“They are,” he confirmed; he had promised not to lie to her, and there wasn’t a way to explain his job without including them.
“So, what is it you guys do, or can you not tell me?”
“I can’t tell you all the details, but we go when political tape gets in the way.We don’t exist.We’re not sanctioned by the government.”
“So, if you are ever captured or killed, the US government can deny any knowledge of you.”
“Exactly.It’s similar to what I had been trained for.Reconnaissance, recovery.”
She was sure he was leaving out a lot, but she was used to the half answers with Liam.She knew he did things he could and would never tell her, and that was okay with her.
“I got a call that night we made love, and I had to leave without delay.The mission didn’t go as planned, and my trip got extended; that’s why I didn’t talk to you these past three weeks.I only got back a few hours ago, and I came straight to you as soon as I could.”
June took a moment to absorb all this new information.She was glad she finally had an answer for the reason he had disappeared for three weeks, but it still didn’t answer why he’d never called her, texted anything.“Why didn’t you leave a note or text me during all this time?”
Rob’s features pinched in pain.She could see the sorrow in his eyes; it was a decision he regretted, but it was too late to take back.“Once I get focused on a mission, I tend to block out everything else.But I thought about you all the time.I just wanted to stay focused on my mission to get back home to you.”
“But I’m sure Greg and Luke told Zoey and Shay they were leaving and called them when they got back.”
“Relationships are new to me, June.I’m not used to telling people my comings and goings.”His voice rose as if he were getting irritated with her and having to defend his actions.
June saw red at his accusation.He had no reason to be upset with her.“I’m not asking for your every move, but it would have taken you two seconds to send the text ‘I’m alive and I’ll be out of town.Call you when I can.’Or not sneak out like a thief in the night without a word after what was one of the best nights of my life.
“It’s better than thinking the past three weeks that what happened between us meant nothing to you.I felt used, Rob, can’t you understand that?Then you have to audacity to get upset with me because I point out your teammates’ girlfriends knew you were out of town, and I didn’t.”
“I didn’t regret making love to you.I don’t.I care about you, June.”He reached for her hands, but she stepped back not wanting him to touch her.
“You have a funny way of showing it.”June laughed when inside she wanted to cry.Rob just didn’t get it.He seemed to think saying ‘I’m sorry’ and that he cared for her erased the fact he hadn’t tried contacting her over the past three weeks on purpose because he was playing G.I.Joe.
“June, I know I don’t have a good excuse for what I did to you.Know that I feel like shit for the way I handled things, and I’m asking you to forgive me and give me another chance.”
“Rob, I appreciate all you do for this country, and now I understand why you did what you did.I can’t forget the feeling though, of waiting for you to call me day after day, making up so many excuses why you couldn’t spare me two seconds to say you were over me, that you weren’t dead, anything.Three weeks after the fact doesn’t erase that.So no, I can’t forgive the way you treated me, and I won’t give you another chance to hurt me worse than you already have.Goodbye, Rob.”
Rob didn’t try to stop her as she left his house.There wouldn’t have been a point.She was done with him.
Chapter 33
How did it go?”Drew asked when he stepped into the office the next day.Rob’s gaze barely flickered over to him as he sat down at his desk.“That good, huh?”
Rob had barely slept last night.His mind had been haunted by images of June’s hurtful look and her parting words.Rob felt lost in what to do next to make things right with her.
He needed time to strategize a new plan because failure wasn’t an option.
The team surrounded his desk, waiting anxiously for his response.He should have known they wouldn’t let this go.Everyone liked June and felt invested in what happened.“It didn’t go well at all.She basically said she can’t trust me, she can’t forgive me, and never wants to see me again.”
“Not surprising given what happened,” Barry said, not being helpful at all.
“Are you giving up?”Greg asked.
“No.”
“So, what are you going to do?”Drew questioned next.
“I don’t know yet.I explained to her what we do, but it wasn’t a good enough reason.”
“It’s not,” Luke added his feedback.“I told Shay, and she agrees that it was a dick move.It’s no wonder she won’t forgive so easily.You didn’t talk to her for three weeks.That’s not something to easily forgive.”
“Well, I have to try.I don’t want to lose her.”
