Free Code 3: Finding Safety by V.E. Avance

horse in the mouth.   
    “So, what brings you to Austin?”  Travis questions before taking a long pull on his Bud Ice.
    Leanna looks toward James.  She doesn’t know what he’s told Travis and Wyatt, if anything.  On top of that, she doesn’t want to share her past with strangers. 
    James’ eyes indicate that he’s told the boys nothing about her past.  “Well,” she looks back toward them, “I just wanted a change from the life that I had.  I didn’t have anything tying me down in Georgia, so why not?”
    “Hmm, a Georgia peach,” Wyatt says while wiggling his eyebrows.  “Oww,” he jumps.  “Why’d you kick me, James?”
    Leanna giggles at Wyatt.  He reminds her of a pubescent boy; horny as hell yet funny too.
    “How did you get from Georgia to here,” Travis inquires.  “I mean, of all the awesome places in the United States, why Austin, Texas?”
    Leanna takes a very long swig of her beer and swallows hard.  “Well, when I got to the bus station, I didn’t have many destinations to choose from and I don’t think I’d fare well in a large city.  Austin was on the board and I jumped on it.  It’s been the best decision I’ve ever made.”  She smiles as she looks over at James.
    “And I’m glad she picked Texas or else I’d never have met her,” James kisses Leanna on her cheek.
    “Gag,” Wyatt says making the motions of gagging himself with a knife.  “What is it with falling in love?  It’s like a man falls in love and he loses his balls.”
    Another kick under the table makes him jump.  “What the fuck!  Quit doing that shit.  You’re going to break my fucking shin and then how will I work?”
    The table erupts in laughter at Wyatt’s pain.  “What do you two do for a living?”  Leanna asks once the laughter dies down.
    “I’m a sharp shooter for the SWAT team.  Best career choice I’ve ever made.  All the girls practically throw themselves at me.”  Wyatt’s response was loaded with pride and joy.  Clearly he’s the man-whore in the friendship and doesn’t feel ashamed by it in the slightest. 
    Travis rolls his eyes at his buddy’s choice of words.  “I’m a firefighter for the Austin Fire Department.”
    Leanna decides to join in with the sexy talk.  “Oh, with careers like that, I’m sure you have pussy thrown at the both of you left and right.” 
    James sits back in his chair while Travis stares at her as if she grew a second head.  Wyatt, after his initial shock wore off, hoots and laughs and slaps the table.  “Holy shit man, I love this girl already.  She’s a lot better than that dick sucking bitch you married, James.” 
    “Oh, you mean that Douche Puddle?”  Leanna adds in on the nicknames for Rebecca.  Her face changes multiple shades of red at her nickname for her. 
    The table erupts in laughter again, this time causing the guys to wipe their faces of tears.  Leanna, the only one with self-control, waves down the waitress and shakes her bottle in the air to indicates that they’d like another round.
    “You better hold on to this pretty little thing, James, because if you don’t, I’m going to snatch her sassy ass up,” Wyatt adds before finishing off his beer.
    James wraps his arm around her and brings her close to him for a kiss.  “Oh, I don’t plan on ever letting her go.  She’s the best thing to ever happen to me.”  He says the words, never taking his eyes off of Leanna. 
    Alabama’s song, God Must’ve Spent a Little More Time on You, begins to play through the speakers just as the waitress drops their drinks off.  Leanna picks her up to take a pull when James grabs it from her hand and pulls her up.  “Let’s dance,” he whispers as he guides her to the dance floor. 
    Their bodies sway together.  Her head rests on his chest with arms around his neck.  He pulls her close to him.  He softly sings the lyrics in her ears.  “…your love is like a river, peaceful and deep…when I look in