Page 60 of SEAL Summer Escape

She missed him.

She knew he’d be up early this morning to head onto base, but she’d assumed she’d see him again soon.Mason had told her himself he never knew how long he’d be gone when his team was sent out.

Would he be back in a few days?A week?Longer than that?

Rationalizing that she was being silly, she decided to go shower and dress.Her entire life didn’t revolve around a man she’d gone out with a couple of times.It’s not like they lived together or were married or something where she’d always be sure to see him before he left.When he packed for whatever mission he had to go on and rushed out the door.

They’d...slept together.Again.Sure, he cared about her, but she shouldn’t make this into something it wasn’t.

Her phone buzzed with an incoming call, and for a brief flash, she thought it was Mason.She tried to ignore the disappointment in her chest as she saw Bailey’s name flash across the screen.She clutched the sheet to her chest, somehow feeling like she needed to cover herself even though her friend couldn’t see her.

“Hi,” she said, hating the slight waver of her voice.

“Hey hun, what’s wrong?You sound sad.”

Taylor laughed despite herself.“I said one word to you.How on Earth did you interpret that as sad?”

Bailey laughed.“I’m your best friend.So spill.What’s going on?”

“Mason left,” Taylor said.

“Left as in you broke up?”Bailey asked, sounding surprised.

“Left as in he had to for work.Deployed.Got sent out.Whatever you want to call it.He spent the night, and I knew he had to be on base early this morning.The next thing I know, I wake up to a text saying he’ll be gone.I mean, do you think he purposefully didn’t tell me he was leaving?”

“Oh, sweetie, no.He’s not like that.Why would he go through all this trouble to help you deal with Eric only to sneak out?”

Taylor sighed.“He didn’t exactly sneak out.He told me last night that he had to be up early to be on base.I just assumed it was for training or something and that I’d see him later on.”She went on to explain everything that had happened with Eric yesterday.

“Hell no,” Bailey said.“Eric did not show up at Anchors and say that.”

“Oh, he did,” Taylor said miserably.“He wasn’t acting like himself at all—he was angry.Mason came right away when I called him, but now I’m right back where I was before.Mason can’t be around every second, and honestly, I’m surprised Eric didn’t show up at my place last night.”

“Maybe he was passed out drunk.Let’s go have a girl’s day,” Bailey suggested.“Lunch, shopping, maybe a mani/pedi.I don’t have to work until tonight.”

“Yeah, me either.My shift is from seven until close.”

“Perfect.How about if I swing by in an hour?We’ll get you out of your apartment, have some girl time, and before you know it, you’ll be off to work.You probably shouldn’t be alone too much right now, what with the pending restraining order and stuff.”

“I don’t even know how that works exactly yet.We talked to a detective at the police station yesterday.He should be in touch to give me an update.”

“All right, that’s a good thing.If you don’t hear from him, call them for updates.The squeaky wheel and all that.Get ready, and I’ll come by to pick you up soon.”

“Shoot.I should try to go pick up my car today, too.”

“Is it ready?”

“It was supposed to be.Mason told me not to go without him, but I have no idea how long he’ll be gone.I can’t have everyone keep driving me around forever.It’s already been a week and a half.”

“Okay, let’s go pick it up later on.It’s at Eric’s friend’s place, right?”

“Yep.It’s actually near the salon.”

“Perfect.We’ll get our mani/pedis and swing by before we have to head into work.”

“All right, I’ll call them to say we’re coming later.Mason talked to Jake yesterday, so I’m assuming it should be all set.I’ll see you soon.”Taylor ended the call and set the phone back on her nightstand, taking another glance at the rumpled sheets on her bed.

How long would it be before Mason was back?

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