Page 181 of Sloane

“Well, I’m not deployed now, so use me. Sign up for another class.”

She shrugged and murmured, “I’ll look into it,” before taking a bite of food.

I didn’t believe her.

The topic turned to Maddie and Craig’s engagement a year ago, and my thoughts went to O’Brien. He never got to give Lainey her ring. I wondered if Callahan made good on his promise.

Ashley’s hand stroked my forearm as she asked, “You okay?”

I looked up at her and offered a reassuring smile.

“I was just thinking about Shawn O’Brien, my second lieutenant who was killed in the RPG blast that injured me. He’d been planning on proposing to his girlfriend the next time he was home.”

Her fingers entwined with mine and she squeezed.

“I’m so sorry.”

I stared at the condensation running down the outside of my glass.

“I think about him a lot. I owe it to his memory to live a productive life.”

“You are.” She ducked her head, so I’d have to look at her when she reiterated. “You are. You said so yourself, you’re making great strides with your recovery, you’ve got an incredible daughter you’re going to help raise, you’ve got wonderful friends, not to mention”—her face broke out into a wide grin—“you have an amazing girlfriend.”

I couldn’t help but smile back and peck her on the lips.

“I do have an amazing girlfriend.”

Girlfriend.

I loved the sound of that.

Chapter Sixty-Six

Ashley

Craig and Maddie walked Grace, Ryan, Sloane, Millie, and me to the front door.

“Thank you again,” I said as I hugged each of them.

“It was our pleasure. I hope we can do it again soon,” Maddie said.

“You sure you don’t mind taking Sloane back to the base?” Ryan asked when we walked outside.

“Not at all.”

I had driven separately so I’d have the Jeep after Sloane returned the Prius to Grace.

We said our goodbyes and walked to the Jeep, and I dangled the keys at him, but he shook his head.

“You drive.” He opened the passenger door and moved the seat forward to put Millie’s car seat in its base, murmuring, “You really need a minivan, or at least something with four doors.”

I opened the driver’s door and remarked, “I should start looking, now that you’re driving again.”

“I’m not driving yet, today was an exception for a special circumstance.”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Today was special.”

“I’m hoping to get an invitation for a sleepover.”

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