“It’s where Dr. Philpot is going to make you a candlelight dinner,” I said. I mouthed, He’s into you.

“Fuck off, Nomes,” Martinez said. He tried to make the words sound firm, but I knew Martinez would take a bullet for me just like the rest of the team. Just like Matt had sacrificed himself for them. His face softened. “How do you know that jackass upstairs?”

After a few verbal shots fired, we got back to work.

We met with the general, and then we walked the halls. We got familiar with the lab coats, the space dorks, and the brass. First days were never boring in the military, but that wasn’t true anywhere else. Not even in a military installation, it seemed.

After a long day walking and talking with Trex about the desk clerk at his hotel, I stepped outside and had to shield my eyes until they adjusted to the sunlight. I felt sorry for the people who never left the Complex.

“Okay. Let’s call it a day,” Trex said.

Gravel crunched beneath our boots as we left Bianca standing alone at the entrance, if we didn’t count the half dozen MPs.

Trex shook hands, fist-bumped, and side-hugged my team good night, then climbed into his truck, letting out a sigh.

I perched my arm on top of the open door of my new car with a smug smile.

“What?” Trex asked.

“Is she there? The girl? At the hotel?”

“Yes, Nomes, she works there.”

I ribbed him a few times, and when his patience ran out, I threw him a bone. “Good luck, Trex. I hope she’s the one.” I smooched at him and winked, then closed the door behind me, settling into my seat and starting the engine.

It was then the darkness began to spread in my insides. Trex was going home to who he thought could be the love of his life. I was going home to the quiet, the nothing, and I wasn’t looking forward to it.

Sloan leaned into my window, both elbows on the ridge of the door. “You okay?”

I sighed. “Sure.”

“Seems like the run in with Bennett rattled you a little,” he said.

I turned off the ignition and sat back. “I don’t get rattled.”

“Not when you’re getting shot at, but Bennett rattled you.”

“He…” I hesitated, but Sloan shot me a look, and I knew that he expected me to continue. “I grew up in a militia compound, Sloan. My parents were soldiers 24/7. Mom’s idea of affection was high-fiving me on the gun range. Peter was my comfort, okay?”

Sloan waited for more.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. “He was the hug, the soft side that I needed as a kid for a long time. He was my outlet when I wanted to cry. He let me show weakness.”