Page 47 of Honoring Freedom
“I hope you fellows don’t mind that I’m hanging out and watching the game with you,” Freedom said. She turned to Keller and mouthed, “I told you.”
The men filed into the living room, one at a time. “We didn’t know you had a girlfriend,” Trace, the tallest of the men, said.
“Friends,” Freedom piped in. “Keller and I areonlyfriends.” She closed the door.
“Pretty,” Taylor whispered under his breath to Keller as he jutted his chin toward Freedom.
Trace gave him two thumbs up. “Are there any of her friends coming?”
Freedom glanced at him as if she waited for Keller’s response.
Keller shook his head.
“Then she’s stuck with us bastards. I’m a gentleman though, unlike these two.” Taylor smiled wolfishly as he pointed his thumbs at Murph and Trace.
After a curt introduction from Keller, he took a bag of chips, a case of beer, and a Playboy magazine from Murph. Keller looked at him curiously. “Really, buddy? What is this? College?
“Sorry, I didn’t have anything else to bring,” Murph said with a shrug.
Depositing the magazine onto the table, Keller took the beer and chips into the kitchen and the gang followed.
“Is Keifer coming?” Trace asked.
“He had something come up,” Keller answered. Which he’d been grateful for because that meant he had the house free with Freedom.
“I hear he’s been seeing someone,” Taylor said.
“He’s already pussy—sorry,” Murph bashfully looked at Freedom. “I meant, he’s really into her.”
“You fellows were in the Army with Keller?” Freedom asked as she glanced at Keller.
“Rangers, ma’am. This guy here saved my life,” Taylor said, slapping Keller on the back.
“Please, you can call me Freedom.”
“After we were all shipped out on medevac, we didn’t think that’d be the last time we’d see each other together in uniform.” Trace said, elbowing Keller in the ribs. “Now we’re all civilians. Keller talked about this place. He particularly talked about a blonde-haired woman with blue eyes.”
Keller was going to kill each of his buddies when Freedom left.
“Oh really?” Freedom locked her gaze on him. “What did he say?”
“She’s better than a nine, Kel.” Murph laughed. “She’s definitely a ten.”
Keller started to tell the men tofuck off, but when Freedom wrapped her fingers around Murph’s elbow and led him to the couch, Keller wanted to toss each of the men out onto their ears.
“Sounds like you have some juicy stories to tell about my…friend.” Freedom sat down on one corner of the couch and Murph the other. Trace sat down between them, and Taylor took the chair.
“Are you wanting a seat?” Murph asked Keller.
“I’ve got one.” He grabbed one of the kitchen chairs and sat backwards, bracing his arms on the back.
"The blast knocked me out cold and I was bleeding everywhere. Keller dragged me to safety." Taylor gave his hip a pat. He still walked with a limp. He lived with pain but never complained.
“We were all injured that day,” Trace said.
“It seems you all are still very close,” Freedom said.
“We get together at least once a year, take the kayaks out, climb a mountain, mountain bike. Murph over here has a kid now and he’s too chicken to do the adrenaline rush activities.” Trace said.