Free Obsessions: A Monster Squad Novel 7 by Heath Stallcup

“Have a seat, John.”
    “No, I’ve taken a knee enough in this. All I want is a chance to talk with her. Find out what happened. Try to…I dunno, connect with her somehow.”
    Spalding nodded, his desire to be sympathetic diminished by the loss of Apollo. “I wish I knew what to tell you. Really, I do. All I can say is for you to be patient. She’ll come to you when she’s ready.”
    “That’s horse shit and you know it.” He began pacing again. “She’s wrapped up in this Jack guy now, and he’s got every moment of her time claimed.”
    “She hasn’t been here long enough for you to say that.”
    “Long enough.” John stopped and clenched his teeth. “All I’m saying is that it isn’t right that he monopolizes her time like this.”
    “And I’m trying to tell you that he isn’t. He just has a lot of work to do and little time to get it done.” Spalding stood and stepped in front of John’s pacing. “Are you listening?”
    “Of course I am. I just don’t accept it.”
    “Well you better.” Spalding pointed toward the door. “Because if you push too hard on this, you’re likely to push her away and never get her back.”
    John stared at Spalding, his mind racing, but the words sinking in. He fell onto the couch and held his head in his hands. “I feel responsible.”
    “Don’t.” Spalding clapped him on the back. “Dude, you were what, ten years old when she disappeared? Try to accept the fact that she’s back and she’s alive and well and you will get the chance to catch up, but not until she’s ready.”
    John looked up at him and smirked. “Alive and well? Bad choice of words there, boss man.”
    Spalding smirked. “You know what I mean. At least she’s back, bud. That’s a whole lot more than most of us get.”
    John had to agree. “So…patience?”
    “Patience.”
    “Can I get a double order of it? Yesterday?”
    Spalding shook his head. “Doesn’t work that way, buddy.”
     
    *****
     
    “So this is my room? Hmm.” Jenny looked around the small quarters and wrinkled her nose.
    “I’m sorry. It’s the best we can do on short notice. And trust me, it’s a lot nicer than most of the other quarters. This is officer quarters. You should see what the enlisted men get.” He offered a wan smile and shrugged.
    Jenny turned and gave him her best sultry smile. “And where is yours ?”
    “Mine? Oh, you mean…uh, my quarters?” Mitchell suddenly felt as though the ventilation system had failed and the hallway had gotten hotter. “I, uh…I mostly stay in my office, but I do have a room similar to this. It’s just a bed and wardrobe where I keep spare uniforms.”
    Jenny withdrew and gave him a curious look. “Really? You’re like…the boss here…and you don’t live in the lap of luxury?”
    Mitchell snorted a laugh and shook his head. “No, no luxury.” He ushered her inside and pushed the door shut behind him. She sat on the bed and he pulled up a chair. “We live pretty basic here. Our quarters are really just places to sleep and keep clothes. We’re usually too busy to…well…I mean, there is married housing on the base, but…”
    He stumbled as he tried to find some redeeming quality to the life he led. He sighed heavily and leaned back in the chair. “Up until you, I never had a need for any of that. My job was my life and as long as I had a roof over my head, food on the table, and a clean uniform to put on, I had my needs met.”
    “That sounds like a bleak existence.” She reached a tentative hand out and rubbed at his arm. “It sounds lonely.”
    Mitchell shook his head. “No, not really. My men were my family. All of my people are. We’re a small enough outfit here that I know them all by name. All the way down to the cooks in the kitchen.”
    Jenny smiled. “You should definitely make a point of getting to know them.” She winked at him.
    “Yeah, well, to somebody on the outside looking in, it might seem lonely, but we stay pretty busy.