Page 4 of Forever Fickle

“I did – twice,” Reaper grinned, holding up his hand to show off his wedding ring. “I met the most incredible woman, asked her to marry me before the plane ever touched the ground - and then did it again a few weeks later.”

“Twice…?” Handsy said in disbelief. “You know once is enough to put your neck in the noose, right?”

“Not everyone is miserable,” Reaper said openly. “Sophie is absolutely lovely – in fact? All of the team is deliriously happy with their spouses.”

“Good for them.”

“You didn’t have to marry her… you could have…” Caboose began, and Reaper cut him off sharply, seeing the man’s sharp gaze immediately turn towards the other man. It was like watching a predator hone in on a target… which shocked several of them – including Jace.

Whoever this Sophie was? The man before them would protect her with everything he was – before his friends. It was shocking to see such a change in his demeanor.

“Sophie’s not like that and I would never drag her name through the mud or fool around with her. She’s my wife. I love her and can’t imagine my life without her.”

Reaper was always about the team… but it was like there was a schism none of them could touch now. Sophie was first – and then the team.

In that order.

Wow.

The air was so tense, Jace felt like someone had to say something to lighten the mood just so the air around them didn’t ignite. Neither Reaper nor Caboose ever backed down very often… unless it was Valkyrie.

“Did he just say something sentimental and mushy?” Jace muttered mockingly at Caboose. “I think he did. Maybe I hit my head or something? I seriously thought Reaper just said he loved someone…”

Sure enough, the room seemed to soften as Caboose turned away, Handsy went back to polishing his shoes, and Reaper moved to unzip his bag.

“Well, I will leave you guys to process all of this while I put away my things, email Sophie, and then I think we have a meeting at seven in the morning to discuss the next mission… right?”

“Yeah, Reilly wants us there at seven sharp,” Jace muttered and then sat down on his bunk, staring at Reaper. His hands were folded under his chin, elbows resting on his knees, as he stared at his friend in disbelief.

“What?” Reaper said, opening his bag. “What’s on your mind, Hot Cakes?”

Jace was flabbergasted at the changes in the man – and curious. He wasn’t sure how to start the conversation but found himself fascinated, wanting to know more… and wishing for the same bit of peace and happiness for himself.

“Is it nice there?” Jace asked, feeling like an idiot. Even Handsy looked at him, rolled his eyes, and then turned away, laughing.

“It’s home,” Reaper admitted. “I’m from a town a few hours away and grew up in North Texas… so to me? Yes, it was nice to be back. You’re from Massachusetts, right?

“Yep. Holland – a little town outside of Sturbridge.”

“When do you fly out?”

“Monday.”

“For a week?”

Jace nodded.

He’d never been to Texas, so this was going to be completely different for him. When he got time off, he flew home and usually hung out at a few local taverns, played darts, or slept in the hammock out back of his parents’ house, watching the trees above him sway in the breeze.

“The temperature should be okay for you – you acclimated to this place alright,” Reaper hesitated, looking slightly uncomfortable, and Jace realized the guy was actually trying to make small talk to keep the conversation going.

He’d changed – and this was strangely weird.

“The offices are small and there’s bunks in the back of the business, a small kitchenette, and you’ll have access to a car almost all the time. Who’s picking you up at the airport?”

“It’s supposed to be Valkyrie – but his wife went into labor according to the last email I got. Alpo is going to pick me up from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport instead,” Jace explained.

He’d flown through DFW once in his life but most of the time his flights would go straight into Boston or Hartford where someone in his family would pick him up.

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