time in the military he'd been a Marine with no time for anything else. The
military had been his everything; he committed his entire life to it for the
time he allotted to them. Oh there’d been women whose company he enjoyed, but
they were all just for the physical pleasure of it. He’d even had a couple
nurses in Afghanistan who’d been nothing more than friends with benefits. It had
worked out fine for him, no strings, no attachments, and all the bullshit that
came with a serious relationship had been left on the floor in the midst of the
pile of clothes they’d shed. Now, he felt like he was just floating through
life. He wanted to keep practicing medicine, but he wasn't sure he wanted it to
be here. He could do all that in Texas where he'd be close to his family, but
Cade, Tessa, and Rowan were family, also. So the battle within him ensued.
Josiah grabbed his cell from the coffee
table and the keys to the rental car he’d picked up yesterday and decided a
trip to The Launchpad was just what he needed. Throwing down a few beers and
taking in some eye candy would do him good. Descending the front steps of
Rowan’s place, he watched as Madison and Rowan took the short walk from her
place over to where he stood.
“How are you feeling?” he asked Madison,
noticing that her skin had finally regained its natural color.
“Much better. Thank you for asking.”
“Where are you off to?” Rowan asked.
“Thought I’d go grab a couple beers at
The Launchpad. Y’all aren’t up to it, are you?”
Rowan shook his head. “Not tonight. I
don’t want Madison to overdo it.”
“Rowan, I told you I’m fine. Why don’t
you just go out with Josiah?”
Rowan looked to Josiah. “No offense, but
I’d much rather keep her company,” he said gently stroking Madison’s shoulders.
“None taken. I’m outta here then. Glad you’re
feeling better, Madison.”
“Thanks, Josiah.”
Without another word, Josiah slipped
into the driver’s seat of the green Honda Accord he rented and watched as Rowan
and Madison disappeared into the house. He shook his head then pulled out of
the driveway and headed to The Launchpad. He didn’t suspect that it would be
very busy with it being a Tuesday night, which would be fine with him. He just
wanted to have a few drinks, enjoy the scenery, and relax.
When Josiah arrived at the club, there
were actually more people there than he anticipated for a week night. Some in
groups, their business attire revealing they had come for happy hour after a
day in the office. Others were single men and women at the bar and a few
couples out on the dance floor or at the surrounding tables. Josiah slipped
past the bouncer once he showed his ID and took a seat at the front bar. He
ordered a Corona with a shot then swung his legs around with the middle of his
back pressed to the edge of the bar as he waited for his drinks. The song
coming through the overhead speakers seemed louder than usual, but then again
when he’d frequented The Launchpad it normally had been filled to almost
overflowing with bodies. Tonight there weren’t enough people to deaden the
sound much.
“Do you want me to start you a tab?” the
bartender asked, placing the drinks on the bar in front of him.
Josiah swung around to face the
bartender and pulled his credit card from his wallet, sliding it across the smooth
surface. “Sure. Thanks.”
He tipped the shot back, the warm liquid
almost scalding his throat as it slid past his lips and made its journey
downward, then chased it with a quick swig of the ice cold beer.
“Kind of quiet tonight,” Josiah stated
when the bartender returned to retrieve the shot glass.
“Hmm, it’s pretty normal for a Tuesday. Wednesdays
are our busiest during the week. If you’re looking for some action, that’s the
best night. Other than the weekend, of course.”
Josiah shook his head. “Just looking to
relax with a few drinks, that’s all.”
The bartender walked off to help
military had been his everything; he committed his entire life to it for the
time he allotted to them. Oh there’d been women whose company he enjoyed, but
they were all just for the physical pleasure of it. He’d even had a couple
nurses in Afghanistan who’d been nothing more than friends with benefits. It had
worked out fine for him, no strings, no attachments, and all the bullshit that
came with a serious relationship had been left on the floor in the midst of the
pile of clothes they’d shed. Now, he felt like he was just floating through
life. He wanted to keep practicing medicine, but he wasn't sure he wanted it to
be here. He could do all that in Texas where he'd be close to his family, but
Cade, Tessa, and Rowan were family, also. So the battle within him ensued.
Josiah grabbed his cell from the coffee
table and the keys to the rental car he’d picked up yesterday and decided a
trip to The Launchpad was just what he needed. Throwing down a few beers and
taking in some eye candy would do him good. Descending the front steps of
Rowan’s place, he watched as Madison and Rowan took the short walk from her
place over to where he stood.
“How are you feeling?” he asked Madison,
noticing that her skin had finally regained its natural color.
“Much better. Thank you for asking.”
“Where are you off to?” Rowan asked.
“Thought I’d go grab a couple beers at
The Launchpad. Y’all aren’t up to it, are you?”
Rowan shook his head. “Not tonight. I
don’t want Madison to overdo it.”
“Rowan, I told you I’m fine. Why don’t
you just go out with Josiah?”
Rowan looked to Josiah. “No offense, but
I’d much rather keep her company,” he said gently stroking Madison’s shoulders.
“None taken. I’m outta here then. Glad you’re
feeling better, Madison.”
“Thanks, Josiah.”
Without another word, Josiah slipped
into the driver’s seat of the green Honda Accord he rented and watched as Rowan
and Madison disappeared into the house. He shook his head then pulled out of
the driveway and headed to The Launchpad. He didn’t suspect that it would be
very busy with it being a Tuesday night, which would be fine with him. He just
wanted to have a few drinks, enjoy the scenery, and relax.
When Josiah arrived at the club, there
were actually more people there than he anticipated for a week night. Some in
groups, their business attire revealing they had come for happy hour after a
day in the office. Others were single men and women at the bar and a few
couples out on the dance floor or at the surrounding tables. Josiah slipped
past the bouncer once he showed his ID and took a seat at the front bar. He
ordered a Corona with a shot then swung his legs around with the middle of his
back pressed to the edge of the bar as he waited for his drinks. The song
coming through the overhead speakers seemed louder than usual, but then again
when he’d frequented The Launchpad it normally had been filled to almost
overflowing with bodies. Tonight there weren’t enough people to deaden the
sound much.
“Do you want me to start you a tab?” the
bartender asked, placing the drinks on the bar in front of him.
Josiah swung around to face the
bartender and pulled his credit card from his wallet, sliding it across the smooth
surface. “Sure. Thanks.”
He tipped the shot back, the warm liquid
almost scalding his throat as it slid past his lips and made its journey
downward, then chased it with a quick swig of the ice cold beer.
“Kind of quiet tonight,” Josiah stated
when the bartender returned to retrieve the shot glass.
“Hmm, it’s pretty normal for a Tuesday. Wednesdays
are our busiest during the week. If you’re looking for some action, that’s the
best night. Other than the weekend, of course.”
Josiah shook his head. “Just looking to
relax with a few drinks, that’s all.”
The bartender walked off to help
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