Chapter 12 Monroe
MONROE
The bleachers were packed, the air was frigid, and I was plastered against Jace’s side, trying to steal his body heat.
Any closer, and I would be in his lap, which was tempting but not exactly appropriate for a Friday night high school football game, with half the town and parents watching and my son sitting on the team bench.
Not to mention, I was a teacher at Pine Valley High.
Jace laughed in my ear. “I have ways to keep you warm, but they’re rated R.”
I flushed. “I’ll be fine.”
The fact that he was here made me giddy.
We’d texted all week with little things like thinking of you or I can’t wait to see you Friday.
Every message had felt like a spark. Every steamy comment had me warm and gooey.
Truth be told, I thought about Jace every free moment.
I’d been walking on air, and even my meeting with Ryan about his holiday plans with Ethan had gone better than I expected.
Probably because I wasn’t as angry anymore.
Probably because it was time to move on.
Pine Valley scored a touchdown, and the crowd went nuts. Even Jace popped to his feet, cheering loudly.
Once he sat back down, he said, “The team is really good.”
“You miss this?” I asked.
His arm was around me again. “I do miss the Friday nights on the field, the noise, the adrenaline. I played wide receiver in high school and college. But”—he pecked me on the cheek—“I missed you more. You’ve been on my mind all week.”
Oh my word. I thought I just fell harder for him until Ethan turned around and looked up into the stands as though he’d heard what Jace had said.
I’d been thinking about how Ethan would react to a new man in my life, worried that he wouldn’t accept anyone because he was afraid I would get hurt again.
I couldn’t blame my son. But I had to take a chance on love again.
Otherwise, I would be alone, and I wanted a partner, maybe another child.
Regardless, I’d talked to Ethan during the week about me seeing Jace. He hadn’t said much except that Jace seemed like a nice guy. Apparently, Ethan’s girlfriend, Sabrina, had shared what she knew about Captain Jace Callahan. After all, Jace reported to Sabrina’s dad.
I waved at my son, who in turn smiled, and my heart soared that Ethan seemed happy for me. I’d worried that my son wouldn’t be accepting of another man in my life. But the fact he appeared to be made me more comfortable around Jace.
The fans shot to their feet, shouting and cheering when Pine Valley intercepted the ball.
“Go! Go!” the spectators yelled.
When number eight scored the touchdown, I turned to high-five Jace. Instead, he caught my face in his hands and kissed me long enough for me to realize that I never wanted us to end.
The crowd’s roar faded into the background, the world narrowing to the taste of his lips and the solid warmth of his hands on my cold cheeks. The longer we kissed, the more I realized Jace was worth everything I’d been too scared to feel. He made me believe in second chances.
Several minutes later, when the game ended, the scoreboard flashing victory as the band played the school anthem, my cheeks hurt from smiling. My voice was scratchy from all the shouting.
Jace helped me down the bleachers, his hand steady at my waist as we trailed behind others leaving the game or finding their kids on the field.
I grabbed Jace’s hand. “I’ll introduce you to Coach.”
We headed in that direction, winding through the groups of people chatting with excitement about the win.
As we neared Coach Perry, Jace slowed, the warmth of his hand slipping from mine.
I followed his gaze and spotted Mr. Lawson, Sabrina’s dad, talking with Coach Perry near the team bench.
Jace gave a low chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn’t expect to run into my flight commander on a football field.”
“Sabrina’s dad donates to the sports program,” I said.
“Of course he does,” Jace murmured, half amusement, half tension flickering through his voice.
Mr. Lawson lifted his gaze and smiled at us.
“Evening, sir,” Jace said to his commander. “I didn’t realize you were a football guy.”
“Hard not to be in Pine Valley,” Mr. Lawson said with a laugh.
“Coach Perry and I were just talking about next season’s fundraiser.
” He introduced Jace to Coach Perry, beating me to the punch.
“This is Captain Callahan, one of my best pilots in the squadron. He’s also a former college football player. ”
Coach Perry, a head shorter than Jace and Mr. Lawson, shook hands with Jace. “You’re the guy that Monroe told me about. You were going to volunteer to help the team but got reassigned.”
“Yes, sir. Good game tonight. That interception in the fourth quarter was textbook.”
Coach’s grin widened. “The team did great. If you ever give up your wings for the field, come see me.”
“Easy now, Coach,” Mr. Lawson warned with a laugh. “I need this guy.” Then he turned to me. “Mrs. Blake, I’ll be at the parent-and-teacher conference coming up. But Sabrina just loves your class.”
“Thank you,” I said with a nod. “She’s a bright girl.”
Before anyone could add to that, Sabrina ran up, still flushed from cheering and bundled in her blue-and-white cheer jacket.
“Dad! Oh, hi, Captain Callahan. Ethan said you would be here. I want to thank you again for your honesty at Career Day about your G-LOC. And also congratulations on being cleared to fly again.”
Her last line dropped into the conversation like a plane falling out of the sky, and a muscle ticked in Jace’s jaw.
Coach’s eyebrows rose. “G-LOC? That must’ve been scary.”
I’d remembered hearing Ethan jabbering about Jace and G-LOC but never attempted to probe further since I’d had other things on my mind.
Mr. Lawson cleared his throat, giving his daughter a look that said enough. “Sabrina, we need to go. Jace, good to see you out enjoying the night. I’ll check in with you on Monday.”
Then Mr. Lawson excused himself, taking his daughter with him.
Coach said his goodbyes then began collecting his gear off the bench.
Once Jace and I were alone with the wind in our faces, I held his hand. “You okay?”
He let out a breath that sounded more like a grunt. “Yeah. Just forgot how small the world gets when the base and town overlap.”
“G-LOC?” I asked, very well aware of what it was since Ryan worked in aircraft maintenance around pilots and jets. “That’s why you got reassigned.”
“Grounded,” he said, then kissed me on the head. “But I don’t want to talk about work.”
I pulled away from him. “Jace, I want to know. Don’t shut me out. My ex did that, and I’m not up for another round.”
He sighed heavily. “Sorry.” He glanced past me. “Your son is heading this way.”
I studied Jace’s hard expression before I pivoted on my heel. I didn’t want to start a relationship with secrets or vagueness. I wouldn’t go through that again.
“Mom.” Ethan said then regarded Jace. “Thanks for coming. Sabrina talks about you a lot. Says you’re one of the best pilots.”
Jace brushed off his comment with a shrug. “I hear you’re good at football.”
Ethan lit up, his brown eyes gleaming. “I’m getting there. I move up to varsity next year.”
The two jabbered about football as if they’d known each other a long time.
I watched my son in awe as he nodded and grinned at advice Jace was giving him about the game.
Ethan was growing into a tall and handsome young man, and I couldn’t be prouder of him.
The divorce had thrown Ethan into a tailspin, but he had risen above the ashes, so to speak, better than I expected.
Finally, one of the players called to Ethan, ending the convo with Jace. “You coming or what?”
“We can chat more when you have time,” Jace said to him.
“I would like that, Jace.” Then Ethan kissed me on the cheek. “I’ll be at the party. Brad’s mom will bring me home.”
“Curfew is midnight,” I called as he joined his friends.
Then Jace wrapped his arm around me. “I hate to leave, but I have an early morning tomorrow. I’m showing the class of airmen and women the F-15.”
“How do you like teaching?” I asked as we walked to the parking lot.
“It’s growing on me,” he said, sounding as though he wasn’t really present.
I got the feeling that something was bothering him all of a sudden.
I came to an abrupt halt as we reached the parking lot.
He whipped his gaze at me like an expert marksman. “What is it?”
“Did the temperature change between us?”
Chuckling, he moved a strand of hair off my face. “Sunshine, the only temp we have is hot as fuck.” His blue eyes glinted beneath the light pole as he feathered his lips over mine, short-circuiting every logical part of my brain.
I poked him playfully. “I’m serious. You changed the instant G-LOC was mentioned.”
“It was a scary incident and not one I’m ready to talk about.”
A G-LOC could’ve killed him. “You know you can talk to me.” I took a breath. “If we’re building a relationship… I mean, that is what we’re doing, right?”
He grinned, slow and wicked, melting any frost between us. “I’m all in. But is that what you want?”
I guessed I’d never come out and told him how I felt about him or us. “One hundred percent. But Jace, if this is going to work, no secrets.”
“Agreed. How about you and me alone next Friday after the game,” he offered. “And I will tell you all about my G-LOC.”
“Why, Captain Callahan, are you asking me out on a real date?”
“I want to take you on a thousand dates.”
Hope fluttered in my chest where doubt had lived a moment ago. “I accept. The team has an away game, so I’m all yours.”
He pulled me to him, hands settling on my waist, forehead touching mine. “Good. Because I’m not letting you go. You’re mine, Monroe. Don’t ever doubt that.”
Then he kissed me, and as our tongues fought for control, doubt took root deep in my subconscious. I wasn’t sure why, but time would tell.