“I have shifts starting tomorrow. My house is in Honor, Hud.”
“You need more time after all the questions?”
Her blank look makes those eyes freeze in what looks like a dead eye stare. “I know what I want and believe you have the same discipline to make it work. I made that clear when I said it right to you.”
I nod. “You did. I’m not challenging it. I’m asking if you need more time for me to claim you.” Two days of us hasn’t shown her my intentions?
Now she’s surprised. “So soon?”
“Yeah.” I shrug seeing her relief, she doesn’t need much to see that us as real. “You’re not sayin shit that you’re not feeling. You know I’m not. Will dinners, more rides, meets, or Club dates change anything?”
“You make a lot of sense when you’re steamrolling me to make a decision. No, I knew when you reminded me the first time I woke up on your chest. Nothing changed but me seeing you from a different angle. The Bits love you, Justice and Mucimi said it’s right. I didn’t ask but feel it.” She smiles through every word.
I feel that deep and take a breath to settle me. “So, I’ll claim you tonight. Where are we living?” She said she’d keep herhouse at Honor so we could bounce from Club to Club.
She laughs with those blue eyes shining bright. “Everywhere and you know it. Don’t waste our day on what’s decided. Did you get Alder’s schedule?”
I shake my head. “Tats has two days so far.”
“Come to Honor tomorrow night. The house is in the K9 section. More Air base than Badass but most are Badass. Seamus moved closer to his K-9s in a house that is more suitable for his chair if he needs it and the boys.”
I do not move a muscle. I wasn’t going to ask but feel incredible relief that she thinks like me. I nod slow. “I’ll get some clothes from Sentinel and fly over tonight. This room here okay for you?”
“Yeah. I’ll come with you so I can see your house at Sentinel. I just get a room at Bravo if Asa stays at the ABSZ.”
“Yeah. Told you it would be like shipping out but shorter and closer.”
Her giggle has me smiling. “Way.”
What’s that mean? “Way?”
“Yeah, way shorter and way closer. I don’t fly so I’m glad you do. I like time at ABSZ because we can ride the towns there. They redo shit regularly. The town before the greenhouses was old west before it turned to a Mayan replica. Asa said the old west is at Veritable now. They incorporated the town left behind into a working old western town with the latest technology behind the authentic antiques.”
I nod. “Read about it. I want to ride up my next three day off cycle. If LP is scheduled somewhere else, I’m on a Bit, VIP or Rescue shift. Keeps me busy.” That surprises her.
“I didn’t know that. Is this moving fast to you. I don’t know a lot about you.”
I pay close attention to what’s next. “You know the important shit. You need more time?” I’m done waiting. Everyminute of the last two days showed me who she is and I want who she is for life.
Her pretty eyes are locked on mine for a good ten seconds. “I do know the important. I’ll learn the rest as we go. Honor and Sentinel aren’t that far apart. Pres Spano and Pres Kristos are real close and Natalia’s cousin is VP Keylan’s ol’ lady, Firefly.”
I give what I know. “Sentinel works Honor Club Ops while Honor works FBI and BSC. They cover each other. Cort said they’re the same brain in different bodies.”
“Pres Spano is a Wright Brother grand kid or relation.”
I nod. “Read that too. So, claiming you tonight and will fly you to Honor, or you on Asa transport?”
“No drink rule gonna mess with your flight plans?” She’s cute.
“Nope. Won’t be drinking. Think we did enough of that at Bravo. Need a sober day for us to remember and Brothers to rag on us for the drunk one at story times. Drinking isn’t more than a beer here and there. Your shots and drinks aren’t my normal. Gotta say I like the results.”
She pulls my shirt and I bend for the giggly kiss she plants on my lips. “What are we doing today, since I’m not flying to Honor.”
“ABSZ? Told Beacon I’d take a 2-6 shift for D’Ability at the Vision. Need to be there at 2. He said they’d be up by five.”
She doesn’t look pissed. “I have the Bits and babies at the pool at four for music. It’s about an hour.”
This is going to work well. I lift her up to her laughing and carry her out. “Like the way it works. I need breakfast. Diner on ABSZ is good?”
