"Damon?" Her brows furrowed. "I know you can't tell me what the mission is, but will you be in danger?"
"It’s...an area of...high conflict." He hated having to tell her that. This was the reason he’d avoided serious relationships.
Tears filled Grace's eyes, causing a pang in his chest. "And you don't know how long you'll be gone."
This was why he'd stayed unattached for so long. He hated putting someone he loved through this kind of worry.
"No."
"Have you called your mom?"
"I don't have time. We're shipping out any minute now. I was hoping you'd tell her for me."
"Yes, I'll tell her, but..."
"I'm going to miss you so much, Gracie. It's going to be torture not being able to talk to you every day."
"Ditto." Grace's brows remained furrowed.
"Come on, Lancelot. Kerns is barking orders." Romero nudged his shoulder, then he leaned down and looked at Damon's phone screen. "Hey, Grace, Lover Boy's gotta go now."
Damon shoved Romero away.
"Be safe, Damon." Tears wet Grace's cheeks, making Damon's chest ache. "I love you."
Damon froze. A spark of joy hit his chest, erasing the ache so fast it took his breath away.
"What did you say?" He leaned forward, peering into his phone as if that would ensure she repeated the words he wanted to hear.
Grace's eyes dipped as a soft smile lifted her lips.
"Come on, Gracie, say it again please." His voice was gentle and coaxing. He held his breath, waiting for her to say the words.
She looked directly at her phone and grinned. "I love you, Damon Knight."
"Woohoo." He punched his arms in the air. "I've been waiting so long for you to say those three little words."
Flores laughed across the room then rolled his eyes as he hefted his duffel bag onto his shoulder, but Damon didn't care who was listening.
"Technically, that was five words."
"Lancelot!" King stuck his head through the door as Flores hurried out. "Get your rear in gear."
"I'm coming," he called as he slung his duffel bag over his shoulder. Then he looked back at Grace. "They were the most beautiful words I've ever heard."
A flush covered her cheeks. "If I'd known you were going to make such a big deal out of it, I wouldn't have said them."
"Please don't say that." He stopped at the top of stairs outside the barracks. "I've loved you for months now, and it makes me so happy to know we're finally on the same page."
"You're thousands of miles away. We're hardly on the same page." Doubt flitted through her eyes.
"Are we at least on the same chapter now?" He refused to let the distance put a damper on his joy.
"I think so, but you're still ahead of me."
"Spoiler alert." Damon paused again halfway down the stairs and stared at her pretty face. "I'm going to marry you, Graciela Rivera."
"I don't—" Shadows filled her eyes as she shook her head. "There's something I need to tell you before you say stuff like that."
