on three-week rotations, so I’ll be in a new area next week.”
“So this is where the Marines are cared for?”
“And dependents. Families,” she corrected when Skye gave her a huh? face. “Spouses and children are referred to as dependents.”
Skye wasn’t a fan of that. It seemed like such a… demeaning way to refer to someone’s family. “I don’t like the thought of being dependent on someone. Seems so… nineteen fifties.”
“Just a word. Doesn’t have to mean anything,” Madison reminded her.
Apparently this was just one of those things Skye needed to get over, since there was no changing it.
“Now if you follow this road straight down, you’ll hit the commissary and the exchange. Basically the grocery store and the shopping center. Tax-free shopping. It won’t have everything you want, but it usually has the basics and can be way cheaper than shopping in town.” She made a left turn at a light instead of driving straight.
“Where are we heading now?”
“Oh, I thought we’d stop by Tim’s battalion, see if he’s in his office. Maybe say hi to Dwayne. And Jeremy too, I guess.” Madison’s fingers drummed on the steering wheel. If Skye didn’t know better, she’d think her friend was nervous. But that wasn’t possible. She’d been here a million times. Maybe just too much bottled energy.
A ball of lead settled heavily in Skye’s stomach. She glanced down at the thin blouse and lightweight gypsy skirt she wore to combat the dry heat. Her flip-flops were cute and adorned with jewels, but definitely nothing nice.
Madison, on the other hand, looked easy and simple in a pair of dark jeans, cap-sleeve brown shirt, and brown flats. Suddenly, although the outfit didn’t appeal to Skye, it seemed like a much better option. And she felt very out of place.
“Um, are you sure that’s a good idea? He might be busy or something.”
“Maybe. But we’re right here, and if he is busy I can still give you a tour of the building. Though some areas are restricted, a lot of it is just office buildings, so we can roam around.”
She opened her mouth to argue but realized it was fruitless. Madison was already pulling into a parking lot filled with cars. The building was long and all-brick, and a tank that looked like it might have been used in World War I was sitting off to the side in a grassy area, roped off with signs stating it was definitely not a toy. After squeezing the car into a spot, they walked inside. Marines passed by, some nodding to Madison. Many gave Skye an assessing glance, like she was an oddity in the day.
Well, at least her shoes were cute.
Madison led her up a flight of stairs to a long hallway, down to the end, and opened the door. The scene could have been any normal outer office in corporate America. Minus the imposing guys in camouflage, that is. Desks sat cubicle-style around the large, open room. Phones rang, people swiveled in chairs, fingers flew over keyboards. A copy machine that sounded like it was on its last leg ran in one corner. It was a beehive of activity.
Bam!
The heavy door slammed behind Skye, and all heads turned their way. It was the dream where you went to high school naked all over again. She had never felt so conspicuous.
“Hey, guys.” Madison acted like it was no big deal being stared at by twenty men in uniform. Though being in the military herself, it likely wasn’t. “Is my brother around?”
“He left for lunch a bit ago with Robertson and Phillips. Should be back soon,” one Marine answered Madison. But his eyes never left Skye. She might have taken the attention as a compliment, if the kid looked old enough to shave. But she was pretty sure attraction wasn’t his main reason for the double-glance.
“We’ll wait in his office then.” And with that, Madison wrapped one hand around Skye’s arm and tugged her into a room off to the side.
After shutting the door carefully behind them, Madison sighed. “Sorry, I thought most of
“So this is where the Marines are cared for?”
“And dependents. Families,” she corrected when Skye gave her a huh? face. “Spouses and children are referred to as dependents.”
Skye wasn’t a fan of that. It seemed like such a… demeaning way to refer to someone’s family. “I don’t like the thought of being dependent on someone. Seems so… nineteen fifties.”
“Just a word. Doesn’t have to mean anything,” Madison reminded her.
Apparently this was just one of those things Skye needed to get over, since there was no changing it.
“Now if you follow this road straight down, you’ll hit the commissary and the exchange. Basically the grocery store and the shopping center. Tax-free shopping. It won’t have everything you want, but it usually has the basics and can be way cheaper than shopping in town.” She made a left turn at a light instead of driving straight.
“Where are we heading now?”
“Oh, I thought we’d stop by Tim’s battalion, see if he’s in his office. Maybe say hi to Dwayne. And Jeremy too, I guess.” Madison’s fingers drummed on the steering wheel. If Skye didn’t know better, she’d think her friend was nervous. But that wasn’t possible. She’d been here a million times. Maybe just too much bottled energy.
A ball of lead settled heavily in Skye’s stomach. She glanced down at the thin blouse and lightweight gypsy skirt she wore to combat the dry heat. Her flip-flops were cute and adorned with jewels, but definitely nothing nice.
Madison, on the other hand, looked easy and simple in a pair of dark jeans, cap-sleeve brown shirt, and brown flats. Suddenly, although the outfit didn’t appeal to Skye, it seemed like a much better option. And she felt very out of place.
“Um, are you sure that’s a good idea? He might be busy or something.”
“Maybe. But we’re right here, and if he is busy I can still give you a tour of the building. Though some areas are restricted, a lot of it is just office buildings, so we can roam around.”
She opened her mouth to argue but realized it was fruitless. Madison was already pulling into a parking lot filled with cars. The building was long and all-brick, and a tank that looked like it might have been used in World War I was sitting off to the side in a grassy area, roped off with signs stating it was definitely not a toy. After squeezing the car into a spot, they walked inside. Marines passed by, some nodding to Madison. Many gave Skye an assessing glance, like she was an oddity in the day.
Well, at least her shoes were cute.
Madison led her up a flight of stairs to a long hallway, down to the end, and opened the door. The scene could have been any normal outer office in corporate America. Minus the imposing guys in camouflage, that is. Desks sat cubicle-style around the large, open room. Phones rang, people swiveled in chairs, fingers flew over keyboards. A copy machine that sounded like it was on its last leg ran in one corner. It was a beehive of activity.
Bam!
The heavy door slammed behind Skye, and all heads turned their way. It was the dream where you went to high school naked all over again. She had never felt so conspicuous.
“Hey, guys.” Madison acted like it was no big deal being stared at by twenty men in uniform. Though being in the military herself, it likely wasn’t. “Is my brother around?”
“He left for lunch a bit ago with Robertson and Phillips. Should be back soon,” one Marine answered Madison. But his eyes never left Skye. She might have taken the attention as a compliment, if the kid looked old enough to shave. But she was pretty sure attraction wasn’t his main reason for the double-glance.
“We’ll wait in his office then.” And with that, Madison wrapped one hand around Skye’s arm and tugged her into a room off to the side.
After shutting the door carefully behind them, Madison sighed. “Sorry, I thought most of
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