Chapter 9
“Holy shit, man, you should’ve seen Logan’s face when he opened that box,” Oz told everyone several days later.
They were once again at the base discussing world affairs.
Grover was quieter than usual, and they all knew it was because he was frustrated that their commander hadn’t immediately approved them heading off to Afghanistan to try to find the missing contractor, Sierra Clarkson.
“What’d he send?” Trigger asked.
“Well, first, there was the handwritten letter from Shin-Soo Choo, telling Logan how impressed he was with his dedication to the sport of baseball. He said that he himself got a late start, and that anything was possible with determination and hard work. I swear Logan has read that letter a hundred times already,” Oz said.
“Wow, how’d he know so much about Logan?” Brain asked.
Oz looked at Doc. “I’m guessing Doc told Ember, who told Shin-Soo.”
Doc smiled. His friend guessed right. In one of their first phone calls after they’d gotten back from South Korea, she’d asked for more information about Logan. She hadn’t forgotten her promise to get in touch with Shin-Soo to see if he could send merch to Logan.
“Which reminds me, I need her address so Logan can send her a thank you card,” Oz said.
“Of course,” Doc told him.
“Get back to the box. What else was in it?” Lucky asked.
“What wasn’t in it?” Oz countered. “Two signed baseballs, a signed baseball mitt, autographed pictures and trading cards from the entire team. A uniform—that was Logan’s exact size, I might add.
Not only that, but he also included a newborn outfit for Amalia and a shirt for Bria too.
I’ve never seen Logan so excited and overwhelmed at the same time.
He slept in his shirt last night and couldn’t wait to get to practice this afternoon to brag about everything he’d received. ”
Doc was happy for his friend and Logan. The kid had been through hell, as had his sister, and they all deserved the best.
“I saw Ember’s IG post,” Brain said.
“You did? Since when are you on Instagram?” Lucky asked.
“I’m not. But when her words are plastered all over every entertainment network, it’s hard to not see them,” Brain said.
It was true. Doc couldn’t imagine having everything he said be scrutinized and picked apart like Ember’s words had been. But he was impressed as hell with her. What she’d posted had obviously come from the heart…and it showed.
Of course, there were those people who thought it was an angle, that she was trying to find new ways of getting attention, but they were dead wrong. She wanted the opposite. She wanted the attention on those who needed it most, not her.
He hadn’t heard from her in two days…and truth be told, he was getting worried, though he didn’t want to be that guy.
The one who hovered and looked like a stalker.
The last he’d heard, she’d met with her financial advisors and had gotten everything squared away.
Her parents would be fine, money wise, for the rest of their lives… as would she.
She told him she’d cried when she received the Silver Star he’d sent, but all in all, she’d sounded great.
Happy. And perversely, it made Doc kind of sad.
He wanted to be there to see her blossom.
To cheer her on. But all he could do was listen after the fact and tell her what a great job she was doing.
It wasn’t the same as being by her side as she was accomplishing everything she wanted to in her life.
So, after much thinking the previous evening…
he’d realized that he couldn’t do this. Couldn’t be in a long-distance relationship with Ember.
He thought he could, but it was too painful.
His abrupt change of heart didn’t say good things about him, but she deserved a man who could be there for her whenever she needed him, and that wasn’t Doc.
Not when he was all the way across the country.
Maybe taking the last two days off from talking to her had been a good thing. Would make it easier to start distancing himself. It was obvious she could stand on her own two feet. She didn’t need him.
He’d slowly ease off their contact, until she barely remembered he existed. She was extremely busy. She’d be all right.
In contrast, ending contact would kill Doc. He treasured their conversations and missed her after only two days. She might be better off without him, but the reverse wasn’t true. Though he’d do what was best for her, no matter how much it hurt.
Doc turned his attention back to the team.
He’d live for his friends and their families.
He’d do whatever it took to help Grover find out what happened to Sierra, even if they never got sent overseas to investigate themselves.
Maybe he’d buy another house and flip it.
He hadn’t finished his own, but having another house to work on would keep him busy, and his mind off what Ember was doing.
The day passed slowly, and Doc couldn’t help but check his phone during breaks to see if Ember had texted or called. She hadn’t. He wanted to reach out and ask if she was all right. To check on her. Beg her to let him know she wasn’t lying dead in a ditch somewhere.
Yeah. He would do a great job distancing himself.
When their meetings were over, it was looking more and more like they’d be headed to Afghanistan to investigate the missing contractors.
There hadn’t been any messages from Shahzada claiming responsibility for any kidnappings, but that was the most likely scenario.
There was a Navy SEAL team in the area at the moment, attempting to track down hidey-holes and get more information.
Once they reported back, the Deltas could be sent in to clear those hiding spots in the mountain caves.
It would be a highly dangerous mission, but they were all one hundred percent on board.
If Shahzada was holding Americans—or any innocent human beings hostage—they wanted to find and free them.
And they had an even bigger stake since one of those missing may be Sierra.
It was obvious that she meant something to Grover.
They’d teased their friend over the last year about her, but no one had suspected she was seriously in danger.
Perhaps there was a bit of guilt over not being more concerned about her silence.
They’d just thought she wasn’t interested in Grover.
They should’ve known that wasn’t the case.
As for Grover…he wasn’t the kind of man to fall fast for a woman, but it looked more and more like he’d done just that, and had kept his interest on the down low.
“Gillian wants to throw Oz and Riley a baby-warming party,” Trigger said as they all headed for the parking lot.
“What the hell is that?” Lefty asked.
“You know, like a housewarming party, but with a baby instead.”
“It’s not necessary,” Oz said, a huge grin on his face. “But I know our women never pass up a chance to hang out together.”
“Gillian doesn’t mind putting something together when she does it every day for a living?” Lucky asked.
“Nope. I asked her the same thing,” Trigger said. “She told me that planning parties for her friends is way different than doing it for a business or strangers. For one, she knows whatever she plans won’t be judged. Everyone will just be happy being together.”
“It’s true,” Brain said. “I always hoped whoever I ended up with would get along with the women you guys chose, and the friendships Aspen has with everyone are rock solid. It makes me feel a lot better when we’re deployed.”
The others agreed.
As they exited the building into the hot Texas afternoon heat, Doc couldn’t help but wonder what the other women would think about Ember.
She was kind and charismatic. He didn’t think she’d have an issue making friends, despite being too busy training to find any close confidants over the years.
He had a feeling Ember would jump at the chance to have an “inner circle.” Women who weren’t competition.
He knew without a doubt that Gillian, Kinley, Aspen, Riley, and Devyn would take to her.
They might be intimidated by her fame at first, but after they got to know her, they’d realize how amazing she was.
He shook his head. It wasn’t going to happen. Ember was in California and the women lived in Texas.
“This weekend. Saturday,” Trigger said. “At Oz’s house.
Gillian feels bad that she’s commandeering your house without checking with you first, but you can kick us out anytime you want.
And she figured it would be easier for you guys.
You won’t have to haul Amalia’s stuff all over the place.
And Logan and Bria will probably be more comfortable in their own space. ”
“It’s cool,” Oz said. “We’ve got plenty of room. Tell Gillian to let us all know what to bring. And if she says nothing, there’s gonna be trouble.”
Trigger laughed. “Don’t worry, she’s learned her lesson. The last time she tried to provide everything herself, you guys went overboard bringing food and drinks we didn’t need.”
“Grover?” Lefty asked.
“Yeah?”
“You okay?”
Their friend sighed. “No. But I’m doing my best not to think about what Sierra might have gone through, or is still going through.”
“You think she’s still alive?” Lucky asked.
Doc winced. He knew Lucky hadn’t meant to sound so surprised, but his disbelief was clear.
Doc had only known Ember for a little longer than Grover had known Sierra, so he’d never tell his friend it was ridiculous for him to feel so much for the diminutive redhead after such a short period of time.
He was proof that when you found the one meant for you… time made no difference.
“I don’t know,” Grover said. “Part of me hopes and prays she is. But another part knows that’s selfish, and if she is alive, she’s lived through absolute hell for the last year or so.”
“Remember Kalee?” Doc asked.
Everyone turned to look at him.