Her Soldier (That Girl #3) (13 page)

After we drop Danielle off, I show Beau my phone.

“Beau, when you were playing cards, Maxton kept texting me like rapid fire. He quit about an hour and half ago. I can’t bear to look. Can you please erase them and take me to get a new number tomorrow?”

He silently takes my phone, reads the texts, and sets it down on the dash and continues to drive toward the apartment.

“We’ll get you a new number tomorrow if that makes you feel better, but trust me when I say I will deal with him.”

Chapter 12

“Have a good weekend, Jenni.” I wave goodbye to my new friends at school and head for the front doors. When I reach them, I see Beau standing there with a bouquet of pink and yellow roses.

“We having dinner with Auntie tonight?” I ask, throwing my arms around his neck. He’s swift and moves the cellophane wrapped roses to one side, avoiding my body crushing them.

“They’re for you, baby. You survived your first week back, and kicked ass at that.”

“Really?” It comes out as a squeal. I snatch the roses from him and hold them to my chest. “I’ve never gotten flowers from a lover.”

“Really?” Beau takes my hand and guides me to the truck.

“Really.”

“Damn, you had shitty taste before me.”

“You’re telling me,” I joke back, finally able to laugh at my past mistakes.

“So, Lynlee and Jazzy want to surprise you for lunch. You know I flip my fucking shit over surprises. So, sorry I’m ruining it for you. Are you up to it?”

“I love you, Beau.” I lean over in the cab of the truck and kiss his cheek. “And yes, I’d love to have lunch with them.”

We begin driving toward the main part of town where some of our favorite restaurants are located. “So, don’t let the girls know I spoiled the surprise for you. I have a feeling they may cut my baguettes off for ruining it.”

I can’t control my laughter to respond to him as we’re pulling into Applebee’s.

“I won’t tell on you, but Jazzy’s one of a kind black Escalade might be a dead giveaway.” My finger points out the black beauty in the parking lot.

“Just don’t rat on me.”

When we walk in I’m blasted by two voices, shouting out, “Surprise!” I look in the bar to see my friends. I’d think the two idiots were drunk if I didn’t know better. Maybe they’re on an extreme sugar high from their preggo cravings.

I offer them a weak wave, hoping they’ll shut the hell up. They don’t, so I grab Beau’s hand and speed walk to their table as if my ass were on fire. When we reach it they both hop up from their seats, squealing and hugging me. It feels good that they’re so proud of me, but also more than a little embarrassing.

“Good hell, you two, I just finished one freaking week at school. You’d think I just won an Olympic gold medal.”

Jazzy sits with a shrug. “Well, I mean…”

“Shut up.” I can’t help but break out in a smile at her smartass response.

Lynlee rounds the corner and hugs me. “I’m so proud of you, sister.”

“Thanks, Michelle.”

She darts away from my arms. I pull her back in and whisper, “Everything is okay.”

We are abruptly interrupted by the server who lays platter after platter of appetizers in front of us.

“Don’t judge! I couldn’t decide.” Jazzy says.

The three of us fall into easy conversation. I catch the girls up on school and the familiar faces, since they know some of them. Then I listen to their pregnancy updates. Lynlee still refuses to find out the sex of her baby. Both girls are lonely without their men. Lynlee is leaving in a couple days for her first official assignment with ESPN, and it happens to be in the same city where Lincoln is. Jazzy, on the other hand, is stuck in Fort Collins for a bit longer, waiting until Levi is finished with some intensive training.

By the time our main courses come I’m so stuffed from the appetizers that I pick at my pasta until Beau is finished with his steak and pass it on to him.

“How the hell do you stay so fit?” Jazzy asks him. “I thought Lincoln could put away the food until you.”

“I run.” Beau doesn’t elaborate as he continues to devour the pasta.

“Holy shit.” I flinch hard at Lynlee’s unexpectedly loud voice.

“Look.” She points to the large television screen in the bar.

Breaking news flashes across the screen, which shows a crime scene marked by yellow tape in the background. The tape ropes off a street where a man’s body lies covered by a tarp. It takes Jenni a little longer to understand why Lynlee is so passionate about the news. She’s ready to ask her what in the hell is going on until the words jump off the screen, slapping her in the face. “A deadly hit and run.” Victim, Maxton, dead.

Beau stops eating and I look straight at him.

“What happened?” he finally asks after several awkward moments.

The table falls silent when a young news reporter live from the scene begins announcing all the fine details.

“Witnesses say it’s as if the victim was singled out by a black Chevy truck on Wednesday evening. A group of friends were crossing the street to visit a bar when the accident occurred. Police have confirmed that the group of men had been drinking. It’s clear this was a targeted hit and run. Authorities are desperate for answers. If you have any information on the crime, please call in.”

My whole body melts into the booth as a sense of relief washes over me. I know it’s not right to feel so good about something so awful.

Beau takes a long drink from his soda. “No details on the driver? Bullshit to call it a targeted crime. Sounds like karma to me.”

My gaze flies straight to him and my heart sinks as the words
truck
and
details
soak into my brain. My ears buzz with static, and even though I’m staring at Lynlee’s mouth and trying to listen to her take on the situation, I don’t process one word.

“When did this happen? What night did the news reporter say?” My hand trembles against the table as I try to steady it.

“A couple nights ago,” Jazzy says, looking questioningly over at Lynlee for approval.

“Yeah, Wednesday night.” I watch as Lynlee scoops a large forkful of salad in her mouth. “Around nine o’clock is what she just said, and I guess he was already trashed by the amount of alcohol in his bloodstream.”

The news reporter is still divulging details, but again it’s just all a fuzzy static to me.

Wednesday night. Wednesday night, I repeat over and over in my mind, trying to remember where we were and if I was with Beau.
Think, Jenni, fucking think.

I feel Beau place his hand on my leg under the table. “That was the night we went to the Senior Center with your aunt to play cards, Jenni.”

“We were there till almost eleven.” It comes out so soft that Jazzy asks me what I said. “Oh, nothing. I’m just in complete shock.”

Beau was with me, so there’s no way he could have had anything to do with it. No way because he was with me.

“I hate to talk ill of the dead,” Jazzy slaps her white napkin down on the table, “but the guy was a dick.”

“Nothing to be ashamed of, saying that. Shitty people don’t deserve air to breathe.” Both girls look up at Beau, stunned at his response.

“Beau?” I turn to face him and clutch his shoulder to steady myself.

I’m not sure the question I want to ask him can come out. I know he didn’t physically kill Maxton, but his military file haunts me, and I guarantee he has plenty of strings he can pull if need be.

“Jenni.” Beau kisses me lightly on the forehead. “I love you, and now you don’t have to worry about anything.”

The look in his eye and the tone of his voice answers my question, leaving behind no doubt in my mind what really happened. Beau excuses himself from the table. I watch as he pays the bill and then heads outside to make a phone call.

“My god, his response was downright scary,” Jazzy declares.

“Well, he was right. I don’t care about Maxton, and quite frankly, he deserved more than just being run over.” My mind still doesn’t believe the cold truth of his death.

“So, your Aunt Danielle seems to really love Beau.”

I look right at Lynlee when I respond. “Yes, she does. He’s been over there fixing up stuff for her, and they even played cards the other night.”

“I’m sorry I called her, but, Jenni, I saw you guys in the store that night when he flipped on that guy, and then the bruises, and you disappearing. I mean, you have to understand.”

Leaning in on my elbows, I lay this topic to rest forever. “I don’t understand. I tried telling you it was different, but it’s okay now.”

“I’ll miss you while I’m on the road, Jenni, even if we do fight. I still love you.”

“I love you too, Lynlee, and always will, but I’m right this time.”

“You always think you’re right, Jenni.” Jazzy rolls her eyes. “Okay, are you two pansy asses all good and made up?”

We both shake our heads and do a little group hug before exiting the restaurant. Beau is leaning on the brick wall with his other hand resting on the top of his head. The look on his face doesn’t impress me, and I instantly know something is very, very wrong.

“God damn, he’s hot, Jenni.” Jazzy pulls down her shades to get a better view. “Don’t you assholes dare tell Levi those words left my mouth, but that guy could melt panties.”

Jazzy’s words distract me from what Beau is up to, and I laugh. “Oh, honey, you have no idea how many panties of mine he has melted.”

“Son of a bitch, I’m going to have to Skype-sex Levi tonight.”

“Oh my god, Jazzy, shut the hell up and let’s go. I have lots to finish packing.”

I give each one of the girls a hug goodbye and head in Beau’s direction. His body language scares me to the point of not even wanting to touch him, so I sit in the truck. I can see him from the corner of my eye and fall apart at his reaction. When he hangs up the phone he slides down the wall onto his bottom, collapsing into a ball.

This is when I shove open my door and run to him. Kneeling down, I can feel him shaking, and then I hear the sobs escape him.

“Beau.”

At this point it’s an uncontrollable sound emitting from him. I take the keys from his hand and tug on it. He follows me, and this time it’s me opening the door for him. I drive home and don’t say a word as he stares out the window. I park the car and turn off the ignition.

“My ex-wife and daughter were in a car accident. Ella was killed on impact and my…” Sobs hit him again and he’s not able to speak another word.

I take control of the whole situation. I’ve never felt the urge to help or heal anyone until now.

“Beau, wait here. I’ll be right back.”

I fly up to our apartment and unlock the door with a shaky hand. Throwing the black duffle bag on the bed, I stuff it with clothes, not even looking at the things that land in the bag, and then grab my emergency credit card. I turn down the thermostat and make sure all the lights are off before exiting the apartment. When I return to the truck, Beau is still staring out the window. He must be in shock.

I fire the engine back up and remember the name of his hometown. Rhodes, Iowa. I’m shocked that information popped into my brain. He remains silent and doesn’t even ask a question, and this is when I know he’s really in shock. I pray to God over and over that my Beau will come back to me. I turn up the music and drive.

The interstate is dark and lonely, but I just drive and keep driving until my eyes can’t handle it anymore. It’s been almost five hours, and Beau still hasn’t said a word, or moved for that matter. His phone rang a couple of times before I took it and put it on vibrate. Pulling off the interstate, I spot a Best Western and drive to it. I jump out and head to the front desk.

“Good evening. How can I help you?”

“I just need one room, please.”

“One queen bed or two full size?”

“One bed will be fine.”

The friendly woman continues her barrage of questions as my mind drifts off to what I’m going to do with Beau. He never finished his comment about his daughter, and I’m not sure how to further my investigation of it. But then I don’t have the right to investigate. I just need to be here for him.

“Here you go. Room 212. Second floor on the right.” She slides over two keys with the Wi-Fi code on them.

“Thank you.”

When I step out into the cold air, the truck is gone.

“Jenni.” Beau is standing in the shadows near the building. He’s parked the truck. He points across the street to a liquor store, and I grab his hand and walk over there with him.

“What’s your poison?” I feel awkward talking to him.

“I just want some Crown.”

“Okay, baby.”

I take care of selecting the Crown and buying it. We walk back over, hand in hand, and I feel a bit relaxed knowing he’s okay holding my hand. He carries our bag and opens all the doors for me like the Beau I know. He immediately flops down on the bed and makes a phone call. I give him his space, escaping into the bathroom and starting a hot shower. It seems to be the one thing we do when we don’t know how else to fix a problem.

The water warms super-fast, and I yelp when I scald my hand. I turn it off and go find a vending machine to get some Cokes. I locate the ice bucket and quietly excuse myself from the room. In the pit of my stomach there’s a nasty lump warning me I’ve lost Beau forever.