Place I don't belong

[Raileigh Toussaint]

Raileigh didn’t do the whole bar scene. But here she was. The bar was the last place Kaidan or Anslee or anyone else for that matter would find her. Downing a few shots she was keeping to herself but she kept looking over to two men who were laughing and carrying on. She envied them, able to come here and have fun. But she supposed that is why people came here.

To be fair, Raileigh looked well out of her element. “Another shot of Vodka please” she asked the bartender. This time she stared down into the glass before back over to the men. Then she stared down at her wedding ring. As much as she wanted to throw it across the room, it was a family heirloom on her side of the family. She’d insisted on wanting it when she got married. But now she didn’t even want it.

Finding her husband in bed with her sister was unforgivable. Astrid was safe with her dad and her dad knew the truth. Again, she glanced over at the two men laughing and carrying on.

Everett McKinley

[Everett McKinley]

Everett's track record with marriage sat at a dubious 0-1. That never stopped Aiden from pointing out an assortment of women who, he believed, Everett should pursue. Or, as in this case, someone Aiden believed was checking him out. It drove him up a wall. You didn't need to be in a committed relationship to be happy. "For the last time, no, she isn't watching me. She must be half my age."

If anything, the young woman across the bar looked more nervous or distraught. As far as Everett was concerned, Aiden was completely misreading this situation. Sometimes his former XO rushed to judgment a little too quickly. Everett analyzed all the facts. "She's wearing a wedding ring, Aiden," Everett pointed out. Not that such a thing prohibited interest, but the details were adding up. She was running from something – not running to someone. Aiden could just stop trying to play matchmaker. It wasn't happening.

Everett lifted the bottle of beer to his lips, taking another swig. They could literally talk about anything else, but Everett wasn't nearly drunk enough, if Aiden chose to keep pushing the subject. He gave the younger man a look, indicating he should drop this conversation.

Raileigh Toussaint , Aiden Westbrooke