“I’m totally freaking out,” Cricket squealed. “Do you have a gun and a badge? Do you hunt down bad guys? Do you have our fingerprints on file? I’m freaking out, I’m totally freaking out.” She turned to Hatch. “Wait, why are you so calm? Why aren’t you freaking out? Oh my fucking god, you know!You’ve known all along and haven’t said a word.”
Hatch raised a hand and shook his head. “Let’s just say I haven’t known about any of this for much longer than you. But I will say that Cameron and Tess have my full support and blessing. But if you don’t show them the goddamn respect they deserve, you’re gonna fuckin’ hear about it from me. And what you’ll hear won’t be pretty.”
“Which brings me to this point,” I said. “Nothing we’ve just told you can leave this room. It makes you vulnerable which is why I haven’t been able to say anything, and quite honestly shouldn’t be saying anything now, but I trust you with my life. More importantly, I trust you with Tess’s.”
“And it’s why we know we’re right for each other,” Tess said. “We have been through the fire together and know each other probably better than anyone. And we literally know we have each other’s backs in the worst of situations.”
“Yeah,” I agreed. “But it also means, Cade and Cullen, I have to resign.”
“Now, wait just a minute—” Cade objected.
“You’ve just spent the last twenty minutes saying some pretty awful things about my fiancé, Cade,” Tess said quietly. “Including the fact he’s unreliable.” She cocked her head. “Yes, I heard you all the way in here. I think the whole neighborhood heard you. So, I’d very much like the next words out of your mouth to be,‘I understand, Cameron. You’re obviously stretching yourself far too thin and can’t do all of it, and the fact you’re letting the construction gig go, shows a maturity I’ve failed to see in thepast. I applaud your growth. Thank you for trusting us with your fiancée’s life as you embark on this new future.’Because if it isn’t, let me explain something to you. I’ve had a few years head start on this career, including advanced interrogation techniques. One of which is waterboarding. It’s frowned upon in this modern society, but for you, I’ll be happy to introduce it back into rotation.”
“Go Tess,” Cricket said with a whoop.
“I think what Cade meant to say was we’re gonna be sad to see you go,” Cullen said.
“Yeah.” Cade sighed. “That.”
“You need to call Navy and apologize,” Cricket said.
“What the hell?”
“Well, you’re being a total asshat right now,” she said with a shrug. “And you’re not normally this wound up, so just call her and apologize.”
“Jesus, Cricket, do you have to be so, I don’t know, extra all the time?”
“Or, maybe, she’s great just the way she is, and you need an attitude adjustment,” Tess said.
Cade stood and stalked out of the house, but he wasn’t gone long before walking back in and wrapping his arms around Tess. “Sweetheart, I’ve been an asshole and you do not deserve that. I’m so fuckin’ sorry.”
Tess didn’t know what to do with her arms as she held them aloft for a few seconds before patting his back awkwardly. “Uh, okay, no problem.”
Cade pulled back slightly. “No, it is a problem. Need you to forgive me or I can’t go call mywoman.”
She frowned. “Seriously?”
“Yeah. I’ve been an ass. Need to hear you forgive me so I can go apologize to her, then I’ll come back and apologize to Cam.”
“Or you can apologize to me now.”
“The women are the priority,” he said not looking at me.
“Okay, so you’re gonna apologize to me before Cameron, then?” Cricket piped in.
“After Cameron,” Cade provided, still looking at Tess.
“I’ma woman!”
“Barely,” Cade retorted.
“I’m gonna nut bust you—”
“Christina, settle,” Hatch ordered.
I bit back a chuckle as I watched confusion play over Tess’s face. “Um, sure, I forgive you, Cade.”
“Excellent. Thank you. Be right back,” he said, walking back out my door.
