Page 18 of Army
“I was in the area and wanted to talk to you,” he answered in a low voice.
“Why didn’t you wait outside the gym instead of lurking in the parking lot?” She opened the car door. “I’m really beat tonight. What did you want to talk about?” A small frown furrowed her brow. She’d broken up with Jorge over five months ago, and he didn’t want to admit it was over.
“My mom wanted me to ask you to come over on Saturday for my parents’ anniversary party. They’re celebrating twenty-five years.”
“That’s a long time. Good for them.” A wide smile cracked Jorge’s face. Mia meant it. If a married couple made it past five years, that was amazing, but twenty-five years?Thatwas a miracle.
“Can you go? My parents would love it if you came.” The plea in Jorge’s voice reminded her why she dumped him.
She threw her gym bag on the passenger seat. “I’ve already got plans for Saturday.” The way he hung his head down made her feel guilty even though she had no reason to. Jorge was famous for making her feel bad about things she shouldn’t.Just like good old Mom.Turning to him, she sighed. “Look, we’re broken up.”
“But we can be friends,” he said.
“We can’t. I mean,Ican’t. I’m not the type to be friendly with my exes. I just move on. It eliminates a lot of drama down the road, you know? You’re a great guy who deserves a woman who is into setting up house, making babies, and playing wife-of-the-year. I’msonot that person. You know that.” Jorge just stared at her, his mouth turned downward. “I have to go. Tell your parents thanks for the invite. Bye, Jorge.” She slipped into the car, started the engine, and drove out of the parking lot. In her rearview mirror, she saw him standing on the sidewalk, watching her, until she turned the corner.
Mia pounded the steering wheel. “Why can’t Jorge move the fuck on? Men are a major pain in the ass,” she said aloud. Army’s face pushed into her mind. “And he’s the biggest one of all.” She turned on the radio and cranked it all the way up as she drove to her townhouse.
* * *
“Will you pleasecall Peyton back? She’s bugging the crap out of me,” Ronica said as she sat in the salon chair at Mia’s booth.
Mia, checking the timer she’d set for her client, shook her head. “I’ll call her when I have a minute to breathe. I’ve had back-to-back clients all day. My last one is at seven thirty. What does she want anyway?”
Ronica picked up one of Mia’s hairstyling magazines and thumbed through it. “Something stupid. She’s drooling and desperate over that guy. I can’t remember his name. Something military sounding.”
Mia froze, her insides clenching. “Army?” she said in a small voice.
“That’s it. I guess she went by the gym this morning thinking you’d be there and saw him. She wants to know when you’re going so she can get you to ask Taylor if the four of you can go out for a drink or something. I can’t believe the way she’s carrying on about him. He’s good-looking, but he’s not the only handsome man in Durango.”
“Army’s at Champion?” Fierce licks of excitement leapt through her.
Ronica looked up, her gaze fixed on Mia. “Are you glad he’s here?”
Mia turned away and pretended to be engrossed in the hair dye mixing bowls. “You know I’m not interested in him. Oh … I forgot to tell you that Jorge was waiting for me in the gym’s parking lot last night. Why can’t he just move the fuck on?”
“You need to be firmer with him. Tell him …”
Mia smiled knowing Ronica loved giving advice. As her friend rambled on, Mia dwelled on the news that Army was back. Her brain told her body to stop humming with anticipation but it wouldn’t listen. Her phone’s ringtone interrupted Ronica’s monologue, and a startled Mia dropped the bowls on the tile floor. “Crap,” she muttered.
“I’ll get them,” Ronica said, sliding out of the chair. “If it’s Peyton, do me a favor and answer it.”
Peyton’s name flashed across the screen, and Mia put the phone to her ear.
“Finally! I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for the last few hours. Didn’t Ronica tell you?”
“She just now mentioned it. We’ve both been crazy busy today.”
“Did she tell you why I was calling?” Peyton’s voiced pitched higher.
“It’s about Taylor’s brother. He’s at Champion.” Mia took the bowls from Ronica and mouthed “thank you” to her.
“I’m begging you to set up an outing with you, me, and Taylor, and ask him to bring Army along. From what I’ve heard, he’s not seeing anyone.”
“Maybe not just one woman, but I’ll bet my month’s income that he’s seeing a bunch. Do you really want someone like that, Peyton? Can’t you find a nice guy at work?”
“Are you joking? I’m a nail tech. Almost all my customers are women. The rest are gay men or straight and married. Worst job to meet men … ever. I’ve never been this close to meeting a guy like Army. Those kinds of guys just blitz right past me without even giving me afirstlook. I just want to see how it feels to have all the women envy me. Just for one night.”
The timer went off and Mia glanced at her client who sat with three outer-space-looking heat lamps positioned around her head. She ran her teeth over the bottom corner of her lip.
