She had been, and he didn’t doubt she would again. His only question was how she would do it now. Would she return to the job she had, or would she find another way to make a difference?
"You look happy,"Jug observed as they boarded the plane home from Africa.
"It's been a good tour," Talon replied, but he was thinking about Riley's latest text, about the fact that he'd be back in the States soon, about the possibility of finally seeing her in person.
Talon: Heading back to the States. Tour is over but will be back in Satan’s crotch in four months.
He'd been in a good mood all day, partly because of the successful mission but mostly because he was going home.
Riley: Are you serious? Stop. Can’t breathe. LMAOROTFL.
Talon: What? Tell me you didn’t think the same when you were here!
She brought out this lighter side of him, this playful version of himself that he'd forgotten existed.
Riley: You're in a good mood.
Talon: Heading back to see family. That always improves my outlook.
Riley: Must be nice to have a family to go back to.
The words hit him harder than they should have, and his smile slid off his face. She still didn't feel athome at her father’s and still felt displaced. He wanted to change that, wanted to give her a place where she belonged, but how?
Talon: It is. Have you thought about getting a place of your own?
Riley: No, but someday, I'll get there. I’m looking at my job opportunities and moving forward.
He wanted to be part of that forward movement. He hoped he’d be able to witness her build a life where she felt safe, loved, and completely herself.
Riley:Had dinner with six people tonight. Dad's business friends.
Talon was sitting in his parents’ living room. From where he sat, he could hear his extended family, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends laughing and visiting in the backyard. They were gathered for a barbecue because he was home. He’d popped back inside to catch a breath of solitude when Riley’s text came through.
Talon: How did it go?
He knew she didn’t like her father’s business partners. The idea of having dinner with them hadleft her less than thrilled. He glanced out the open French doors at the thirty or so people milling around his parents’ pool. He wished she understood what a real family felt like. Business happened, but mostly, it was about life and love.
Riley: I prattled on about the weather and Dad's business. I call that success.
Yep. Dealing with her bastard of a father, he’d call it that, too.
Talon: I'm proud of you.
Riley: For making benign conversation?
Hell yeah. He’d had probably told off the fuckers and walked out of the house. She was definitely more diplomatic than he was. He laughed silently. Okay, so, everyone was more diplomatic than he was.
Talon: For not telling them to take a flying leap and your old man to get bent.
Riley: Remember he’s also my employer. Got to keep the boss happy.
Talon: But do you? Asking for a friend.
Riley: Yes. For now.
Well, at least she was looking toward the future. He was proud of her. Yeah, he couldn’t see himself leaving that dinner without telling off the bastard. He truly hoped he would never meet her father face-to-face. He’d imagined his fist connecting with her father’s nose one too many times. Muscle memory and visualization may cause him to react without thinking.
It was 0400,and Talon was wide awake in his hotel room, adrenaline still coursing through his system from their first mission since they’d returned to Africa. They'd gotten the targets, everyone was safe, but sleep was elusive. He reached for his phone.
