Finding Kenna (SEAL Team Hawaii #3)(71)

“Can I ask you something?” Aleck asked.

“Of course. You can always ask me whatever you want.”

“Things were pretty intense between me and Kenna when I left Hawaii. We went from one to a thousand really quickly. I mean, I was thrilled about it, and I think she was too. But we hadn’t slept together yet—damn Huttner and his bad timing.” Aleck paused to snort and shake his head. “But anyway, I haven’t talked to her in six weeks. The first week was the hardest, because I’d gotten used to texting and calling her every day. Hearing her laugh and listening to her talk about work somehow made my day better.” He paused for another moment.

But he didn’t have to even ask Mustang what he was worried about. He knew.

“And now you’re worried that because you’ve been gone so long, things won’t be the same when you get home,” Mustang finished.

“Exactly,” Aleck said with a relieved sigh that his team leader had pinpointed exactly what was bothering him.

“You want me to be honest, or do you need me to tell you what you want to hear?” Mustang asked.

“Honest. Always.”

“Right, so there’s a chance that both of you got caught up in the heat of the moment. That your hormones took over. You might get back and things won’t be the same. She’ll seem distant. You both got used to not talking, and it might be hard to pick up where you left off. Hell, she could’ve met someone else in the last six weeks, for all you know. Someone who isn’t in the military and won’t leave without being able to say where they’re going or how long they’ll be gone.”

“Damn,” Aleck breathed.

“You told me to be honest,” Mustang reminded him.

“I know. And I appreciate it. But that sucks.”

Mustang chuckled. “It does. But I wasn’t done. I was going to add that you might find you’re even closer because of the time you spent apart. They do say that absence makes the heart grow fonder.”

“Who the hell is ‘they’ anyway?” Aleck muttered.

Mustang laughed again. “Who the hell knows. Do you trust Kenna?”

That was easy. “Yes.”

“And how do you feel about her, now that you’ve been gone?” Mustang asked.

“I miss her. She has a way of making me see the positive aspects of life. And she’s made me really think about some of my beliefs. I grew up without having to worry about money in the least, and while I try really hard not to let that affect me now, it obviously still does. She calls me on my bullshit, in a nice way. I also like that we never run out of things to talk about.”

“Well, you did only know her a few weeks before we left,” Mustang said with a snort.

“You know what I mean,” Aleck told his friend.

“I do. Because I feel the same about Elodie. I don’t really have any great advice other than to see where things between you stand when you get home. Are things awkward? Is she thrilled to know you’re back? Does she make excuses as to why she can’t see you? Does she seem reticent? All the worrying in the world isn’t going to help. You’re just going to have to assess the situation when you see her again.”

“Shit. I was hoping you had some awesome advice that would magically make me feel better,” Aleck grumbled.

“Wish I did, man,” Mustang said. “Here’s the thing. I like Kenna. And the chemistry between the two of you is obviously electric. I have good vibes about her. I have a hunch the second you see each other, you’ll know if her feelings have changed about you…and yours about her.”

“I hope so. And for the record…thanks for taking out that tango before he could put a bullet in my brain. I don’t think Kenna would’ve been too happy about that,” Aleck said.

“Fuck you. You know you don’t have to thank me for that,” Mustang said. It had been right after they’d liberated their target and were slipping away from the prison where he’d been stashed. They’d been spotted, and Mustang had taken out a guard before he could get off a round—straight into Aleck’s skull—and alert the rest of security.

Aleck knew he didn’t have to thank his team leader, but now that he had a pretty damn good reason to get back to Hawaii in one piece, he felt the need. “You sound like Tex,” Aleck said with a grin.

Mustang burst out laughing. “God forbid. That old bastard never can take thanks, can he?”

“Nope.”

“Then you’re welcome,” Mustang said, still grinning.

“You know who else reminds me so much of Tex?” Aleck asked.

“Who?”

“Baker.”

“Shit yeah, he does,” Mustang agreed.

“You heard from him lately? After going to New York on Elodie’s behalf, has he said anything else about that?”

“Nope. As far as I know, the mob is content to stay in their corner of New York and Elodie’s still in the clear. Baker is hanging out at his place on the North Shore, surfing as much as he can as he tries to outrun his demons.”

“Do we know what happened with him to make him such a hermit?” Aleck asked. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

“I don’t know for sure, but I think it had to do with his SEAL team. Something happened, the team broke up, and he retired not too much longer afterward. And I think he likes being alone. But I also truly believe that helping others is what’s keeping him sane.”