She shrugged and stuffed a pancake in her mouth so she couldn’t answer.
“We were both strong candidates.West Point was right to take both of us.”
It took forever to swallow.“What’d you major in?”
“Why?”
“I’m curious.”
“Philosophy.”
Her fork froze mid-bite.“Really?”
“Yeah.Really.”
“I thought West Point would only offer majors like war studies or global law or cyberterrorism.”
“What are you getting at?You don’t care what I majored in.Spit it out.”
Now that he’d said philosophy, she was incredibly interested and wanted to know everything else he might surprise her with.But for now, she had to get down to business.“Why did you leave the Army?”
His expression hardened.“I’m done with the twenty questions.”
“You know everything about me.You’ve askeda thousandquestions—”
“First, trust me, I don’t know everything, and second, you’re the one in a situation.Not me.”
Sleeping togetherwas a sort of situation, but she wasn’t ready to point that out.What if he changed his mind because she was too nosy?
His jaw ticked again, but this time, frustration had the muscles twitching.“We should place Alicia’s order.”
Callum caught Mauve’s attention for the to-go order.
Grace crossed her scratched-up arms and ignored the bites of pain.“You’re not going to tell me.”
“I’m not going to talk about it.At all.Got it?”
“Fine.”She saluted him.“Aye, aye, captain.”
“Give me a break.”
Her questions hadn’t been that intrusive.The more he wanted to avoid it, the more she needed to know.
They finished breakfast in an uncomfortable silence.Mauve placed Alicia’s food on the table with their bill.They settled up and returned to his truck.Every minute felt more awkward than the last.
She fastened her seatbelt.“Why don’t you want to talk about the Army?”
Callum tossed her an aggravated look and turned the engine over.“Why didn’t you tell anyone that your ex-husband hit you?”
“Screw you, Callum.”
He backed out of the parking space, threw it in drive, but jerked the wheel into a parking space before he pulled onto the road.He dropped his head back, stared at the ceiling, and then rubbed a hand over his face.“I’m not ready yet.Can you give me that?”
It wasn’t the same thing, but their silence was for the same reason.It hurt too much to admit.She nodded.
His head dropped.He pinched the bridge of his nose.“I won’t throw Marino in your face again.I’m sorry.”
She pulled his hand from his face and linked their fingers together.With her other hand, she unfastened her seatbelt.Grace leaned toward him, wanting to wrap her arms around him and ease whatever ugly scars the Army had left, but Callum gathered her first.
