 “What do you mean no?” Kyle shouted. “How many letters does no have? How hard is it to get the meaning?” Daniel stood on the opposite side of their apartment, shouting back. “I’ve worked hard, for weeks, nothing but work, and I’ve learned everything. Frankly, I’ve learned it damn well.” “Oh, for fuck’s sake, Kyle! You’re barely out of the shooting yourself in the foot phase. A mission is out of the question. You’re not ready!” “If it were up to you, I’d never be ready,” Kyle shot back. Daniel had no comeback, since it was true. “No,” he ground out. “Yes!” Kyle stepped up into his space, fists clenched. “What am I supposed to do, sit here and wonder if you’ll come back?” “You know how to use the locks.” He was losing this argument and he knew it. “How am I supposed to get experience if I stay here or in the barracks forever?” “Kyle—” “Keller didn’t have a problem with me going.” “He said it was up to me.” The thought of Kyle in harm’s way made Daniel’s blood run cold. Yet he had no real argument for him not going on this mission. “I have to start somewhere. I want to help and learn. You promised to teach me.” Kyle’s voice had softened to that tone that simply made Daniel’s insides want to melt. Taking a few steps forward, Kyle brushed his fingertips from Daniel’s shoulder to the back of his hand. “Nothing bad will happen to me. You’ve been too good a teacher. I’ll listen to you.” Pulling away, Daniel turned his back on Kyle and walked to the door. He should have never told Kyle about how a friend—his best friend back then, another kid off the street—long ago hadn’t listened and died. “I’m safe with you. I want to give some of that back, repay you and all the others who’ve helped me.” Drawing in a deep breath, Daniel’s chin dropped to his chest. Turning on his heel he lifted his chin and glared at Kyle. “Fine. But there are rules and you will follow them to the letter.” Damn annoying kid was smiling. “Of course.” “You do everything I say, when I say it, and no backtalk.” Extending his arm at Kyle, he went on. “See this, how long my arm is? You get more than an inch farther from me than the length of my arm and so help me, I’ll—” “Yeah, yeah, I know, you’ll damn well shoot me yourself… twice.” Kyle rolled his eyes, crossed both arms over his chest, and smiled. Daniel ground his teeth. Gaze dropping to below Daniel’s belt, Kyle added, “What is it with you and the guns anyway? Is it some kind of compensation thing? ’Cause, seriously, dude, I’ve shared a bed with you since I got here. Not much a guy can keep secret. Really, you don’t have anything to worry about.” Daniel opened his mouth, shut it, and squinted at Kyle. He huffed and grabbed his pack. “I mean it, Kyle. Don’t cross me on this.” He stalked to the door, stopping with his hand resting on the knob. “See, you already can’t follow simple directions.” Storming back to Kyle, he fisted the boy’s shirt and yanked him along. “No… farther… than… my arm!” Dragging Kyle to the door, he opened it and shoved the kid out. Whooping, Kyle sprinted down the stairs three at a time. Daniel Shanks didn’t pick up strays off the street. He really didn’t let them move in with him and take over his life. What he certainly didn’t do was fall in love with them. Except he totally had. Strays is available in eBook, through Kindle Unlimited and your local library digital catalog.     Comments are closed.
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