Page 29 of Secrets We Fight

“What?”

“I haven’t had a chance to tell you I won’t be here for winter break.”

I sucked in a small breath. “What do you mean, you won’t be here?”

“Usually, we work sixty days on and thirty days off, but since I’m assigned to be in classes with you, we had to change things up. Agent Tanner is giving me the three weeks of your winter break off.”

“Oh,” I whispered. “That’s going to suck.”

“Yeah, but we can text.”

“You know that’s not the same thing.” I grabbed the conditioner and squirted some into my palm.

“I know, but we have to work with the schedule we’re given.”

I fingered the conditioner through my hair. “What are we going to do this summer when I don’t have school and you’re off for the entire thirty days?”

“I’m not sure, but we’ll make it work.”

“Promise?”

“I hope so.”

I nodded and picked up my bottle of body wash and soaped up my body. Rhett stepped out, grabbed a towel, and dried himself off.

After I finished my quick shower, I shut off the water and got out too. We both dressed, and while I finished getting ready, he left the room to deal with the decoy bathroom.

What the hell was I going to do while he wasn’t around for three weeks during winter break? It wasn’t as though I could sneak him in or slip my detail and drive to his place. I was back to hating that I had a security detail, but then a thought occurred to me.

“Hey, Rhett,” I called.

A few seconds later, he stuck his head into my bathroom, where I was putting toothpaste onto my toothbrush.

“Yeah?”

“My mom organizes a Breakfast-with-Santa thing every year for Christmas. I can get you the information, so you can bring your daughter.”

“Really?”

“I mean, I don’t have to meet your daughter if you don’t want me to, but at least we can see each other for an hour or something.”

He stepped into the room and kissed my cheek. “I would love that.”

10

RHETT

Fallon curledinto my side as we lay in his bed, both of us sweaty and panting after an intense round of sex. It was how we’d spent most of our time before school the last couple of weeks, but this morning was different. We were trying to savor every minute because, after my shift, I would begin my time off and likely not be alone with him until I returned to work after winter break.

Fallon rested his chin on my chest. “So, you got any big plans while you’re off?”

We’d avoided discussing winter break since I’d told him I wouldn’t be around until school started again. I didn’t know his reasons for not bringing it up, but I’d wanted to focus on getting to know him better and enjoy the moments we spent together rather than worrying about something we had no control over.

“Well, I need to finish setting up my apartment because Poppy’s going to spend a few days with me.”

“I’m sure you’re looking forward to that.”

I smiled. “Yeah, it’s been months since I’ve had her overnight and even longer since she’s been able to stay with me several days in a row. I’m just glad her mom didn’t already make plans for the holidays, so it all worked out.”