3. Mark
Three days.
It’s been three days since bumping into Faye.
Three days of itching to reach out, knowing I couldn’t afford the distraction.
Mission first, always.
Lives were at stake, and thankfully, I’ve mastered the art of compartmentalization.
The extraction was gnarly and put my skills to the test. Riggs was right to request my assistance, and I’m glad I could help.
Being back on his team gives me a sense of purpose, even if I’m no longer the one calling the shots.
I not only exfilled our team safely but also made good time getting us back to PDX once the mission was complete.
I’m still flying high from our team’s success as I touch down in Seaside. I routinely go through my post-flight checks, and the next thing I know, I’m heading down the highway toward home.
I’ve always prided myself on being direct, but as I close the distance between Faye and me, I fear I’m heading into uncharted territory.
I haven’t truly spoken to her since we were kids.
Now that we’re neighbors, she’ll know the second I arrive home.
I need a game plan, or I’ll be up shit’s creek without a paddle before I even have the chance to hop out of my truck.
She was always quick to see right through me.
She’s likely the only woman who ever has.
The way her eyes heated as she rattled off her digits as a challenge made my heart race and my mind work overtime. My visceral response was unexpected.
How can just one little smile take me back thirty years?
More importantly, did I have the same effect on her?
Hell, I’ve already been zero contact for three fucking days.
She probably thinks I’m an asshole and not interested in reconnecting.
Which couldn’t be farther from the truth.
I haven’t stopped thinking about her since forcing myself to leave.
I’m dying to know what she’s been up to. Is she married, does she have any kids, and most pressingly, what’s made her return to Seaside?
My fingers have hovered over her number more times than I can count since programming it into my phone. The only thing that’s stopped me is this hard truth—our first real chance at catching up shouldn’t be an awkward phone call.
Faye deserves better than that.
Stopping at one of the few lights in town, I contemplate parking and just pulling the trigger to get this much-needed call over with.
Just as my thumb hovers over the call button, doubt creeps in.
What the fuck should I even say?
I’ve been radio silent since seeing her.
She probably thinks I’m blowing her off, and my leaving town is merely a throwaway excuse to get away from her, which obviously isn’t true. But how do I tell her that?
Hell, I can’t stop thinking about her.
She’s got me feeling like a sixteen-year-old again, twisting me from the inside out. I’m dying to know what she’s been up to. We used to be connected at the hip.
I know for me, life happened.
When she stopped reaching out, I moved on.
Then I met Sarah, and she and the girls consumed every second of my time. Is that the case for Faye?
Does she have a family of her own?
I didn’t see a ring on her finger.
Maybe she’s single like me?
That thought alone excites me more than it should.
I’ve never reacted to a woman the way I do Faye.
But is this just my memory playing tricks on me?
It has been a while since I’ve attempted to date anyone.
Maybe I’m just out of practice?
So, call her, dumbass.
It’s the only way I’ll finally know which end is up.
My fingers hover over her number, and I hesitate once again.
The light changes, and I start driving.
Each second I get closer to home, I’m closer to Faye. I know without a doubt, I want to see her tonight, but the question remains—is she up for seeing me?
For fuck’s sake, Lancaster. Get it together.
I’ve commanded thousands of airmen and have made life and death decisions without a second glance. I can certainly call this woman.
At one point, she was my best fucking friend.
Man up and fucking do it already.
When my stomach growls, I make a split-second decision and pull off to the side of the road. Instead of calling, I quickly tap out a text:
Me:
I’ll be home in twenty. Have you eaten dinner?
There. I’ve made contact.
All I can do now is wait and see if she responds.