Page 5 of Forever Fickle

This trip would definitely be a little different.

“Marisol’s in labor?” Reaper hesitated before smiling, setting Jace back on his heels again in surprise. “I know Sophie is probably at the hospital then with them. She adores Valkyrie’s wife and the man promised to watch out for my girl while I’m gone.”

“Really?” Jace asked, unable to help himself, because apparently Reaper wasn’t the only one who softened up.

Valkyrie promised to watch out for Reaper’s wife? While that didn’t seem too out of character for the noble man, most guys would freak at the idea that some other man would ‘watch’ his girl while he was gone.

“Yep. Sophie took a shine to Marisol – and because of it? I think Valkyrie looks at her like a cousin or little sister. He actually volunteered his home and arranged for the minister for our wedding. I was touched by his offer. I will tell you to be ready for some changes with our friends.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Everyone is so relaxed… and happy,” Reaper admitted, looking a little embarrassed. “I know it sounds childish or silly – but they are all incredibly content with their lives now. I don’t think any of them miss flying a Falcon.”

“Not even Valkyrie?”

“Nope.”

Jace sat there for a few minutes, absorbing in Reaper’s words and the changes he was describing. It sounded like Texas had been a change neither of them expected – and neither regretted. Both men sounded happy, content, and…

Jace suddenly felt very alone.

“Can I ask you something personal?” Jace asked before he could stop himself. Reaper looked up from where he was unpacking his bag and putting his things in his footlocker.

“Sure. What’s up?”

“How did you know?” Jace asked, unable to keep the words from coming despite how foolish he felt asking them. This wasn’t him, never him, and he’d always had a flurry of girls around him – so what made a man know that she was ‘the one’ for the rest of his life?

“I mean, you said you asked her to marry you before the plane touched down - so how did you know? I know Handsy’s wife was his high school sweetheart, but…”

“Honestly?” Reaper said quietly, watching Jace, his expression unfathomable, as if he was studying him before he answered.

“Well, it sounds stupid, but we started talking and she just had this presence to her that was indescribable. She surprised me, wowed me, and was the most beautiful person I have ever met – on the inside and the outside,” Reaper admitted openly. “I met Sophie and never looked back.”

“… But marriage?” Jace asked, feeling even more confused. “Aren’t you scared that it’s not going to work out or she’s gonna fool around? I mean, did you do a pre-nup or…”

“Why?” Reaper laughed. “I’ve got nothing except a bank account and truthfully? If that’s why she married me, then we’ll both be disappointed. I’m not betting on things ending between us and maybe that is just my own outlook? I’m ‘all in’ and starting my life finally - with Sophie.”

Jace got really quiet.

Everything Reaper said made sense. Some of the guys socked away their money into accounts, hoping to buy their own planes later on or a house to start a family when they finally got stateside. He’d blown his partying, having fun, but still had a nest egg set aside.

Ghazni was about the best and worst place he could have been sent by the Air Force because there was no alcohol… and touching a girl here could get you killed – but so could a typical Monday.

If it wasn’t money, then Reaper’s wife must be a real looker… so how did he trust her that fast not to cheat on him? Unless, both were completely infatuated with the other?

Jace loved girls… the smiles, the perfume, the soft skin – but there was also a line he wouldn’t cross. It was there, in his mind, and he’d made more than one woman mad before because of it.

“Maybe my outlook needs a little work then…” Jace said slowly, staring at his hands, as he realized maybe it was just him. Perhaps he needed to cross that ‘line’ in his mind, or maybe any girl would do when it was finally your time to meet someone?

“Or maybe you haven’t met the right person,” Reaper countered. “You asked how I knew? It was lightning fast and there was no looking back. It happens – good, bad, or otherwise – and there’s no arguing or fighting it.”

Jace got up, suddenly feeling sick.

The other man was lucky or making a colossal mistake settling down for the first girl he’d met – because Jace had talked to a lot of untrustworthy women who moved on to the next guy faster than he would have ever imagined.

Maybe that was why he had trust issues?

He walked off, abruptly ending the conversation – and could hear Reaper’s voice behind him, almost haunting him.

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