Mended Hearts (New Beginnings Series) Read Free Page A

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    Later that evening, Sonny was stretched out in Trace’s living room, in Trace’s recliner, with his throbbing knee elevated—and feeling kind of guilty about it. He, Scott and Declan—teaching assistants and friends of Meg’s from the SDDI—were engrossed in a Padres game while Meg and Tobi were chatting out on the deck—like they didn’t work together and talk to each other all day every day. What did women find to talk about all the time?
    Things hadn’t been awkward at all with Tobi. She was that kind of girl—easy and drama-free. It was hard to find a woman like that and he wished, a little regretfully, that he’d had more of a connection with her. They’d had a lot of fun together, but you couldn’t force feelings that weren’t there. He’d learned, from watching Trace fall for Meg, that when it was something special you’d know pretty quickly. He’d always kind of let himself fall in “intense like” easily. When he was with someone, he threw himself in wholeheartedly. But, it had never worked out and he was beginning to wish he’d meet someone who would. It would be nice to have someone to come home to.
    It took a special woman to marry into the team, though. He was surrounded by those kinds of women in his life, right now. They were taking good care of him and he knew they cared about him—but he also knew they were doing it because their husbands were so far away and they had that need to nurture. It didn’t make him any less grateful, though.
    Meg came through the sliding door with her phone to her ear. She caught Sonny’s eye. “Sonny! It’s Trace!” She handed the phone to him.
    “ McKenna? Hey, buddy! How’re things going over there?” Sonny asked eagerly.
    “A ccording to plan. How ‘bout you? Meg said a couple more weeks ‘til rehab.”
    “Yeah. It’s hard to feel sorry for myself, though, when I’m sitting here in your recliner watching the Padres on your big screen with a belly full of Meg’s meatloaf,” he laughed. “Wish you were here, dude . . . or I was there, working with you guys.”
    “I know. We’re doing okay, but it’s not the same with you gone.” Trace’s voice got real serious. “Dude, when that explosion went off and you went flying , I thought . . .” He wouldn’t let himself finish that statement. Then he chuckled. “But then you popped up from behind that boulder, like that arcade game—Whack-A-Mole—all covered in soot and debris. The only thing we could see that wasn’t black or mud-splattered was the whites of your eyes and the bursts from your M4 blazing as you gimped over to the helo.”
    “Yeah , wish I could have seen it from your vantage point too. Hey, I don’t suppose you guys went back up there to find my sunglasses, did you? Blew right off my face. Man, I hate to think some Taliban scumbag is up there wearing my favorite sunglasses,” Sonny said with a chuckle. “So are you guys headed out today?” He knew they were approximately a half-day ahead of San Diego time, so the team’s day was just beginning, while his was ending. He wanted to ask more questions about the missions he’d missed, but he understood he couldn’t. They couldn’t talk about any of that.
    “We’re on standby. Don’t know yet if we’re headed out.” Enough said.
    “Well . . . watch your backs and get back safe. I’m putting Meg back on. She’ll be more fun for you talk to than I am,” Sonny added as he glanced at Meg with a twinkle in his eye. She’d been hovering, waiting for her turn again.
    After Sonny handed the cell back off to her, she headed back toward their bedroom so she could talk with Trace more privately. Tobi had come back into the house and sat down on the arm of his chair to catch up with him. He spent the rest of the evening hanging out and visiting with her, Meg and the guys, and by the time he got home and went to bed, he was feeling better about things—and a little less sorry for