“I did a lot of travel. Wherever the US had interests or troops on the ground. The MREs were standard-issue—just in case.”
“Was a gun standard-issue?”
“Uh …”
“You don’t have to answer,” she assured him. “I understand more than you know. My brother has a high-level security clearance.”
He heard what sounded like irritation in her delivery. Irritation laced with aggravation.
“I know thirty isn’t old, but he’s been at this Army thing for a decade. He likes what he’s doing, but the guy has no regular friends and zero social life. It’s not healthy. Everyone needs human contact, whether they admit it or not. He wants a family but won’t say so out loud because he thinks it makes him sound unpatriotic or some such rubbish.”
“How’s it unpatriotic?”
“Did you hear what I said? He has no regular friends. Nobody who isn’t military. If he’s serious about a house and a wife and a family and a dog, he’s gonna have to do it in the real world.”
Her irritation turned him on. The lady had strong opinions.
“Oh.” He chuckled. “Duh. Sorry. I get it now.”
“Finish your sandwich. I need to move.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He saluted and shoved what was left of the breakfast food into his mouth. “There. All gone.”
She wasn’t kidding about needing to move. In the blink of an eye, she threw their trash away and manically gestured at him to get a move on. They were headed up into the hills for a morning hike after a stop at her apartment for a change of clothes.
Instead of his granddad’s Tesla, he worked a deal with Aunt Lou to borrow her funkified Tiffany blue, soft top Jeep. He could have done without the bright color, but Summer was enchanted.
“I love a soft top,” she gushed with appreciation as he held her door open. “Can we open it?”
“Luckily, my aunt likes convenience,” he said in an amused tone. “She got the one-touch option, so yes. With the push of a button, we can pull back the top.”
It didn’t take long to arrive at her apartment building. On the way into the courtyard, they passed a petite Asian woman who smiled broadly when she said hello.
“Ohayō, Summer. Another beautiful day!”
Summer matched the happy woman’s broad smile. “Ohayō, Mrs. Hayashi. Taking Chicklet for a walk?” She gestured to a small ball of fluff masquerading as a dog sitting patiently on the end of a leash.
“She’s taking me,” the woman drawled. “My husband has the sniffles. He’s driving me crazy,” she added while subjecting Arnie to a thorough appraisal. “And who is this, Summer?”
The woman’s question sounded more like “is everything okay?” He glanced down at Summer at the same moment she raised her chin to look at him. She wasn’t more than five-seven in bare feet, and even with the lift of her wedge sandals, she still barely topped his shoulder.
He saw a mischievous twinkle in her eyes but kept a straight face. Somehow, he knew she wanted him to play along.
“Oh yes, well, this is Mr. Magnum. I found him on Craig’s List.”
Magnum? Oh god, how the hell was he keeping a straight face?
“It’s my day off, and I’m off to hike the hills. Mr. Magnum is my personal Sherpa. He’ll carry everything so I can enjoy the activity. Best money I ever spent.”
Mrs. Hayashi looked him over one more time and grinned. “Pleased to meet you, Mr. Magnum.”
He nodded once but stayed silent.
To Summer, the little Asian woman snickered. “Do you think Craig’s List has any more like him?”
They made sounds he recognized—the ones usually filling the hallways at NIGHTWIND when Dottie, Izzy, and Aliyah got going and were mocking the gruffer sex.
For bonus points, Summer and her neighbor friend gave each other a fist bump.
Like a good Sherpa, he shuffled behind Summer, following along to her apartment door. They noticed a note taped to her patio greenhouse at the same time.
“Oh, dear.” She ripped the note down and read it aloud. “Dear number five. Hope you don’t mind, but I helped myself to a few basil leaves and two small tomatoes. Stop by and I’ll make you a to-go box of pita pizza. Signed, number 8.”
“Pita pizza?” he asked.
“Yeah, whatever.” She scrunched up the note, and snarled, “Hope you don’t mind? What does that even mean after the fact? I’m fine with sharing but come on.”
He looked at the cheaply made greenhouse and thought of his granddad and father. They had impressive green thumb abilities. One had a flower farm and the other