Me: Your mom was right. The trick is to wake her up and give it to her. If she wakes up hungry, it’s not happening.
Alan: That’s awesome. Now I’ll be able to help so you can sleep through the night.
Me: I don’t know if my body would even know how to do that anymore.
Alan: It’s like riding a bike.
I better finish up things here at the office. I have to leave for the airport soon, so I have time to return the rental and get through security.
Me: I’ll see you tonight.
Alan: Can’t wait.
Me neither.
Being apart hadn’t been as hard as I’d thought it was going to be. We’d video chatted twice a day and texted way more.
Our late-night texts had gotten flirty, even bordering on naughty.
And I’d loved it.
Although I’d made sure to delete those before I went to sleep. Because what if I fell and hit my head on the way to the bathroom and my parents found my phone?
I’d die from embarrassment.
I was busy making a pie when Lainey came back into the kitchen and asked, “Do you have the keys to your minivan? Alan sent Adam to fill up your gas tank, so you’re all set to pick him up tonight.”
“He doesn’t have to do that.”
She gave me a patient smile. “You know, I’ve found it’s best not to argue when the Callahan men have made up their minds about something. Just smile and accept the pampering.”
I kind of loved that even a thousand miles away, Alan was still making sure I was taken care of.
****
Alan
When I’d gotten back to my house after leaving the office Tuesday afternoon, I called Cameron, my handler, and gave him my notice.
He wasn’t too happy about it but eased up on the patriotic guilt trip once I explained I was getting married.
“You’ll have to do at least one more mission,” he reminded me. “Two if we can’t replace you within six months after you leave for your next assignment.”
“I know what the contract says. If you can, I’d like to get the first one out of the way as soon as possible and get the clock started.”
That way that obligation would be over with. If I had to go on a second one, I’d deal with it if the time came.
“I can’t control the state of the world, Al.”
“No, but you can put me next on the list. I just can’t go before August first.”
“Is that the big day?”
“It is.”
“My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail,” he snarked.
“We haven’t mailed any invitations, but you still wouldn’t be getting one because you’re not invited.”
