Page 60 of Loving a Warrior

With a troubled glance at Shane, Derek strode up to the counter, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket.

Matt elbowed him. “Why is it so hard for you to just be pleasant and enjoy a night at the baseball game?”

“And why is it so hard for you to mind your own business?” Shane burst out, rounding on him. “You know fuck-all about what Alexis has been through, so one thing you don’t get to do is judge me for being protective of her.”

“Yeah, you’re right. I don’t know what she’s been through.” Matt paused for a beat. “Just like you don’t know what Derek has been through. It works both ways, Shane. Like it or not.”

He started to move off and Shane grabbed his arm, jerking him to a halt. “So after an hour with the guy, you’re his best friend now?” He ignored the way Matt glanced pointedly down at Shane’s hand on his biceps. “You’re just gonna blindly defend him to me? Why?”

Matt shook him off roughly. “You wanna know why? Because I’ve been where he is, and I wouldn’t be here now if someone hadn’t thought maybe there was something more to me than a goddamn mistake.”

He strode off to help Derek juggle the hot dogs and drinks, leaving Shane numb with shock. What was Matt saying, that he was an addict? That wasn’t possible. There was no way he could join the Navy, much less the SEALs, with any sort of drug history.

He had to be fucking with him. He had to be.

As he stood frozen, Matt and Derek approached with their hands full of food and cups of soda.

“I would’ve bought you both a beer,” Derek was saying, a faintly apologetic tone to his voice, “but I—”

“No, it’s fine,” Matt interrupted. “Shane’s driving and I don’t drink. It’s all good, man. Thanks.”

Derek thrust a Coke at him and Shane took it automatically, his mind racing. Shit. Matt didn’t drink. He’d said he didn’t like the way it made him feel, so Shane had just assumed he was a health nut who didn’t want to put anything like that into his body. But what if there was more to it than that?

Curiosity about Matt and what made him tick overtook Shane’s determination to remain aloof, so when they found their seats and settled in, he turned to Derek. “Thanks for the food. And for coming out tonight,” he said, proud that he didn’t sound as insincere as he felt.

Derek’s expression said he wasn’t fooled in the least. “I know you’re busy, and that Alexis made you call me, but I still appreciate you asking me.” After a short pause, he went on tentatively, “So are you a Miami fan, Shane?”

“Fuck, no. That owner is a prick.”

“I know, right? I heard one of his own season ticket holders is suing him.”

That led into a spirited discussion about baseball scandals past and present, and by the time they wound down and turned their attention to the field, the game was well into the fifth inning. Shane ignored Matt’s smirk.

Talking to the dude about baseball didn’t mean he liked him. Whatever.

“You guys wanna head out and beat the traffic?” Shane asked at the seventh inning stretch, relieved when both Derek and Matt agreed. Thankfully this awkward fucking night was on its way to being over.

Matt suggested they stop for coffee, so Shane pulled over into the first Starbucks he saw. Drinks in hand, they found a table on the patio and sprawled out.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve had a guys’ night,” Derek said at last. “Most of my friends don’t come around anymore.”

“Because they were drug friends?”

Derek’s eyes widened at Matt’s blunt question.

“Uh—”

“He’s like this with everyone,” Shane said drily. “Feel free to ignore him.”

“No, it’s okay. I brought it up.” Derek chuckled when Matt flipped Shane off. “Yeah, pretty much. It’s amazing how fast your new best friends disappear when you stop being the life of the party.”

“I hear that. Or when they call you just because they need a designated driver.”

Derek regarded him for a moment. “You said you don’t drink. Ever or anymore?”

Matt hesitated. He glanced at down at the table, then over at Derek, lips tight. “Anymore.”

“Are you an alcoholic, Matt?”