The Broken Road (The Broken Series)

by Ruff, K. S.

  A tall, lanky guy named Phil was sitting at the end of the table. Phil had deep blue eyes. His dark blond hair was trimmed a little shorter than Roger’s. Phil seemed really laid back, like he’d be easy to be around. He was seated next to a girl named Marie. Kadyn explained that the two of them were married. Marie looked more like a Yoga instructor than an officer in the military. She was long and lean with green eyes, long brown hair, and a naturally pretty face.

  Troy rounded out the group. He was sitting between Marie and Kadyn. Troy had a trim build, bright blue eyes, and short curly blond hair. Like Roger, he looked like he might be good at stirring up trouble.

  Kadyn and I glanced over the menu as soon as introductions were completed. The restaurant served a hodgepodge of southern comfort food. One of the items on the menu was disturbingly named “cats and dogs.” Thankfully, it was just catfish and hush puppies. Everyone ordered ribs or pulled pork sandwiches. The waiter left with our order, and the conversation turned to the Air Force-Navy game, which was only a few weeks away.

  “Do you guys want to carpool up to Annapolis and try to stay on the naval base in the officers’ quarters?” Cenia asked.

  Everyone nodded or mumbled his agreement.

  “Let’s tailgate. I’ll bring my portable grill,” Roger suggested as he reached for his beer.

  Again, everyone agreed.

  Kadyn’s shoulder brushed against mine as he leaned back in his seat. “If anyone still needs tickets, let me know. I can get a few more tickets from the coach.”

  I glanced at Kadyn. I was intensely aware of his presence next to me. I was trying to resist the urge to lean into him, but the guy was like a high-powered magnet.

  Cenia’s eyes met mine as she reached for a chip. “They taste better than they look. You should try one,” she encouraged with a friendly smile.

  I reached for a chip that was loaded with barbeque pork and sour cream. I popped it in my mouth. My eyes widened in surprise. I looked at Cenia. “They’re not bad.”

  She smiled before turning toward the rest of the group. “I’ll send an e-mail out on Monday so we can get a firm head count, determine who’s driving, and generate a list of food for meals and snacks. Do any of you know what you want to bring?”

  “I’d like to make chocolate chip cookies,” Troy responded.

  Everyone stopped talking.

  Roger looked completely dumbfounded. “You bake chocolate chip cookies?”

  “I make the best chocolate chip cookies on the planet,” Troy replied with no shortage of confidence.

  “Impossible,” Roger countered, just as the waiter delivered our food. “Cenia makes the best chocolate chip cookies on the planet. Yours couldn’t possibly compare.” Not that Roger was biased or anything.

  I nearly choked on my Sprite.

  Troy looked thoroughly insulted. His pulled pork sandwich hung suspended in mid-air as he turned his attention to Cenia. “Are your cookies chewy or crunchy?”

  A grin spread across my face as I watched the exchange. I couldn’t believe the airmen were trying to one up each other on chocolate chip cookie recipes. I risked a glance at Kadyn.

  He just shook his head. We both dug into our sandwiches as the conversation between Cenia and Troy continued.

  Cenia met Troy’s gaze head on. Yep, I decided. Spunky was the right word for her. “The bottoms of my cookies are firm, but the center is soft.”

  Troy set his sandwich down. He shook his head as he reached for his beer. “I’m not convinced. A chocolate chip cookie should be under baked.”

  I eyed Troy with renewed interest. There was some merit to his argument.

  “I think we should have a taste test to decide which one of you makes the best cookies,” Phil suggested. He was clearly looking for a way to capitalize on the debate.

  Cenia looked at Marie. “You care to throw your cookies into the mix?”

  Marie shook her head. “No way. I’ve tasted your cookies. You can count me out.” She held both hands up to ward off any further discussion of her joining the competition.

  Cenia nudged me. “You in?”

  I nearly dropped my sandwich. “Me?” I squeaked.

  “Surely, you bake,” Cenia teased.

  I laughed. “I bake seventy dozen cookies over the holidays alone.”

  Beer sprayed from Troy’s mouth. “Why so many?” he asked as he mopped up his chin.

  I leaned back in my chair, suddenly embarrassed. “I baked them for the local homeless shelter. I couldn’t bear the thought of homeless children missing out on homemade Christmas cookies.”

  Kadyn looked stunned, then thoroughly intrigued. A smile spread slowly across his face. “Okay, she’s in. My money’s on Kri.”

  Troy eyed me warily. “So when are we going to do this?”

  “We can do it at my house next Saturday,” Cenia responded. “I’ll cook chili, so plan on coming for dinner. Kri, Troy, and I will bake the cookies afterwards. The rest of you can participate in a blind taste test.” She glanced at Troy, then turned toward me. “Mix your cookie dough before you come and bring your own cookie sheets.”

  Troy and I exchanged glances, then nodded.

  Three new conversations broke out at once. I sat back, thoroughly entertained by the banter and the close knit group of friends. I was having a lot of fun, but I lost track of the conversation near the end. I was so cold my teeth were chattering, but I resisted the urge to reach for my jacket. I didn’t want Kadyn to think I was ready to leave.

  Kadyn, who apparently didn’t miss a thing, reached behind my chair and slid my jacket over my shoulders. As he turned in his chair, his well-muscled thigh settled against mine.

  I didn’t move. First, the heat rolling off him was impossible to resist. Second, the feel of his leg against mine sent sparks pinging through my body, which short circuited my brain. I couldn’t have moved if I had wanted to.

  When we finally left the restaurant, Kadyn tucked my hand in the crook of his arm. The night air had turned cold so we huddled close.

  “I really enjoyed meeting your friends,” I confessed as we neared the parking garage.

  Kadyn smiled. “Good. I figured you and Cenia would hit it off.”

  “Cenia’s kind of spunky. She reminds me of my friend Kimme.” I couldn’t wait to tell Kimme about the evening. I knew she’d be rolling with laughter when she heard about the cookie bake-off.

  Kadyn opened the car door for me. He held my elbow as I ducked inside. “Most of us met at the Air Force Academy. We’ve been friends ever since.”

  I watched as Kadyn walked to the other side of the car. I waited to speak until he was seated next to me. “Thank you for introducing me to them and for inviting me to tag along tonight. I had a wonderful time.”

  Kadyn’s eyes softened as they met mine. “Me, too,” he admitted before starting the car.

  We drove in silence most of the way home. Each of us seemed lost in his own thoughts. I really liked Kadyn’s friends. I had really been missing my own family and friends. And, now? Kadyn was offering me a new circle of friends. He could have searched the whole world over and never found anything I wanted or needed more.

  Kadyn parked his car in the fire lane outside my apartment. He walked around to the passenger side to open my door. He reached for my hand as he helped me out of the car. “Do you plan on walking Cade?”

  I looked up at him as I placed my hand in his. I was surprised he had thought to ask about Cade. “Yes. He needs to go for a short walk before bed.”

  Kadyn was still holding my hand. “Do you mind if I sit here until you get settled inside your apartment?”

  I suddenly realized that Kadyn was trying to ensure my safety. “Thanks, Kadyn. That’s really thoughtful.” I glanced down at his hand, then reluctantly released it as I walked the short distance to my apartment.

  Cade’s tail was wagging when he met me at the door. I scooped him up and kissed him on the head. I dumped my purse on the breakfast bar, grabbed his leash, a
nd locked the door behind me. Cade and I walked to the patch of grass on the other side of my balcony.

  Kadyn was a few feet away, leaning against the side of his car.

  Cade didn’t waste any time going to the bathroom. He made a bee line for Kadyn as soon as he was done.

  Kadyn bent down and scratched Cade’s ear. “Hey, little man.”

  I picked Cade up and settled him against my chest. I glanced shyly at Kadyn as I reached for his hand. I squeezed gently. “Thank you again for a wonderful evening.”

  Kadyn smiled as he returned the squeeze. He slowly released my hand. “I’m looking forward to those chocolate chip cookies next weekend.”

  I carried Cade back to the apartment. “I hope I can give Cenia and Troy a run for their money,” I called over my shoulder.

  Kadyn laughed. “I’m banking on it.” He pushed off the side of his car and waved as I unlocked my door.

  I slipped inside my apartment. I locked the door behind me, then leaned against the door. “Remind me why I’m not dating that guy,” I whispered as I nuzzled Cade’s ear.

  His soft brown eyes peered up at me sadly. Poor little guy knew every reason why.

  * * * * * *

  The next week proved to be a wasted chapter in my life. Everything on the Hill had come to a complete standstill. None of the senators or congressman would sign onto any bills until the budget stalemate was over, and it didn’t look like that was going to be resolved any time soon. They couldn’t even agree on a continuing resolution. Everyone was speculating the federal government would be shut down.

  It was noon on Friday. I was reviewing the briefings I had pulled together for the Senator’s book. I couldn’t gain any forward movement on the Orphan Drug Bill, the Medicare Early Buy-in Bill, or the bill that expanded alternatives to nursing homes.

  I stared at Patrick, who was marking up his own briefings. “Why does it feel like I’m banging my head against a wall?” I asked irritably.

  “Because you are?” he responded, somehow turning the statement into a question.

  “Remind me why I'm doing this,” I pleaded. The lack of progress was killing me.

  “Because it’s the right thing to do?” Jonathan suggested over the top of his cubicle.

  “Just think, Kri… if you can get just one of those bills passed, you’ll be helping hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of people,” Patrick speculated rather optimistically.

  I leaned back in my chair. “Okay. So, that might be a good reason to bang my head against the wall. How long does it usually take to get a bill passed, anyway?”

  Patrick looked at his paperwork. “About nine years on average.”

  I stared at him in complete disbelief.

  He glanced at me. He looked completely serious.

  Jonathan sidled up to my cubicle. “That’s not the real problem. The problem is… by the time you get your bill passed, it’s not what you proposed. That’s the real problem.”

  I raked my hand through my hair and unconsciously began untangling the curls. “That’s beyond depressing. What are the odds I’m going to accomplish any of my goals in the one and only year I’m working on the Hill?”

  Jonathan and Patrick exchanged glances.

  “Slim to none,” I replied despondently.

  Jonathan perked up. “Hey! I know something that will cheer you up. Chinese food. There's a really good place in the food court at Union Station. Let’s walk over there for lunch.”

  The three of us grabbed our coats and made our way outside. I was anxious to shake the dark cloud that was looming over me. The air was crisp, but the sky was blue, and the sun was out. The trees still boasted a beautiful palette of red, yellow, and orange leaves, but quite a few leaves were now blanketing the ground.

  As I admired the patchwork quilt beneath my feet, I was reminded again of how unexpectedly beautiful DC was. The historic architecture was artfully framed with pale pink and white blossoms in the spring and rich earth tones in the fall. The city was truly breathtaking. I wondered how it would look in winter, dusted in snow.

  I tuned into the saxophone player, who was performing in his usual spot in front of Union Station. I dropped a couple of dollars into his case as we walked by.

  He nodded appreciatively, without missing a beat.

  I loved listening to him play while I walked to and from the parking garage every day. He eased me in and out of work. I knew my day wouldn’t be the same without him, so I made it a point to tip him at least once a week.

  Union Station was packed, especially in the food court downstairs. We decided to order our food to go, so we could escape the noise and chaos. As soon as we got our food, we crossed into the park between Union Station and the Senate Hart Building. All of the benches were occupied, so Patrick sat on the ground next to a tree. Jonathan and I plopped down next to him. We ate in silence, simply enjoying the food, the sun, and the music.

  Jonathan eventually broke the silence. “What do you guys have planned this weekend?”

  “Not a single thing, and I plan to keep it that way,” Patrick responded determinedly.

  I laughed. “I'm participating in a cookie bake-off at Kadyn’s friend’s house tomorrow.”

  Patrick’s chopsticks stopped just short of his mouth. “Is that the guy who took you to King Street Blues last weekend?”

  I nodded as I swallowed a mouthful of food. “Yes. Two of his friends were arguing over who made the best chocolate chip cookies, and I managed to get sucked into their competition.”

  Jonathan brightened. “Hey! If you have any cookies left over, you should bring them into the office on Monday. I’ll make sure they don’t go to waste.”

  My eyes widened in mock surprise. “Wow. That’s very generous of you.”

  He laughed as we began packing up our little white boxes.

  Patrick stood. He glanced at me as he dusted his pants off. “We’re throwing another party next weekend. You should come and bring your friend Kadyn.” He winked.

  Jonathan pulled me to my feet. I shoved Patrick in the shoulder before brushing leaves off my own slacks. “Stop winking at me! I told you we aren’t dating. We’re just friends.”

  “Yeah, right,” Patrick snorted. The three of us walked toward the office. “Either way, you should bring him to the party.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Okay, okay! I’ll invite Kadyn.” I hooked my arm around Patrick and gave him a hug. It felt good to have a social life again.

  * * * * * *

  I downed an entire pot of coffee Saturday morning while chatting with my parents, Lexie, and Kimme on the phone. I didn’t bother showering or changing out of my pajamas until noon. I took Cade for a long walk after lunch. Then I mixed my cookie dough so it could chill before Kadyn picked me up.

  Kadyn arrived at my house at five o’clock. He was wearing faded blue jeans, a Chicago Bears t-shirt, and white athletic shoes. I was wearing blue jeans, a navy long sleeved scoop neck shirt, and chunky brown shoes. I didn’t bother accessorizing, since I pretty much sucked at accessorizing.

  I grabbed my jacket and followed Kadyn out to his car. He held the passenger door open for me. I scored a whiff of citrus and sandalwood as I slid past him and settled into the seat. I really liked Kadyn’s cologne… maybe a bit too much because all rational thought fled my brain when Kadyn settled into the driver’s seat.

  I placed the cookie sheets, parchment paper, and a gallon size Ziploc bag of cookie dough on the back seat.

  When I turned back around, Kadyn was staring at me with an amused look on his face. He still hadn’t pulled away from the curb.

  “What?” I asked nervously.

  He chuckled as he pulled away from the curb. “Nothing. It’s just nice to see you again. Are you ready for the cookie bake-off?”

  I smiled, remembering just how competitive Cenia and Troy had been about the cookies. “I think so. It’s not like it’s rocket science.” My smile slid into a mock scowl. “I’m still not sure how you managed to get me
roped into this.”

  Kadyn laughed. “You’ll do great. My friends really like you.”

  “I like them too,” I replied. I stole a glance at Kadyn. He’d obviously been talking to his friends about me. Did that mean he liked me? I froze when I realized where my thoughts were taking me. I reached for an imaginary rubber band and snapped it against my wrist. Still not dating, Kri!

  Kadyn merged onto the highway. “How are things on the Hill?”

  I winced. “Not good. Nothing’s moving, and no one will agree to anything until the budget stalemate is resolved.”

  Kadyn nodded. “That’s all anyone’s talking about in my office. We're making contingency plans in case the government shuts down.”

  I shifted in my seat so I could face him. “How badly would you be impacted at the Pentagon?”

  Kadyn glanced at me. “There’s an unspoken expectation that essential staff will work without pay. Most of us are willing to do so, but it violates the Anti-Deficiency Act.”

  I shook my head. “That is so messed up. What about military personnel who are deployed?”

  “The government will continue to pay them because it costs less money than bringing them home,” he replied.

  I nodded. “Well, if anyone’s going to get paid, it should be them.”

  Kadyn merged onto an exit ramp. “I agree. What about you, Kri? Will you still get paid?”

  “Yes. The John Heinz Foundation pays my salary, not the government. So, I’ll still get paid to work. Most legislative staff will continue to work even if they don’t get paid.”

  Kadyn looked surprised. “They’ll be violating the law if they do… same as the rest of us.”

  “I don’t think federal employees want to violate the law, but they’re worried about how this might impact vulnerable populations if they don’t continue doing their jobs,” I explained.

  Kadyn’s cologne enfolded me as he leaned over to turn down the heat. “I think they’ll pass a continuing resolution next week. I don’t think anyone wants to see the government shut down.”