How was your weekend?” She was acting so casual, like the desperate lie she’d told had never come out of her mouth.
I stepped closer, glowering at her. “My weekend was just fine. How was yours? And was that amazing fuck we had before the weekend everything you imagined?”
Her eyes shot open; no amount of words could have expressed the shock permeating her face.
“I didn’t—“
“Save the bullshit, Leti. I let you put that filthy fucking mouth of yours on my dick, and I regret the hell out of it. I should have never fallen for your shit, and I want to kick my own ass for letting it happen.”
My look grew more sinister as my body temperature rose and my jaw clenched. “Let me make myself ab-so-fucking-lute-ly clear. Every time I’ve been with you has been a colossal mistake. I’ll be the first to admit that some people need to learn the hard way, and I’m one of those people. But I’ll be damned if I let you tell blatant lies about me and get away with it.”
I leaned closer, our faces nearly touching one another. “Take this as your one and only fucking warning. I’ll keep my dick out of your mouth, and you keep my name out of it as well. You understand me?”
Before she could fix her mouth to answer, I turned and marched away. Pleasurable memories of the beach came back, pissing me off even further now that I was stuck in this hellhole of a desert with Cassie so close, yet so far away.
I had spent the early part of the morning inputting test scores from the last test taken before I took off for the long weekend. Cassie was the top scorer again, a ninety-eight percent this time, putting her in the lead for the challenge. I had to figure out a way to get some time off if she were to win. I needed to spend another free flowing weekend with her, away from the constant bullshit that this place was stuffed with.
Jensen led the students in. The pull between Cassie and me was strong. So strong that when I looked up from my work, my eyes immediately landed on hers, and her eyes were glued to mine. A slight twitch of my lips curved into a smile, but I quickly turned away, not needing to give Jensen any ammunition. We were work associates, and that was as far as it needed to go.
“I am passing back your tests that you took before the long weekend. Your score is on top, and the rankings are listed on the back wall. Once we get started for the day, you’ll have a chance to see where you stand. Remember, a seventy-two is riding on this.”
I passed back the papers, Ruiz never once looking me in the face as I strolled over to her and dropped off her paper. I guess she was finally taking me seriously. When I got around to Cassie, I dropped her paper off, standing over her for a minute while images of the beach, the dog tags, the fire—all of it—came rushing through my head. These next few weeks would be the hardest ones yet—even harder than the first few that had me teetering like a fucking seesaw. Now that things had been laid out and cemented, I wanted her every second of the day, and restraining was proving much more difficult than I wanted it to be.
“Yeah. That’s right!” Allen shouted as I laid his ninety-six down on his desk. He was pounding his chest, the whole caveman like persona grating my fucking nerves. Jensen walked through and high-fived him, further annoying me. What he liked so much about Allen I just couldn’t understand. He was much too loud, and much too obnoxious, for my taste.
“Alright, today you’ll be pairing up to work on a mock radio system. I don’t care who you work with, just find a partner and wait for directions. Go!”
The room became a chatter box with students moving here and there, trying to figure out who they would be working with. Ruiz, thankfully, didn’t approach Cassie. I wouldn’t have allowed that shit if she had tried. My number one goal right now was keeping her safe, and I was going to do it any capacity.
“Hey, Bennett, I’ll be your partner,” Allen said, stomping over to where she stood with a pompous grin on his face. But when I turned and watched her face, dread completely took over, letting me know that this wasn’t a friendly gesture.
I stepped in his way, intercepting him and turning him around to a pair that I was about to break up.
“Pfc. Taylor, you’re now working with Private Allen. Pfc. Jones, you’re now working with Pfc. Bennett.”
When I looked back to Cassie, relief shrouded her face. I knew then that I would need to straighten some things out. Allen was an overbearing little shit, but her look didn’t convey that. There was something more, and I was determined to figure it out.
The next couple of hours were devoted to various tasks on the radio systems: trouble shooting, jamming, and programming. The room grew quiet as concentration filled the space. They had no idea, but they would be graded on how well they performed each task since each one had been covered in class over the last few weeks. Newsome, Jensen, and I floated around the room with clipboards, verbally asking questions while also watching the students fix numerous problems. I made sure not to be the one to test Cassie. I knew Jensen’s watchful eyes were on me, no matter where I stood, so I let Newsome be the one to do it, but I was never too far away.
A few of the students stood after their testing, walking over to the standings listing. Ruiz skimmed the list, finding herself in third place. She was smart and picked up on the material rather easily, so I knew if she just kept her fucking nose where it belonged, she’d make a fine Marine. If not, well, I had no problems destroying all of that for her. I went to the far corner of the room where I questioned a pair on their troubleshooting when I heard Allen cry out, “Second place? How am I in second place?”
Jensen walked over to him, placing his hand on Allen’s shoulder. “We still have
more tests, devil dog. You’ll get there.”
I was puzzled by the whole thing. Was it because Cassie was sitting in the top spot and he wanted to see anyone other than her win this thing? I remembered that Allen acted like a fucking barbarian at the initial PFT, and it was Jensen who congratulated him on his shit. Maybe his like of Allen had nothing to do with Cassie? I was too wound up, and nothing fit quite right for me. Paranoia in the form of protection was beginning to set it, and it was already frying my fucking nerves.
By the time the lunch hour rolled around, I was starving, and not for food. I needed to know what the deal was between Allen and Jensen. I needed to know if Jensen was trying to be a little bitch and keep Cassie from being the top earner. And I most certainly needed to know what the fuck had Cassie so startled when it came to Allen. The look on her face when he came near her was emblazoned on my brain.
I texted Riley, knowing he would do anything I needed him to do.
Me: Hey, man. Take Jensen out to lunch. I need to be alone with Cassie.
His researching skills were needed once again. If he could get Jensen alone and shoot the shit with him, all under the guise of just catching up, he would be doing me a world of good.
Riley: Man, I’m all for supporting, but seriously? At the schoolhouse? I’ve gotta draw the line.
Me: I’m not fucking her. I need to get some info.
I looked up, scanning the room to make sure that eyes weren’t fixated on me.
Me: Find out why Jensen likes Pvt. Allen so much.
Riley: You’ve got it. And, Alex… don’t fuck her here, man. J
I grinned at the text because I just couldn’t promise that. I shot Cassie a quick text, telling her to leave herself available for me for lunch. The sexual innuendo in that statement had her trying to hide a grin that was threatening to erupt into a full blown smile. I liked seeing the effect my words had on her mind and body.
Once everyone filed out, Jensen left the room without speaking more than a few words, telling Newsome where he’d be. I stepped out the back door and peeked around the wall, seeing her ditch her crew and scamper over to where I was. When I got her inside, I couldn’t help myself; I pinned her up against the wall, kissing her hard before she playfully pushed me away.
“Well good to see you, too.”
“Fuck the greetings. Do you even know what having you in this room does to me?”
“I think I’m beginning to figure it out.”
“Just now beginning? What the fuck is that? You should already know.”
She kissed me again, her soft, moist lips placating me for the moment.
“So I need to know something,” I told her, taking her hand and leading her over to the front desk. Her eyes shifted down to it as she softly smiled.
“Not in the classroom, too.”
I looked down at it, remembering the delicious lunch I’d gotten out of her on the desk in my office.
“I’m starting to realize that you as my meals is turning out to be pretty damn healthy for me. But, no. Not in the classroom—not yet anyway.”
She hit my arm and I caught her hand, taking a seat on the desk and pulling her in between my legs.
“On a serious note,” I said, my voice turning harder, “I need to know what’s going on with Private Allen and you.”
Her look of shock and disgust caught me off guard.
“Are you asking me if we have something going on?” The acid in her tone was noticeably apparent.
“Not so much. Calm the fuck down. I just noticed the look on your face when he offered to be your partner, and I wanted to know where it came from.”
“Allen is just an idiot. I don’t want to have anything to do with him if I can avoid it.”
She started to pull away, but I wrapped my arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “There’s more to it, Blondie. I know it. I’m going to do some digging on this shit, believe that.”
“Alex, why can’t just take my word at face value? He’s a dumbass, and I just choose to avoid him.”
“Because the look on your face was more than just disgust with a dumbass. I’m not fucking stupid, Cassie. The kid rubs me wrong, and that look tells me that my feelings about him are absolutely right. So if you won’t be honest with me, I’ll find out on my own.”
“I am being honest,” she quickly retorted.
“You’re omitting, and that is not being completely honest.”
The more I looked at her, the more I wanted to know exactly what was going on here. I didn’t like it. I didn’t like tension in her body where this guy was concerned, and I damn sure didn’t like that I couldn’t get a straight answer out of her.
“Why are you withholding?” I asked, eyes narrowing, voice growing more husk.
She swallowed. “I’m not. I just know you get all crazy over the smallest little things. I don’t want any issues, Alex.”
“Issues? You don’t think you have a fucking issue already on your hands? I don’t even know what it is, but it’s written all over you.”
She rolled her eyes and looked away.
“I’m telling you right now. I’m going to find out what this is because I don’t like the feeling I get when he’s around. He’s a loose fucking cannon, and I don’t get why you’re protecting him.”
We stared at one another for a minute when Cassie finally broke the silence.
“I need to get some chow. I’m starving.”
I didn’t want to let her go. I could tell she was upset, but sadly, I didn’t care. Her evasiveness where this Allen guy was concerned was ammunition for me to find out exactly what was going on there, and deep inside I knew none of it was good. I reluctantly stood and walked her to the back door.
My phone buzzed in my pocket. I reached in and grabbed it, seeing a text message from Smith light up on the screen.
Smith: Sgt. Major. Thomas wants to see you.
“Fuck!” I called out. She stood staring at me, wanting to know what had come through.
“What happened?”
“I have to go and see Sgt. Major. Thomas.”
Her breath caught. “Do you think—“
“No. She’s not calling me in for this.” I kissed her. “And… I will be digging around, and I don’t give a shit if you warn Dalton either. I’m going to find out what the hell is going on. I’ve already told you, I don’t play fair. I’ll get my information one way or another.”
I pushed open the door and let her out before throwing on my cover and straightening myself up. I cracked my knuckles as I walked toward Sgt. Major’s office, the tension building up in me like cement blocks on a wall. Cassie was hiding something, and what it was I couldn’t quite put my finger on, but I was more determined than ever to find out.
Chapter 26
Cassie
We were so close to the end of school that I didn’t want Alex going ape shit and everything that we had to come unraveling. Allen had been a sore subject for me since the very beginning, but I felt like I could hold my own when it came to him. Now my nerves were on edge. Alex wanted to know what was going on, and the Sgt. Major was calling him in. There could have been a whole host of reasons that she wanted to see him, but when you have a guilty conscience it automatically jumps to the negative, and that is exactly where I was wallowing.
I walked across the street to the mini mart, grabbing a bag of chips and a Gatorade since there wasn’t going to be enough time to walk all the way to the chow hall, eat, and get back. I sat under the tiny bit of shade created from one of the pillars as I lost myself in thought. Alex, for as much as he saw Allen as a loose cannon, was just as much a loose cannon, if not more. I had to find Dalton and talk to him because I knew he would be the first person that Alex would interrogate. I didn’t want to be babied. I could handle Allen on my own. Even if I had to keep going at him here and there, he knew he would have a fight with me, and usually didn’t cross that line.
I took out my phone and texted Dalton. The last thing I wanted was for
him to be caught off guard by Alex.
Dalton: Need to see you ASAP. I’m in the courtyard.
I waited for a few minutes but didn’t get a reply. Instead, I heard footsteps. Dalton came running, and the sight of him, red faced and breathing hard, had me laughing a bit.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, trying to catch his breath.
“You. You look like you came to put out a fire.”
“Well, when you put ASAP, I didn’t know what the hell was going on. Anyway, what’s up?”
I scooted over and tapped the seat, inviting him to sit down. “Alright. Alex knows something is up with Allen. We were working on radio systems in class today and had to do it in pairs. Allen called me out and offered to be my partner and I froze, totally disgusted. Well, Alex saw that and went haywire. He asked me what was going between us and I wouldn’t tell him.”
“Why? The guy is a douche. Maybe letting Alex kick his ass is what he needs.”
“Dalton, wake up. If Alex goes after him, which he will if he finds out some of the shit he’s said to me, everything will be blown, so you have to keep quiet. He already said he was coming to you, so please, do your best to not say anything. I know you think I’m crazy, but it’s for the best.”
“I do think you’re crazy, and I would love to see Allen get his ass kicked, but I get it. I’ll keep my mouth shut.”
“Thank you,” I said, finally able to smile. “Anyway, how was your weekend with Ben?”
A dreamy look spread across his face. Whatever happened, it must have gone well.
“It was awesome. We went to Palm Springs and stayed in a resort hotel. Played some golf, ate at amazing restaurants, did some shopping and had amazing sex. He said he’ll be back out for graduation in a couple of weeks.”