Page 40 of Secrets We Fight
“Man, you need to get out and live a little.” He grinned. “Work isn’t everything.”
“Says the guy who ditched poker night to volunteer for overtime,” I teased.
“I’ll catch the next one.”
“Davis, thanks for coming in,” Tanner said as he stepped out of the hallway. “Let’s go to the dining room to discuss plans for the inauguration.”
I followed him over to the table where maps of D.C., schedules for the various events happening throughout the day, and blueprints of the hotel where the Inaugural Ball would be held were spread out. While most of the security for the day was being planned out by the agency’s leaders, Tanner and I spent hours making plans specific to Fallon’s protection. Every agent on his detail would be present that day due to the expected crowds and the logistics of getting him to and from each event he would attend.
By the time we were done, it was almost 2200 hours, and I was ready to go back home and climb into bed.
“Windstorm is ready to leave.” I heard the transmission come across the two-way radio on Jones’ desk as I passed through the living room.
“Catch you later,” I told Jones and headed for the door.
I stepped into the hallway, hoping to see Fallon before he left for wherever he was going. I looked toward his door just in time to see him and a few friends, including Declan, walk out of his condo. Agent Bernard followed closely behind them.
Fallon’s eyes immediately locked with mine. “Hey, what are you doing here?” he asked as we all walked to the elevator.
“I had a meeting with Agent Tanner. Where are you off to?” I kept my voice casual because I didn’t want him to think I had a problem with him going out.
He shrugged. “We were bored, so we decided to head to Chrome.”
He could have texted me if he was bored, but whatever.
13
FALLON
I hadn’t expectedto see Rhett.
When I asked him what he was doing, he’d said he had a meeting with Agent Tanner. But what was it about? Did he ask to be transferred somewhere else? I knew I was pushing him away, but I couldn’t help it. Were we just supposed to date in secret for the next four years? Or was he asking to be relocated so our relationship could be out in the open?
I was quiet on the way to Chrome as I thought about the possibilities. If Rhett asked to be reassigned, would he be moved to my brother’s or my sister’s team so he could stay in Boston for Poppy? I didn’t want him to choose me and then transfer to D.C. or somewhere else just so we could be together. My dad’s vice president was from Washington state, which was clear across the country, and Rhett would be so far from Poppy if he were tasked with protecting Vice President Brooks’ adult children who still lived in their home state.
“Why are you so quiet?” Declan asked.
I glanced over at him and then back at the road. “Am I?”
“Um, yeah. Usually, you’re talking our ears off.”
I lifted a shoulder. “Just thinking.”
“About what?”
Agent Hottie.“Trying to think of a way I can get laid with all these Secret Service agents around.” I looked in the rearview mirror to see Agent Vance tailing me. He was with Agent Bernard and Agent Shea—of course.
“Can’t you go to someone’s place and have them wait outside?”
I had no clue if I could or not. The agents were so adamant about being inside my condo in case someone came through a window or some shit. The window on the fucking eighth floor. The guy would have to be Spider-Man to get to me. I understood it was protocol, but damn, they had to think it was weird, just like I did.
However, since getting closer to Rhett, I didn’t mind it so much. I looked forward to waking up most mornings with him crawling into my bed. How, even when I didn’t have school, he was still the agent assigned to work with me. And that was the kicker: I was pushing him away while still wanting my time with him.
Even though I was going to Chrome and my friends thought I was looking for someone to hook up with, I knew I wouldn’t. “Maybe. I haven’t had the chance, but if I find someone tonight, I can talk to Agent Bernard.”
“Can you imagine not getting laid for the next four years?” Marco chuckled in the back seat.
“Hell no,” Declan and Luca said in unison.
