“I love you, Jace,” I whispered against him. “I really do.”
He chuckled, low and warm. “I believe you, Sunshine.”
I laughed softly. “I just had to say it again.”
“I love hearing it. So never stop.”
The fire flickered in the fireplace, painting the room in amber light, and for a fleeting moment, everything was still.
Despite the lingering fear that love with a man like Jace came with its own kind of turbulence, I was ready for whatever was thrown our way, so long as he was the one holding on to me.
16
JACE
Three weeks had passed since I showed up at Monroe’s door, covered in mud and apologies. Three weeks since we’d poured our feelings out to each other, and I had no regrets whatsoever.
We’d spent every spare minute together we could, talking, learning each other’s bodies, and sitting on her porch while I watched and listened to her play the guitar. Ethan sometimes sang with her and teased us about how gross we were when we kissed.
She told me about her students, her fears, and the weight of being a mother. I told her about how my dad had passed, how my mom was happy that she’d found a new partner, about deployments, the loss of my brother, and what it really felt like to drop out of the sky.
Love had never factored into my military life. There was always another mission, another emergency. But Monroe made me want a family, a home, a future where I wasn’t always on autopilot.
As I walked through the squadron admin building toward Major Lawson’s office, the heels of my boots echoed off thetile floor. The summons had been vague, but I knew what it had to be about. My nerves were on edge. I wasn’t ready to leave Monroe. I’d told her that once I was cleared by the flight surgeon, I would be off to Germany. She wasn’t thrilled but understood.
I stopped outside Lawson’s office, held my breath, and knocked.
This was it. The orders I’d been dreading.
“Enter,” Lawson said, glancing up from his laptop. “Ah, Captain Callahan.”
“You wanted to see me?” I stood at parade rest in front of his desk.
“At ease, Captain.” He leaned back in his chair. “I hear congratulations are in order. You nailed your centrifuge test without breaking a sweat.”
I chuckled but was walking on air that I’d done just that earlier that morning. Nine Gs, clean run, no blackout.
“I wouldn’t go that far. But yeah.” I’d never been happier, and the moment I walked out of the test, I texted Monroe to tell her the good news. It had been such a great feeling to celebrate with someone I loved.
“I’m proud. But…” He scrutinized me way too long, his gray eyes holding a secret that had me sweating.
“I know, sir. The squadron is preparing for our assignment in Germany.”
He bobbed his head. “True. But what if you didn’t go?”
My heart stuttered as my brow creased. “I can fly. Surely, you’re not grounding me.”
“Command wants to know if you’ll take a two-year assignment as an instructor. Major Braun’s up for new orders. And we need to fill his spot.”
I wasn’t sure how I felt about not getting in the cockpit. On the other hand, I didn’t want to leave Monroe.
“Look, I can see from the turmoil on your face that you would rather fly, but I need my best pilot to shape our young airmen and women. The job’s yours if you want it.”
I’d built my career as a fighter pilot. The cockpit was home. The push and pull was real. But staying meant roots, home, her. And I would still fly jets. But my choice to be grounded sounded and looked a shit ton better than before.
I found myself nodding. “I accept.” In all my military years of flying, I’d never chosen anything over the cockpit. Until her.
“Good. I’ll process the paperwork this afternoon.”
