Tank (Moonshine Task Force Book 2)(39)
“It made us realize what was important,” I answer for the both of us.
She continues writing, nodding, before she stops and gazes at first me, then him. “You realized what was important, but have you yet talked about the situation?”
We both swallow loudly. “We haven’t,” my tone is clipped. “We’ve been too busy getting him well enough to return to work.”
“Well, here’s my recommendation that he go back,” she hands Trevor a piece of paper. “And then off the record, my recommendation to the two of you? Sooner, rather than later, you need to talk about what happened. The type of job you’re in, it’s a ticking time bomb for someone else to put either of you in harm’s way. Until you start being honest with each other, no matter how much you love one another, it’s not going to automatically fix itself.”
I know what she says is true, and as the two of us get up, leaving her office, we’re somber. I don’t think either of us realizes how long it will actually be before we talk about what lead us down our dark path.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Blaze
“You’re sure you’re okay with watching her?” Whitney asks as Ryan tries to herd her out the door. “It’s Valentine’s, maybe the two of you had plans,” she tries again, looking between Trevor and me.
“Our plans are right here, with her,” I give her a reassuring grin. These two obviously want some time alone, and it looks like it’s going to be difficult to get Whitney out the door. “Stella will be fine. You two go out and have a nice night. You deserve it.”
She looks like she wants to say no and argue with all of us, but Ryan clamps a hand over her mouth.
“We totally appreciate the two of you forfeiting your Valentine’s Day so we can go out. We’ll be home no later than midnight.”
Trevor tsks from where he stands behind me. “No sir, you will have her home no later than eleven thirty. It’s a work night and she has a curfew.”
I laugh at the two of them when Ryan lifts a middle finger in Trevor’s direction. “Don’t tempt me, we’ll stay out all night.”
Whitney shakes her head behind the palm of his hand, making muffled words and gestures with her hands, eyes wide.
“Would you two stop? That way they can leave.”
Ryan ushers her out the door, throwing back a “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” before they’re gone.
“I never thought they were going to leave. They act like neither one of us have jobs where we have to be around kids,” Trevor shakes his head as he grabs a slice of the heart-shaped pizza we brought over.
He’s doing well since he’s gone back to half-days, mostly doing paperwork. I’m pretty impressed with how he’s handling everything. I know he wants to be out on calls and things like that, but he’s doing almost everything but.
“They’re new parents, give them a break,” I take a bite of the pizza he puts to my mouth. “What are they doing tonight anyway?”
He quirks an eyebrow at me. “Knowing Renegade? He probably got them room service and an empty bed for the night. Being romantic with your lady with no interruptions? That would be number one on my list if we were parents to an infant.”
“Well, hopefully he’s a little smoother than you.”
“I’m smooth like butter, baby,” he lifts his shirt up, showing his abs. “When was the last time you said no to this?” He uses his hand to indicate the entire expanse of his torso and mid-section.
I try to think back and realize he’s right. I’ve never said no to him. Truthfully there’s a problem there, I should probably make him work harder than I do, but he knows me so well. “Never.”
He leans in, giving me a kiss. “Exactly.”
We grab our paper plates and our bottles of beer to take into the living room. Stella is in her vibrating seat, paying attention to what’s playing on TV. “She’s acting so mesmerized by the shopping channel,” I laugh when she makes a noise as they show a diamond ring. “Yes honey, you tell him that’s what you want.”
Trevor tilts his head to the side. “I wouldn’t have pictured you for a diamond girl. Is that what you’d want?”
This conversation feels heavy to me, one I hadn’t planned on having with him tonight. “In so many ways I’m not the norm, but I think if this came up in a conversation, I would have to say I’m pretty traditional when it comes to things like this.”
He sets his plate down, pulling his phone out. “What are you doing?”
“Taking notes for when we decide the time’s right for us. I want to blow you away, and I’d be stupid not to give you what you want and deserve.”
This man has no idea how much he affects me, how much it means to me that he listens to what I want. I don’t even know what to say. “Quit joking around, Trev.”
“I’m one thousand percent serious. I’ve told you before this thing we’ve got going on is headed toward an altar, and I mean that. Do I think we’re ready for it now? No, but it’s heavy on my mind.”
Stella picks that moment to start crying. As a team, we work to get her bottle ready, and a piece of me melts as I watch Trevor pick her up in his arms, giving her the bottle. “You’re a natural with her.”