AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I listened to the deep tone as I padded upstairs to the bedroom. I hadn’t noticed last night, but my purse and jacket had been in the back seat of Huntley’s SUV. Cash, Deacon, and Stirling had been released by the cops much more quickly than we’d been. While we’d been stuck at the police station last night, the guys were busy smoothing things over for us. They got one of their friends to pick them up, headed over to the warehouse to grab Huntley’s SUV, and then went back to the bank to grab my stuff. I hadn’t even thought to question how his vehicle had gotten there until they texted him this morning.
I was dreading the conversation I needed to have with my parents about what had happened yesterday, but I couldn’t avoid talking to them forever. I didn’t worry too much about them hearing about the robbery and me being taken hostage on the news since I doubted my ordeal would make national headlines with all the crap going on in the world. But ever since they moved to Florida, we talked at least a couple of times a week.
After flopping down on Huntley’s mattress, I glanced down at my screen and heaved a deep sigh of relief when there weren’t any missed calls from them. Talking to my parents the morning after losing my virginity—and quite thoroughly at that—while wearing nothing but Huntley’s shirt seemed as though it would be even more awkward than having to tell them I could’ve died yesterday. I needed to go back to my apartment at some point today, so I decided to wait to call them until then.
I was scrolling through my social media a few minutes later when Huntley came into the room. As soon as I spotted his frown, I had a feeling I wasn’t going to like what he had to say. “What’s wrong?”
He scrubbed his palms down his face and sighed. “When you’re in the Navy, sometimes shit goes down and plans fly out the window. That’s why we always have contingency plans.”
“I’m assuming your call was about one of those backup plans?” I asked, patting the mattress as I braced myself for his answer.
“You could definitely put it that way.” He sat down next to me and laced his fingers through mine. “Even though we’ve only been back Stateside for a little less than seventy-two hours, they need my team to stand in for another on an upcoming mission.” His expression became a little wary as he finished with, “I have to head to the base. I can’t tell you when we’re leaving or how long I’ll be gone.”
I hated the thought of having so little time with Huntley after everything that had gone down over the past day, but the last thing I wanted to do was say anything that would make him worry about me while he was gone. His focus needed to be on what was important—making it back home alive. And he needed to know that I could handle this life. “Don’t worry about me, babe. You do what you need to do, and I’ll order a rideshare back to my apartment. The most important thing is that you keep yourself safe and come back to me.”
“So damn sweet.” He pressed his forehead against mine. “I’m going to miss you while I’m gone.”
“I’m going to miss you, too.” I gave him a quick peck on the lips before scrambling off the mattress.
“I wish I had enough time to take you home myself.” A muscle jumped in his jaw.
“I’ll be fine,” I assured him. “I haven’t bothered with a car since my apartment is less than a mile from the bank, so I’m used to taking the bus or a rideshare.”
“I have a better idea.” He got up and strode over to the dresser. Grabbing his keys, he turned toward me and pressed them into my hand. “Take my SUV. It’ll just sit in a parking lot while I’m gone, and I like knowing you have a vehicle to get wherever you need to be if I’m not around to drive you.”
I stared down in shock at the keys he’d given me. “I don’t know.”
He kissed me breathless again before whispering, “Please, Cora. Do this for me.”
My heart melted at his plea. “Okay.
“Take all the shit in my fridge home with you, too.” I was about to protest when he added, “You’d be doing me a favor since I usually throw it all away before I leave. It fucking sucks to come home to rotten food.”
I laughed and shook my head. “When you put it that way, how can I say no?”
He flashed me a triumphant grin before patting my butt and nudging me toward the door. “I’ll help you pack it all up once I have everything I need to bring with me.”
Less than twenty minutes later, he pulled to the side of the road near the entrance to the base. After he climbed out of the truck, I slid over to the driver’s side. He gave me one last kiss before shutting the door. I rolled down the window while he grabbed his bag from the back seat. “Bye, Huntley. Be as safe as you can be for me.”
His voice was fierce as he corrected, “Not goodbye, gingersnap. I’ll see you later.”
I held on to his vow as I watched him walk through the security gate, a lone tear sliding down my cheek as I sent up a little prayer that he’d come back to me soon.
8
Huntley
Six weeks. What should have been a quick, in and out mission went FUBAR the first day. We spent weeks cleaning up the mess while trying not to get ourselves killed.
Six long fucking weeks since I’d seen or held my girl.
The debriefing nearly did the job of our enemies for us by killing me with boredom and the need to be on the move. Afterward, I couldn’t get my ass off the base fast enough.
I threw Deacon a deadly glare when he chuckled for the fifth time while giving me a ride to Cora’s place. “I’m going to knock that smirk off your face if you don’t stop, D.”
“I can’t help it. You’re really whipped for this girl, aren’t you?”
“You say whipped. I say devoted to the woman of my dreams.” I tossed him my own smirk this time. “I can’t wait until this happens to you. I’m going to enjoy every second of rubbing it in your pretty-boy face.”
