Chapter 40

Nichole couldn’t push the worry away as it got closer to one when Apple was set to arrive. Her stomach ached, and her head spun. This could go downhill fast.

Apple arrived promptly at one. His gaze flitted over her, and she could see worry on his face. She wasn’t sure why he seemed so worried, but she felt it, too. She wanted this to work out well for all of them.

“Hello, Apple.”

His lips turned up for just a second, though the stress kept him from giving a real smile. “Um, I brought a pie.”

“Oh, nice. Thank you.”

Jesse stepped forward and held out his hands. “I can take the pie.”

“Don’t eat it all.” Apple’s words sounded stiff.

Nichole wanted to put him at ease, but she wasn’t sure what to do. It was obvious he still had issues with her, but she couldn’t force him to change his mind.

“So you were in Chicago this week?” Apple asked.

She nodded. “I boxed up my stuff and shipped it out here.”

“Won’t you miss living there?”

A shiver snaked through her at the thought of the guy who’d been watching her. Apple frowned, and his gaze narrowed.

She shook her head. “No. I never liked the snow.”

Jesse must have noticed her reaction because he revealed the news about the guy watching her. “Someone was outside her place, watching her.”

Apple’s eyebrows flew up. “What happened?”

She shrugged. “It’s nothing, really. I noticed some guy sitting across the street when I left to drop off the boxes. He was there when I got back.”

“Did he follow you after that?”

She shook her head. “No, I left out the back door and through the alley.”

“That’s odd.” Apple narrowed his gaze even more.

For a moment, she thought he didn’t believe her. But he kept shaking his head as his lips screwed up to the side.

“Do you think it was someone interested in you because of the article or something different?”

She had no idea, but she didn’t want to blow off Apple’s worry. This was the first time they’d really talked without him getting angry and rushing off.

“I really don’t know. I don’t advertise where I live. Like, I never post any photos taken close to my place. I learned a long time ago that people hunt down locations. I’ve known a few reporters who had stalkers. Most of them ended up okay, but one is dead, and another was attacked.”

Apple frowned. “We get training about how easy it is for people to track your location. That guy on social media. Have you seen him? He gets challenged to find a location based on a short video or photo?”

She nodded and laughed. “Yeah, I have. It’s always funny to me that people don’t think they can be found. It’s so easy to locate people now.”

Apple chuckled, and she could see his shoulders relax. “Yeah. It’s so easy. We get told to limit photos. I’ve seen some idiots put up photos and videos they think can’t be used against them. Like some idiot showed himself speeding down a public street. It was used against him, and he lost rank. It’s best just to not put videos up. Save it for friends only.”

“I get that. Though when people do put up posts, it makes it easier for journalists to find information.”

“Do you do that often? Look through social media stuff?”

She shrugged. “Me, not often. It depends on the story. I do a lot of investigative stuff, so I don’t deal with stories where that might matter. I might go back through social media history once I’m in the weeds of a story. I just don’t like criminals winning. It pisses me off when they get rewarded for bad behavior.”

“Like what kind of criminals?”

Jesse handed them each beer, and they took them outside as she talked about the corporation she’d taken down. Apple seemed interested in what she was saying. She hoped he saw her as someone who cared and not someone trying to take advantage of others.

“I haven’t read anything you’ve written other than the piece about being held captive. I have to admit it was good.”

“Thank you.”

Apple stood and walked away a few steps, then turned back. “Listen. I’m sorry, but I assumed I knew what you would do. I get that you aren’t my ex. That clouded my thoughts for a long time.”

“I’m sorry for whatever happened with them.”

“She lied to me, using me for her own gain. It really fucked with my head.”

She nodded. “Relationships can be harsh, especially when one person is using the other.”

“I don’t want you to take advantage of Jay.”

It was still weird when the guys called him Jay. She got that they all had nicknames, but she preferred Jesse.

“I don’t want anyone to take advantage of him either. I’m not working on anything involving the military. That’s not my specialty. I stick to crimes.”

Apple frowned and shook his head. “What if you knew something was happening on base?”

Her lips twisted up to the side. “If something illegal was happening on base, I would hope you guys would step up and try to get it to stop.”

Apple’s expression went blank. “I guess I hadn’t thought of that.”

“I’m sure you don’t want the reputation of the Navy tarnished because someone is being a jerk, doing something illegal on base.”

Apple shook his head. “No, I don’t want that.”

“So the thing your girlfriend tried to expose. Was it actually illegal or something she didn’t like?”

Apple crossed his arms over his chest. “It’s not something I’ve talked about before.”

“You don’t have to tell me.”

“She didn’t like a policy. I don’t know if anyone was doing anything illegal. Honestly, I didn’t want to know what she’d done. It was intimidating. I was just starting out, and it could have ended my career.”

Curiosity made her want to dig, but she wasn’t going to make Apple her enemy. It wasn’t something she was already looking into, and if it was bad, surely it would come out eventually. “I get that. I’m glad you didn’t get kicked out. It must have scared you.”

Apple blew out a harsh breath. “I know it was only a couple of years ago, but I felt so stupid. Like I didn’t belong.”

Jesse clapped him on the back. “Buddy, you belong. You prove every day you belong. You’re one of the best. I know you’re young, but I see a bright future for you.”

“Thanks. I—” Apple turned back to Nichole. “Listen, I don’t know you yet. And I’m sorry I was such a dick, but I don’t want to be betrayed again.”

“I won’t betray you. If something comes up that involves the Navy, I’ll talk to Jesse.”

Apple snorted. “I can’t get used to you calling him Jesse. Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt you. And yeah, if you bring it to Jay’s attention, he’ll probably want to discuss it with us.”

“That’s reasonable. And about the lying to that stranger. I don’t want to ever put you people in danger. Telling a total stranger a fib about where I am or where I’m living doesn’t make me feel guilty. Maybe I should have told her everything, but she wasn’t someone I’ll ever see again. Also, I don’t know what her intentions were. I don’t want her to reveal where I live or who I hang out with. She doesn’t deserve that information.”

Apple nodded. “I guess I get that. I just don’t like lying.”

“I understand. And in my real life, like things that matter, I don’t lie. But strangers at the beach, I don’t owe them anything.”

Apple shook his head. “That’s so weird.”

Jesse took a swig and shook his head. “You know, Apple, that’s how we operate.”

Apple’s eyebrows pinched together. “What do you mean?”

“We don’t tell people the truth. We keep our jobs, where we go, what we do when we’re over there, and all that other stuff secret. No one, not even other men and women in the Navy, gets information from us.”

“Huh.” Apple took another swig. “I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

Nichole didn’t want to rub it in Apple’s face. They’d come to some sort of truce, but Jesse was right. They were doing the same thing. “I think it’s great that you’re here talking to me. We can come to some sort of an understanding. I understand why you wouldn’t trust me. I really care for Jesse, and I think we’re going to be together for a long time.”

Apple raised his eyebrows and looked from one to the other. “Really? Like, are you two engaged?”

Jesse reached for her hand. “I don’t have a ring yet, but we’re committed to each other.”

“When are you going to buy that diamond?”

Nichole shook her head. “No diamonds. I’m not flashy, and I’ve done too much research on diamonds and where they come from. I don’t think I could wear one and be okay.”

Jesse pulled her closer and moved her so she could sit on his lap. “I’m glad you told me. So, no diamonds. We’ll find something together.”

“What about antique rings?” Apple’s question was way more intuitive than she’d expected from him.

“Wow, Apple. That’s rather spot-on with my styling. You surprise me.”

His cheeks turned pink. “I pay attention.”

“You do. I’m impressed.” She almost said something about him and dating, but Jesse had said Apple wasn’t into relationships. He might find women to have sex with, but he wasn’t at all interested in settling down with anyone.

This morning, when she’d heard Apple would be coming over, she’d been nervous. Now, she was glad they’d spent time together. They still had some work to do, but she felt like Apple was giving her a chance. Maybe one of the guys had forced the issue, but she felt better about him.