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“Three,” Mike said. “I can manage my own relationships. Four, she didn’t even text me back today.”
He hadn’t meant to put in that last item, nor had he meant for his voice to crack on the last word. Hunter said nothing, and as the elevator slowed, Mike said, “I’ll call you later. Someone broke into my truck.”
“Mike.”
“I’m fine, Hunt.” He ended the call, his military mode kicking on. The elevator stopped, but the doors didn’t open. Mike closed his eyes and said, “Lord, I don’t know how many more things You can throw at me before I start breaking.”
Just one morecame into his head, and Mike had often experienced that thought. When he’d been broken down in the desert, he’d wondered how much longer he could put up with the heat, the lack of fresh water, the constant noise from the other Marines.
Just one more day.
When he’d been in the hospital after his injury, he’d asked God how much longer he’d have to deal with his shoulder problems.
Just one morehad been his answer. Whether that had been minute to minute, day by day, or month to month, Mike hadn’t known.
He simply kept going forjust one more.
“Fine,” he grumbled. “But then I want a lot of blessings, please.” His chest tightened, because he knew he didn’t get blessings for doing something hard. It wasn’t an exchange system between him and God.
He looked up at the ceiling in the elevator, finding it ridiculous and also fitting for HMC to find it mirrored. His reflection looked down at him, and Mike saw himself clearly for the first time in what felt like weeks.
Maybe since he’d gone to Coral Canyon while Gerty had continued on to Montana with her parents. Things had shifted between them then, and he hadn’t realized it as quickly as he should’ve.
“Gerty doesn’t stay quiet,” he whispered. “Unless something’s wrong. You have to make her talk.”
He fumbled with his phone, ready to call her now and tell her he was on the way. She was an early riser and usually went to bed by nine or nine-thirty, but he had to see her.
Today.
He had to tell her something hard, and he wanted her to tell him all of her hard things. Every single one.
The elevator reached the ground floor, and Mike nearly muscled his way outside. Kevin met him there, a look of pure anxiety on his face. “Mister Hammond.”
“I need a car,” Mike said. “I don’t care if it’s mine.” He glanced around, not really sure what he was looking for.
“We just need you to go through your truck first.” Kevin handed him a pair of blue gloves that seemed like they belonged in a hospital. Mike reminded himself that HMC had two floors of laboratories, and they surely paid a pretty penny for the number of gloves they went through in a month.
He should know that number, but he decided he had time to learn it. He took the gloves, but he wanted to throw them in the trashcan. He certainly didn’t put them on as he strode toward his truck.
If he didn’t touch anything, he’d be fine. The truck sat in its usual spot, and he checked the tires as he approached. The back right one was brand new, thanks to a flat he’d gotten here in the garage too.
Mike had the sudden and horrifying thought that perhaps another Hammond didn’t want him to take over at HMC.Don’t be ridiculous, he told himself.
His grandfather’s other children were very nearly all passed now, and their children were in their seventies too. Their children were either in their fifties and doing other things or didn’t want the company. They probably had children too, but they likely weren’t old enough to run the company. That was why Hunter had taken over in his mid-twenties and stayed as long as he had.
“It looks fine,” Mike said. He entered the narrow passage between the truck and the wall and edged down it. It was a masterful feat he performed every morning when he arrived, because then he had to open his door and squeeze out too.
He opened the door, the rush of something foreign and floral hitting him straight in the nose. He blinked, trying to make sense of Gerty’s scent in his truck.
Then he saw her sitting in the passenger seat. The air left his lungs and surprise took its place.
“Gerty.”
“Hey, baby.” She lifted her hand in a wave, and Mike took a moment to let the echo of her voice fill his ears. She had never called himbabybefore, but he really wanted to hear it again. And again.
He looked over his shoulder, didn’t see Kevin, and got in the truck. He still held the gloves, and he glanced at them before tossing them in the back seat. “I don’t think I need those.”
Gerty giggled and shook her head. Mike practically climbed over the console he leaned so close, and he murmured, “I have missed you so much,” right before he claimed her mouth as his.
