Page 7 of Never the Same

I went into my bedroom in search of a clean shirt since I’d only put on new workout shorts after my post-sauna shower. When I returned to the living room in a white tee with my sunglasses hooked to the front, Ranger was sitting there waiting for me, his leash on the floor in front of him.

“Good boy.” I clipped it to his harness and shoved one of those doggy-shit bags into my pocket, and we went outside and walked to Alex and Audrey’s home.

Every house in our community was either a brick ranch or a two-story with a wraparound front porch sitting on at least a half acre of property.

Oak trees, southern magnolias, and crepe myrtles made up the landscape. Kids were already outside, laughing and playing in front yard sprinklers to escape the early-morning heat. This was a sharp contrast to the environment I’d grown up in, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever get used to it.

Ranger took a piss on the neighbor’s mailbox next door to Alex’s house just as Chase came running down his front porch steps.

“Ranger!” Chase called out, acting as though he hadn’t just dog sat the last two days while I was in Panama.

“Feel like going to the park with us?” I asked Chase as he scratched Ranger behind the ears before he flopped over to get his belly rubbed.

“Of course.” Chase patted the side of his leg, and Ranger switched to all fours at the order.

“Where are your parents?”

“Doing something in their bedroom. I don’t know. Hanging a picture, maybe? Heard some banging.”

I about choked on my own saliva, knowing exactly what the newlyweds were doing. “Let me text them that you’re coming with me.”

I handed him the leash, but before I had a chance to send a message, both Alex and Audrey came outside and started our way.

“We’re going to the park,” Chase told them, and I subtly signaled to Alex that his fly was down.

“Get that picture hung?” I removed my shades from my shirt and hid my eyes.

Alex zipped up his cargo shorts and cleared his throat. “We did.”

“Nailed really good?” Chase turned to his stepdad, and Audrey patted her chest as if she needed to restart her heart at her son’s question.

Yeah, I didn’t envy being a parent. I’d also probably never find out what it was like to be one.

“Picture is up. Yup.” Alex held Audrey’s hand. “We’ll join you.”

“How’s the morning sickness?” I deflected instead of making a joke since Chase was there.

“Gone, thank goodness,” she answered as we headed for the park, which was just outside the neighborhood. “And before you ask, like you normally do every week . . .” She chuckled. “No, we haven’t changed our minds about knowing if we’re having a boy or a girl.”

I shot Alex a look before facing forward, knowing that we was more of an I.

No Tier One operator wanted to go into any situation without every detail mapped out. Being prepared for everything was an understatement when it came to us.

Though I doubted Alex had ever prepared himself for marrying our team leader’s sister—a sister Ryder had only found out existed this past Christmas.

“Anyway.” Audrey glanced at me once we’d entered the park and winked, letting me know to change the subject. “How’s your dad?”

I immediately turned to face Alex, because there was only one way his wife knew my dad wasn’t doing well. “I told you about his condition in passing, not wanting anyone to know.”

“In passing?” Alex’s brow furrowed. “You can’t be serious.”

“This is why I never talk about myself.” I hadn’t meant to say that out loud, but it was the truth.

It was my life. My past, full of ugliness and regret. No one else’s.

“She’s my wife. I didn’t think—”

“I’ll remember to keep my mouth shut.” My bitterness and anger had nothing to do with him, but I needed a target for my frustrations, and he was right in front of me.