Out of Time (Out of Line #2) (Volume 2)

by Jen McLaughlin

  “Carrie…”

  “I know. I need a drink first.”

  He gave me a look, one that said he didn’t like this not-talking thing I was doing any more than he liked giving me alcohol, but I stubbornly ignored it. I went into the kitchen, grabbing him a beer and me a wine cooler. After I opened them, I went back to his side and handed him his beer.

  He took it and sat down on the couch, his eyes never leaving mine. Then he held it out to me. “To us?”

  “To us,” I echoed, tapping my bottle with his. I brought it to my lips and drank it, not even taking a breath between swallows. Finn threw me a concerned look and pried it out of my fingers before I could drain it. “Hey.”

  Finn cupped my chin and turned my head, forcing my face toward his. “Carrie. Look at me.”

  “I can’t. I just…can’t.” I closed my eyes tight, scrunching them shut. “I don’t want to do this.”

  “Ginger…” He pulled me into his lap. “I need you to look at me.”

  I rested in between his legs, but facing him, a leg on either side of his hips. I squeezed my eyes shut even tighter, like a kid terrified to open her eyes and see the monster looming over her bed late at night. I couldn’t handle this. I wasn’t strong enough.

  Wait. Yes, I was. I had to be strong for him. He needed me to be strong.

  I took a deep, shaky breath and opened my eyes, my chest moving far too rapidly and my heart echoing in my head so loudly it freaking hurt. I knew that I wasn’t going to like what he had to say, and I knew I was going to lose it. Completely lose it.

  I rested a hand behind his neck, directly between his shoulder blades, and the other on his shoulder. I nodded, knowing he was waiting. Waiting for me to be ready.

  It’s not that I couldn’t handle it. I could. I’d just needed some time.

  And I loved him even more for totally getting this about me.

  I nodded once. “Go ahead. Tell me everything.”

  I looked at Carrie, her blue eyes on me and so breathtakingly beautiful, and I clammed up. I had so much I wanted to tell her, but I wasn’t allowed to. I could only give her a fraction of the details, and then in a few days, I wouldn’t be able to tell her anything. I knew she wouldn’t like that any more than I did.

  Our relationship had been built on secrets and lies, and now I had to go right back to not telling her stuff. To keeping secrets. I didn’t like it, but my eye was on the end goal. And it would be worth it once we got there. If we got there.

  I closed my hands around the back of her waist, holding on tight in case she tried to bolt. I needed to hold her. “I saw an old friend of yours today. Captain Richards. Does the name ring a bell?”

  “Yeah, he went to the same college as my dad. They’ve been close ever since. I think he’s coming for our Christmas dinner we always do.” She shook her head, watching me closely. “What did he want with you?”

  “He had an offer to make.” I hesitated. “There’s something I have to tell you first, and please try to understand this isn’t up to me.”

  She stilled. “What?”

  I rubbed her back in big, wide circles. “I can’t tell you all the details of what I got asked to do. It’s got a high-security clearance—one I just obtained today—and I am legally not allowed to tell you everything I know.”

  She blinked at me. “I won’t tell anyone.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I’m not allowed to tell.”

  She nibbled on her lower lip. “Do you not trust me to keep a secret? I mean, I know I’m not the best liar in the world, but I could do it.”

  I cupped her cheeks. “Ginger, it’s not that. I fucking trust you with my life. But it’s my job, and I can’t tell you. It has nothing to do with trust, okay?”

  “Fine. Yeah.” She nodded jerkily. It wasn’t fine with her. I could see it. “I get it, but what can you tell me?”

  “Captain Richards asked me to take on a special case. It will involve me leaving in two days.”

  “What? Why? No.” She gasped. “Where are you going?”

  “Away.” I flinched. “Out of the country.”

  Her eyes flashed. “Where?”

  “I can’t say,” I said, closing my eyes. “That’s part of the deal, Ginger.”

  She pushed off my lap and paced. “Seriously? I can’t even know where or why? That’s ridiculous.”

  “I can kind of tell you why.” I stood up and grabbed her, stopping her in her tracks. “I’ll be doing something similar to what I’m doing here. Protecting someone.”

  She looked up at me, her red hair falling behind her shoulders. “A girl?”

  “Yeah.” I let go of her and tugged on my hair. “I can’t say who.”

  “Shocker,” she said dryly as she covered her face. “I’m sorry, that was bitchy. But I don’t get why you can’t tell me.”

  I pulled her hands down from her face, squeezing them slightly. “Wasn’t there ever anything your father was working on that he couldn’t tell you about? A bill or a law?”

  “Well, yeah.” She blinked at me. “Lots.”

  “Did he tell your mom?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “See? It’s like that.”

  She sat down on the couch, but she didn’t make a sound. She just sat there, her eyes staring straight ahead. I sat beside her and held her hand, letting her process it all, and tried to keep quiet for her. I needed her to be okay with this.

  After what felt like fucking hours, she looked at me again. She looked so resolute and strong. “Tell me everything you can tell me,” she said, her voice surprisingly steady.

  “He knows about us.” I rubbed her lower back gently. “He confronted me, and tried to bribe me to walk away from you. When that—”

  She held up a hand. “He did what?”

  “He offered me a prestigious promotion. Everything I wanted, if only I walked away from you,” I explained, keeping my voice level.

  “What did you say?” she asked, her eyes narrow.

  “No, of course.” My hand tightened on hers. “What do you think I said?”

  “I don’t even know,” she said, her voice soft. “How did he find out about us?”

  “You know how you thought someone was following us?”

  “Let me guess. It was his guy?”

  “Yep.” I smiled at her and tucked her hair behind her ear. “Your father asked him to send a guy to watch me. To make sure I was doing my job and not lounging about my apartment all day. He started watching when we were in our fight.” I cleared my throat and looked away. I didn’t like to think about that time of my life. “So at first, he didn’t see anything but me following you. But then…”

  “We made up.”

  I nodded. “And he saw a hell of a lot, and reported back to Captain Richards.”

  “Oh God.” She paled. “Did he tell Dad?”

  I shook my head and grabbed my beer. “Nope. Because he has a plan for me, and it involves me leaving on Tuesday morning.”

  “Which is the part you can’t tell me.”

  I took a long sip. “Right. Maybe afterward, but not now.”

  “How long will you be gone? Will he tell Dad after? What does he want from you? When will—?”

  I chuckled and pressed a finger to her mouth. “I don’t know. And no, he’s letting us handle the when and how of telling your dad, but after this it’ll be easier.”

  “Why?” she asked through my fingers.

  I got all excited thinking about what I was going to get for just a few weeks of work. “He’s giving me the opportunity to change my MOS and become an officer, no military hoopla or shit to deal with. Just a quick transfer. I can go to college, fully paid for by Uncle Sam, and enter any field I want after this mission is comp
lete. I can do anything. Be anything.”

  She bit down on her lip, her blue eyes examining my face. “Are you sure this isn’t a way to split us up?”

  “I’m sure.” I leaned back against the couch. “After this, your father will have no reason to object because I’m going to be a commissioned officer.”

  She forced a smile. “That’s great, and I’m happy for you. I really am, but what will this mean to us?”

  “I can go to college, here even. We can be together, and even better? He promised to make sure my father gets his bonus, no matter what.”

  Her fingers tightened on mine. “So no more lying?”

  “I still want you to wait until I’m back to tell your father.” I drank another sip of my beer, and she picked up her wine cooler with a shaking hand. “I don’t want you to do it alone. Once I’m home, we can come clean. Tell him we’re in love. No more lies.”

  Her eyes lit up for the first time since I’d told her my news. She licked her lips, not dropping my gaze. “How long will you be gone?”

  “It’s looking like I’ll be home after Christmas. It’s in the early stages, but I think it’ll be January at the latest.”

  “That’s…” She swallowed hard. “More than a month away.”

  “Yeah, but it’ll pass fast, I’m sure.” I grabbed her hands, holding them to my lips and kissing them. “And when it’s over, we’ll be free. We can be together, no guilt or deception. Just us, going to college together like normal people.”

  She smiled at me, but the tears in her eyes kind of ruined it. “That’s great, Finn.”

  “You don’t look happy.” I kissed her hand again. “This is good. I know it sucks I won’t be home for Christmas, but it’s worth it. I’m doing this for us, Ginger.”

  “I know.” She pulled free and placed her hands on both my cheeks. “And I love you so freaking much for it. For making this happen. I’m just scared. I can’t…I can’t lose you, Finn. I just can’t.”

  Her voice broke off, and she pressed her lips together, tears streaming down her cheeks. My heart clenched in my chest. I’d been expecting anger about having to keep my whereabouts a secret. Maybe a fight. I hadn’t been expecting tears.

  Logistically, this move made sense. It would solve all our issues, and give me a huge pay raise and life change. A fucking gigantic one. I’d only be gone for almost two months, and then I’d be back, and we’d be free. It was a simple decision.

  This was a good move.

  “I don’t get why you’re crying. I’ll be fine, babe. It’s not as dangerous as war, I promise you that,” I said, kissing her tears away. They were salty and warm on my tongue, and I couldn’t fucking keep up with them. “Please don’t cry.”

  “I’m s-sorry.” She took a shaky breath and closed her eyes. “I’ll stop. I’m being stupid.”

  I hugged her close, breathing in her scent. Her hair was hard against my cheek, and it smelled a little funky, but I didn’t care. I just wanted her to smile again. “Carrie, if you’re not okay with this…”

  “I’m fine. We’re fine.” She smiled at me, even through the tears, and rested her hand over my heart. “I love you, and you made a good move. I just needed a second.”

  I swallowed hard, the emotions inside of me warring with one another. I let go of her and lowered my head, not wanting her to see the emotions that were probably quite clear in my eyes. If I didn’t do this, then I’d only be deploying next year, which was a hell of a lot worse than what I’d be doing overseas now.

  But that didn’t make it any easier on her.

  Her fingers flexed on my shoulder. “You will not die. Tell me you won’t. Promise me.”

  My heart wrenched. “I can’t make a promise I can’t keep, Ginger. I couldn’t even make it if I stayed here and never left my apartment. Shit happens. You know that, but this is a hell of a lot safer than getting shot at in the desert. I can tell you that much.”

  “Then I guess I’ll have to take it.” She picked up her wine cooler and took a long sip. “I’d rather you stay with me, but I accept you can’t.”

  I pulled her onto my lap and buried my face in her neck, hugging her against my chest as best I could. I swallowed hard, my chest and throat tight. “I promise to be diligent and to keep myself as safe as possible. I promise not to be an idiot. I promise not to be a martyr. But most importantly, I promise to fall asleep every night with you on my mind, and wake up smiling because I’m lucky enough to have you in my life.”

  She kissed me. She tasted like tears and watermelon wine cooler. “I’m the lucky one, not you.”

  Ha. Not true. I gripped her hips tight. “So we’re okay?”

  “Yep.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll be here when you get back, and then we can move on. Be happy and normal. Right?”

  I chuckled. “As normal as I can possibly be, sure.”

  “Which is not at all,” she said, smiling at me and nudging me with her elbow. “Will you be able to call me? Or text?”

  I nodded. “Yeah. Email, if nothing else, but you’ll be going home soon, so we’ll have to be careful. I don’t want you to have to tell your father without me. I want to be by your side, holding your hand when he finds out.”

  “I’ll wait for you,” she said, meeting my eyes. “Don’t you worry about that.”

  I knew she meant more than the words sounded at face value, and I loved her even more for it. “And I’ll be thinking of you the whole time.”

  She gave me a shaky smile. “You only have two days to get ready to leave?”

  “Yeah.” I flopped back against the couch, and she curled up against my side. “I guess I should call your dad.”

  “He’s still on the plane. They’ll land soon.”

  I nodded. “I’m going to be busy getting ready to leave, but I want to make sure we make time for us before I go. Monday night, it’s just you and me. Got it?”

  She patted my chest. I wished I could see her face, but she had it buried in my chest. “You tell me when, and I’ll be here. You know that.”

  “Maybe,” I said, grinning and kissing the top of her head.

  I could feel her smile against my chest. “Your favorite word, if I remember correctly.”

  “Nope.” I hugged her closer, so at peace with my decision and the future that I felt like I was floating on a cloud. “I have a new favorite word now.”

  “Oh?” She rested her hands on my chest and looked up at me, all wide-eyed and softness. “And what might that be?”

  “Ginger.”

  She smiled up at me and pressed her lips to mine. As I slanted my chin and took control, deepening the kiss, I knew it would all be okay. I’d get through this assignment in one piece, and then she would be happy because I’d be here with her.

  Her father would accept me, since I was now going to be a commissioned officer, and I’d also have the backing of one of his oldest friends. I’d been promised that, too. This assignment wasn’t without danger, but I’d told the truth when I said it wasn’t as dangerous as war.

  At least this was short term, and I more than likely wouldn’t get shot at…

  More than once or twice.

  But it didn’t matter, because we had each other. We had love. And we had commitment. On top of that, I had the belief in my heart that we could survive this. Actually come out of the other side still happily together, as strong and steady as we were now. And if I managed to avoid getting killed over there?

  Then maybe—just maybe…

  We’d even get our happily ever after.

  Monday afternoon, I closed my eyes for a second and took a deep breath. Right now, Finn was packing the last of his belongings, and I was going a little bit crazy. I know he thought this was for the best, and it very well might be true. But until he was home safe, and in my
arms, I was not going to be okay with this. In fact, I was a mess.

  A hot freaking mess.

  Marie kicked me under the table. “Dude, are you sleeping over there or what?”

  “Huh? No.” I straightened and cleared my throat, then smiled at her. “Sorry. It’s been a long couple of days on top of the late night.”

  And it had. Dad was scampering to find someone to watch over me while Finn was gone, and Finn had been a whirlwind of activity since the night he told me he would be leaving. He’d had to get a whole bunch of shots, and then the packing and the phone calls…

  He was doing this for us. Trying to make our life easier. But right now, all I knew was my boyfriend was leaving to go somewhere dangerous, and I wasn’t even allowed to know where.

  My phone buzzed and I picked it up eagerly. It wasn’t Finn messaging me. It was Dad. Where are you?

  I’m having coffee with my roommate.

  A few seconds passed. Call me when you’re home.

  I didn’t answer, and Marie sighed again. “You’re ignoring me for your man, aren’t you? And when will you tell me his name?”

  “I wish. It’s my dad.” I showed her my screen. “And I can’t tell you. It’s too risky. The less you know, the better.”

  “Ah.” Marie read the messages and rolled her eyes. “It’s all so secret and hush hush. You’d think you were dating Channing Tatum or something.”

  I laughed. “Channing has nothing on him.”

  “I wouldn’t know,” Marie said, frowning at me. “But since you refuse to tell me more, I’ll politely change the subject. Are you going home for the holidays?”

  “I am.” I looked out the window, my eyes on the people walking by. They all wore sweaters and hats, but it was only in the low sixties. I missed the snow. The cold, brisk air. Even with all this mess with Finn going on, I was excited to go back. “Are you?”

  “Yep. I leave the Friday after this one.”