Once everything was gathered and packed, I dressed as fast as possible. It wasn’t until I sat down to lace up my boots that I remembered Declan. I don’t know that I would’ve thought about him at all if the light hadn’t caught on the shiny gold band on my finger.
“Shit.”
What the fuck am I supposed to do with a husband in this situation? I laughed out loud.
“Jesus, what a fucking mess.”
I glanced at the clock. I didn’t have much time, but maybe there was enough to check in with him. After contemplating texting him, I decided to call.
“Missed me already, huh?”
He had no freaking clue. Only the order notification had removed him from my mind since he’d left.
“What’s the matter, Papi?”
I wet my lips, sighing loud enough that I was sure he heard me. “Something’s come up.”
“I like it when your something comes up.”
Dear God, could he get any cheesier?
“I wish that was the something, but it’s not. I wasn’t sure what to do in this situation. I mean, there’s not much I can say. Fuck, there’s not much I know.”
All hilarity disappeared, and his voice turned serious. “What do you know?”
“Our training exercise was canceled. We got orders, so we’re mobilizing.”
He didn’t say anything, but I could hear him moving about, so the connection hadn’t been lost. When he still hadn’t said anything after a minute or two, I pulled the phone from my ear to double-check that the call hadn’t been dropped.
A deep voice in the background said something, but I couldn’t make out what it was. Then finally, Declan asked, “Do… Is there anything I can do?”
The vows I’d made to him that I didn’t remember and the one I made to myself when he dropped me off fought each other.
“Tell me,” he demanded, and for some reason, his assertiveness didn’t grate on my nerves like it had earlier.
“Come see me off?”
Oh, shit! What the hell was I thinking?
“Absolutely. Tell me where.”
It took me a second to process how easily he’d said yes.
“I’ll send you the info.”
“Okay. I’ll be there.”
I glanced at the clock and swore under my breath. I was running behind.
“I’ve gotta go, but if you change your mind…” I said, giving him an out and preparing myself for disappointment.
“I won’t. I’ll be there.”
His promise filled me with enough warmth and happiness to make me feel like I could take to the skies like Superman.
Before hanging up, I mumbled something, what I wasn’t sure. I hoped it wasn’t anything stupid. I dropped Declan a pin so he could meet me and finished lacing up my boots. A last glance around the apartment for anything I might have missed and opened my duffel for my e-reader. Stuffing it in my laptop bag, I double-checked I still had chargers for it and my phone. With everything in order, I did a sweep of the house before locking up and heading out to my car.
I parked, getting out to unload my gear. A hand landed on my upper back, and I turned to see Priest, Scott, and Cameron. I looked for Lucia and Ewen but didn’t see either of them.
