Code Name Shadow

Chapter 6

Brielle

It's been a week since we've moved in, and things have been going really well.

I found a job at a local bookstore, and I've been working there every day. It's a cute little shop about ten minutes from home, and I love everything about it. My boss, Esther, is the sweetest old lady I've ever met, and she welcomed me with open arms. I've always loved reading and thought it wouldn't hurt to ask if they were hiring, and she smiled and hired me on the spot.

Beckett's work has been going well too. He seems to really like his team, and he's already said it feels like one big family. I'm excited to meet them, and the opportunity has presented itself sooner rather than later.

Apparently Beck isn't the only new member to the team, and as a way to welcome all the new people the team leader is hosting a party tonight at his house. He was nice enough to invite families as well, which means that I get to go and meet everyone.

And see Cody again.

I keep telling myself that I shouldn't be worried about it, that I've only met him one time, that I hardly even know him. And yet here I am, one hour before the party, staring at myself in the mirror and constantly changing dresses because none of them feel right.

After rotating between the same two dresses for a half hour, I decide they're both good enough and go with my go-to. It's a tight emerald dress that ends just above my knees and fits my curves perfectly. It has some sequins at the top, but not enough to take away from the formal simplicity of it.

I wasn't sure if it would be too formal, but based on the formal jacket Beckett is planning to wear, I'd say it should fit in pretty well.

I've already curled my hair and put on some simple makeup, and I'm just doing the finishing touches in the mirror when I hear Beck yell to me from across the house.

"Bri, are you ready yet? You've been in there forever, let's go! I don't want to be late!"

I emerge from my room with my hands on my hips and glare at him. "Haven't you ever heard of being fashionably late? You don't show up to a party exactly on time, Beck."

He crosses his arms and glares back at me. "You do when it's at your bosses house and you work for the SWAT team, Bri," he says, mimicking how I said his name. "Now let's go."

He grabs his keys and phone off the counter and walks out the door. I roll my eyes as I follow him outside, making sure to lock the front door behind me before climbing in the passenger seat of his car.

I lean my head back against the seat and close my eyes as he pulls out of the driveway. This could be a very long night.

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The drive to his boss's house was about twenty minutes, which allowed plenty of time for my social anxiety to spike. I've always been nervous meeting new people, but after everything that happened it's only gotten worse. My body feels like it's constantly in fight or flight, and the idea of walking into a house full of SWAT agents I've never met was not helping.

"Talk to me," Beckett says after pulling into the driveway and putting the car in park.

"What are you talking about? I'm fine," I say, avoiding his gaze. He just tilts his head and raises his eyebrow, giving me a face that says really?

Beckett has always been able to read me like a book, and at this point I don't even know why I bother lying to him. He can see right through me right now, and I know he won't let us go inside until I say something.

Huffing out a sigh, I relent. "I'm fine. Really. I just don't know anyone in there, and it's a little...stressful."

He nods and runs a hand through his hair. "I know, I'm sorry. But hey – this could be a great way for you to make some new friends! I know you've been wanting to, and I swear my teammates are really cool and nice. Just give them a chance, that's all I'm asking. If at any point you feel uncomfortable at all, come get me and we'll go."