Sandra comes jogging up to me. “Hey. Heard you quit. I’m sorry to hear it.”
“It was time.” I shrug. “I have other things on my mind.”
“A blond teacher in Germany?” she asks with a grin.
“She’s definitely at the top of my list.”
“You going back to Germany?”
“I booked her on a flight to D.C. for tomorrow. Hopefully, I can convince her to get on it. If not, I’ll take one to Germany tonight, because I’m not letting her go.”
“Good for you.” She pauses. “Listen, tell her I’m sorry. She got in my way and I did something petty by agreeing to help her mom with this little scheme, but I never would have hurt her or anything.”
“I know.”
“Well, good luck with everything.”
“Thanks. You too.” I nod as she goes back inside.
I try to call Shannon again but she doesn’t pick up so I opt not to leave a message and text her instead.
ACE: Been thinking about you. Call me when you get this? Xoxo.
I stuff my phone in my pocket as I head to my rental car. I don’t want to go home just yet—it’s too damn quiet—so I figure I’ll grab some food and make a few calls. I have to update Chains and Erik, see what they want me to do.
I’ve just walked into a restaurant not far from my townhouse when my phone buzzes.
SHANNON: I have a surprise for you.
I grin as I type out a response.
ACE: Does it include a leather teddy, high heels, and maybe a flogger?
SHANNON: You know I just turned twelve shades of red, right? Don’t do that to me when we’re not together! And while we can discuss those things at some point in the future, that is NOT your surprise.
ACE: Well, are you going to tell me?
SHANNON: Maybe. What are you doing right now?
ACE: Working lunch. If we’re ever in Georgetown at the same time, I’ll have to bring you here. Brady’s is the best.
SHANNON: I’ve been there! Don’t forget, I grew up in the area.
ACE: Dammit, quit changing the subject. I want to know my surprise.
SHANNON: It’ll have to wait… How much longer will you be there?
ACE: Maybe an hour? I have a lot to tell you. You want me to call you when I get home?
SHANNON: I’ll talk to you then.
I chuckle to myself, feeling a lot better about my future, and dig into my burger.
I sit there eating the world’s best burger and thinking about what to do next. Quitting was impulsive, but it was the right thing to do. For me anyway. I’m a little lost, though, because the military and then the CIA were all I’ve ever done or wanted to do. I never dreamed there would be someone like Shannon who could turn my world upside down with just a smile. We have a lot of things to consider if we’re going to be together, but now I have the time to devote to her.
Impulsively, I call my dad. After watching Shannon struggle with her mom, I don’t want to let any more distance come between my parents and me. We haven’t talked in a long time, and I didn’t even know who my father was until I was ten, since my mother never even told him she was pregnant. We grew closer as I got older and then my mother died when I was seventeen. At that point, my stepmother stepped into that role seamlessly. Well, as much as anyone could since I was shipped off to military school the year before.
“Ace?” Dad answers right away, surprise in his voice.
