Page 34 of Finding Lexie
More than that, she knew that her time with Midas was coming to an end. He’d go back to Hawaii with his team, and she’d be on her own once more.
For the first time ever, Lexie wasn’t happy with her solitary lifestyle. When she’d first joined Food For All, she’d been thrilled to get away from her dad and his snide remarks and his constant belittling comments. She’d enjoyed living by herself and not having to answer to anyone. But now she understood she literally had no one who would be worried about her. No one to know or care if she disappeared off the face of the Earth.
Being kidnapped had brought home just how alone she truly was. And it sucked.
She loved the closeness Midas seemed to have with his friends, and hearing about Mustang and his wife made a visceral longing rise up within her. She wanted that closeness but had no idea how to get it. With friends or with a man.
And it sucked even more that she felt such a connection with Midas. She wanted to think he felt it too. That kiss they’d shared had literally rocked her world. But they hadn’t had time to talk about what it meant…if it meant anything at all. It could’ve just been the situation.
Midas had given her a set of noise-canceling headphones to wear in the helicopter, but they weren’t connected to the rest, so she had no idea what the others were talking about. Midas tapped her on the shoulder and pointed out the small window, and she sat up straighter to look outside and caught a glimpse of a huge Navy ship. It was dark outside, but the lights on the ship were like a welcoming beacon. The chopper turned and began to drop elevation, and Lexie steeled herself.
This was it. They’d land, and she’d have to say goodbye to Midas.
She wasn’t ready.
But ready or not, the helicopter slowed as it descended to the deck of the ship.
Lexie started badly when Midas put his hand on her thigh. They still couldn’t talk because of the noise, but when she looked over at him, he smiled and nodded.
It was a little pathetic how much that simple touch meant. Lexie wasn’t a touchy-feely person. How could she be when she’d been single for so long? But after spending the day plastered against Midas, she was beginning to see why people craved human touch so much.
The chopper landed without much fuss and Lexie winced at the bright lights shining inside the interior through the open door. Midas helped her take off the headphones, then Slate and Jag held out their hands, assisting her to climb out of the machine.
A woman was there to greet her. “On behalf of the USS Nimitz and all her crew, welcome home, Lexie,” she said.
“Um…thanks,” Lexie mumbled.
“I’ve been ordered to bring you straight to the infirmary so you can be looked over. Don’t worry, you’re safe now.”
Lexie nodded. She’d expected to wait for Midas and his team to exit the helicopter, but the woman gestured in front of her and said, “After you.”
Without a choice, Lexie headed in the direction the woman had indicated. She looked back to see if Midas was coming too, but saw he was preoccupied talking with his team and the other Naval officials who had greeted the chopper. He didn’t even look over as she walked away.
Lexie felt off-kilter and nervous, now that Midas wasn’t with her. It was stupid. This was an American ship and the woman escorting her to the infirmary was gracious and nice. But she’d hoped to at least get to say goodbye to Midas. To thank him again. To tell him…
She wasn’t sure what she wanted to say.
Her escort held open a thick steel door and Lexie stepped over the threshold. She winced as it clanged shut behind them. The sound was loud and final.
That was that. Midas would head back to Hawaii with his team and she’d…
She wasn’t sure what she would do next.
Once inside the ship, the woman stepped in front of her and led Lexie down several staircases and hallways until she was hopelessly lost. There was no way she’d be able to find her way back up to the deck…not without a lot of help.
As she walked, the woman chattered about nothing in particular, pointing out things like where the enlisted and officers ate, and the break rooms. Everyone they encountered nodded respectfully as they passed, but the farther they got from the chopper, and the SEALs, the more self-conscious Lexie became. She knew she looked rough. Her hair was probably sticking up in its usual unruly way, her scrubs were filthy from sweat and dirt, and she wore Shermake’s too-big sneakers on her feet. All the sailors she passed were dressed in immaculately pressed uniforms.
Finally, they arrived at a door bearing a big red cross. They entered the infirmary and her escort gestured to a table toward the back of the room. The room was empty except for them, and for some reason that made Lexie feel even more self-conscious. She’d never been comfortable being the center of attention.
“Go ahead and sit there,” the woman said. “The doctor’s been notified that you’re here, so I’m sure he’ll be arriving soon.”
“I don’t want to be a bother,” Lexie said.
The woman’s brows furrowed as if she was confused. “A bother?” she asked.
“Yeah. If the doctor was sleeping or something, I could’ve waited until the morning to see him. All I need is a place to sleep.”
The sailor shook her head. “Lexie, you were a hostage. You need to be seen right away. Besides, it’s his job.”
