Page 5 of Sloane

Chapter Three

Ashley

I had just propped my feet up on my coffee table after finishing my Tuesday shift when my phone rang, making me jump. No one called me except telemarketers, work, and, on occasion, my grandma.

It was from a local number that I didn’t know, but I didn’t always recognize the numbers that called me from the VA, so I answered it.

“Hello?”

A friendly male voice I wasn’t familiar with asked, “Hey, is this Ashley?”

At that point, I almost hung up. I’d been tricked too many times by telemarketers pretending to be a friend. Still, I cautiously replied, “Yeah?”

“Hi. My name is Ryan Kennedy. I’m a friend of Sloane Davidson’s.”

I sat up with a jolt, my feet hitting the floor as it felt like all my blood drained into them while I heard my heartbeat in my ears. Thoughts of Sloane being hurt, or worse, flashed through my brain. My mouth tasted like it was filled with dust when I squeaked out, “Is he okay?”

“Aw, shit. I’m sorry. Yeah, he’s fine. I always forget to lead with that.”

That would have been helpful.

I wiped my sweaty palms on my jeans as my body relaxed, and I heard myself awkwardly reply, “I’m glad he’s okay.”

The man on the other end of the line seemed unfazed, as he kept going. “I know you’re not expecting him for another few weeks, but his commanders want him here now, so he’s actually en route as we speak and should be arriving tomorrow afternoon at Miramar—not Camp Pendleton. I know it’s short notice, but the reason I’m calling is he specifically asked that I invite you to be there when he gets off the plane.”

Tomorrow? He can’t be arriving tomorrow—I’m not ready to see him!

Still reeling from the emotional whiplash, I didn’t respond, so Ryan continued, “He said to tell you he understands if you can’t make it.”

My heart was now beating out of my chest for an entirely new reason. I needed to take it easy on the thing or I was going to need to see a cardiologist at the ripe old age of twenty-six, especially since this was probably the most cardio it’d gotten in a while.

“I’ll see what I can do. Do you know what time?”

“Two o’clock.”

“Okay, I should be able to make that.” Even if I couldn’t get the entire day off, I knew my boss, Catherine, would be okay with me leaving early, especially when I told her why. “Do you know how long he’s going to be here?”

“He said maybe four or five days.”

“Four or five days,” I murmured as I contemplated asking for the rest of the week off.

“My guess is that he’ll have to be at the base during the day on Thursday and Friday, then they’ll let him have the weekend off before shipping him back out on Monday. At least, that’s what has historically happened.”

So maybe I wouldn’t need to take the week off after all. But how could I possibly do any work knowing he was home?

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down, Ash. Who says he’s even going to want to see you beyond tomorrow?

“Can you text me the information about where to go?”

“Sending now,” he said and seconds later I felt the phone buzz in my hand. “Your name will be on the list at the main gate but be sure to bring your ID. Sloane is hitching a ride with another squadron coming home for extended leave, so it will be busy.”

I nodded my head even though Ryan couldn’t see me. “I’ll be sure to get there early.”

“Not too early, otherwise they won’t let you on base.”

All these nuances I had no idea about.

I hung up the phone and sprang into panic mode.

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