Chapter 17 #2
“I like having you here,” he retorts. “The client apartment was a stupid idea. And… shit. I don’t want you to leave.
” A dull flush colors his cheeks. “I was thinking about all the things we could do together. All the holiday stuff. And the Mustang… now that it’s basically done, I thought we could take some drives.
Maybe head up to Mount Hood, check out the Bigfoot Museum on the way.
Webb and Noelle went, and they said it was really cool. ”
My heart twinges with longing. All the things Ace just suggested, I want to do them. With him.
But my job. My house. And that’s besides the fact we haven’t been dating long. What if, a month down the line, we end up regretting it?
Then again, what did I promise myself after Tacoma? What’s Annaliese been urging me to do for years?
Stop playing it safe. Take a chance on falling in love. Risk my heart, knowing the danger, but also the reward.
“Tink…” Ace strokes my cheek. “I don’t want to push you into anything you don’t want. But having you here… this place feels like home, instead of just a place to live.”
I blink in surprise. “But you have your teammates here. And Eden and Bea and Noelle.”
“I know. But it’s not the same.”
As I look into his bright blue eyes, I’m torn in two directions. There’s the practical, safe path, where I go back home and see Ace on the weekends. And then there’s the path my heart is drawn to.
But instead of explaining any of that, I blurt out another question I’ve been wondering. “Ace. Why do you call me Tink?”
“It’s your nickname. Why wouldn’t I use it sometimes?”
“Because—” My cheeks go hot. “I hear other guys call their girlfriends honey or sweetheart. But you call me the same nickname everyone did in the Army.”
Ace pales. He sits up straight. “Shit, Yara. I didn’t think. Do you want me to call you—”
“No. I guess I just wondered.”
An earnest expression moves across his face. “It’s not because it’s the nickname everyone used. It’s because… Well. To me, Tink stands for all the incredible things about you. How smart and creative you are, of course. But also the character—”
“You think I’m like a fairy?” To someone else, that might be a compliment. But not to me.
“Not like that. It’s because she was brave. Loyal. She would do anything to protect the people she cared about. And that’s you.”
It’s so far from what I expected, I can’t speak right away. Tears spring to my eyes, and my chin wobbles. “Ace.”
“I won’t call you that anymore,” Ace says. “I’ll come up with something else. Something more romantic.”
“No.” I lunge forward, flinging my arms around him and hugging him hard. “I didn’t realize. But hearing you explain it… it’s the best nickname ever. I don’t want you using anything else.”
His arms come around me. “Are you sure?”
“Yes,” I reply firmly. “I’m sure.”
He looks at me for a long moment, assessing. Then he gives me a cautious smile. “Okay. I’ll keep using it.”
“Good.” I kiss him on the lips. “If you want, I can call you King—”
“No.” His response is immediate. “King is fine when my buddies use it. But I like hearing you say my real name.”
I nod. “Okay. Just Ace, then.” After a moment’s thought, I add, “Anyway, an ace is better than a king. So I’d rather call you that.”
Some of the worry fades from his eyes. “So that’s settled, then.”
“The nicknames. Yes.”
“But what about next month? If you need to go back, I understand. I’ll…” He pauses to think. “I’ll come every weekend, unless I’m traveling for a case. And I can probably work remotely sometimes. Take some vacation time.”
Take a risk, my heart urges.
The logical voice tries to argue, but I firmly shut it down.
“I think,” I start slowly, thinking things through as I go. “I could work something out with my company. I don’t need to be on-site five days a week. A lot of the time, it’s analyzing data, and I can do that remotely.”
A hopeful light brightens Ace’s eyes. “Would they let you do that?”
“I think so. If I go in two days a week, work remotely the other three… I might have to go for longer if there’s a deadline coming up, but most weeks… Yes. I think they’d agree.”
“What about the class you teach?”
“It’s almost over for the semester. And I could schedule my days in Seattle to coincide with it next semester.”
“And your house?”
“I can use it on the days I go into work until the lease is up, and then get an apartment closer to work. Or sublet it.”
“So…” Ace rubs his thumb across my palm. “You’re going to stay?”
“Are you sure you want me to? Really sure?”
“Yes.” He pulls me close and kisses me. “Yes, Tink. I’m really sure.”
Fizzy lightness fills my chest. All at once, I feel more hopeful than I have in years. “Okay, then. I’m staying.”
A wide smile stretches across his face. “Awesome. We can drive there tomorrow, pick up more of your stuff.” Ace glances around the brightening room. “And we can redecorate anything you want. Paint. Wallpaper. New furniture.”
I can’t help being caught up in his enthusiasm. “Tomorrow sounds great.”
“And today,” he says, “We can just enjoy the day. Relax. Watch TV. And maybe I’ll grill for everyone tonight. Kind of a celebration.”
“You don’t think they’ll mind that I’m staying?”
Ace looks at me like I’m crazy. “Are you serious? They’ll be thrilled.”
The last of my anxiety eases, and I smile back at him. “Good.”
“It is good,” he agrees. “And—”
From the nightstand, his phone chimes. It’s the Blade and Arrow ringtone; the one they use so they all know immediately when one of them is calling.
“I’d better grab that,” Ace says. “This time of morning, if I’m getting a call…”
I wave at him to go ahead. “It’s fine. I’ll just freshen up a little, maybe get the coffee started.”
But I haven’t even reached the bathroom before Ace’s sharp intake of breath stops me.
I spin around, heart racing. That’s not the sound someone makes when it’s good news. It’s the sound someone makes when they’re surprised.
Ace’s eyes meet mine. His expression is unreadable. Then he says to whoever called, “I’ll tell her. And we’ll be at the meeting in thirty.”
My stomach drops.
Whatever this is, it can’t be good.
Ace sets the phone on the mattress, gets up, and crosses the room to me. He takes my hand in his. “Yara.”
“What is it?” I take a steadying breath. “Was Davis released? Winthrop? Or—” My chest constricts. “Did Tyler find proof that Malik is dead?”
“None of those things.” He squeezes my hand. “It was Tyler calling. He just received some pretty solid intel.”
“About?” I’m breathless with anticipation and fear.
“Malik.” Ace gives me a tiny smile. “It looks like he’s still alive.”
My legs sag, and I gasp, “He’s alive?”
“In Iran. Tyler’s still working on the exact location.”
Tears fill my eyes. “We have to find him, Ace. If he’s been there all this time…”
Ace hugs me close. “We will, Tink. I promise. We’ll bring him home.”