Page 39 of Secrets We Fight

Fallon stood. “Okay, I’m going to use the bathroom real quick.”

He followed me around the corner from the living room and down the hall, where I pointed out the bathroom before carrying my daughter to her room.

When I laid Poppy in her bed, she mumbled groggily, “Tree done?”

I pulled a blanket over her. “Yeah, sweet pea. You can check it out after your nap.”

I thought she’d insist on seeing it right then, but she was so exhausted she fell right back to sleep.

Fallon stepped out of the bathroom at the same time as I was coming out of Poppy’s room. Knowing I wouldn’t have another chance to get him alone, and Day was around the corner in the living room, I pushed Fallon back inside and closed the door quietly behind us before capturing his lips in a scorching kiss.

“I’ve wanted to do that all day,” I panted when we finally broke apart.

He flashed me a wicked grin. “Too bad we don’t have time for more.”

“I never thought I would say this, but I can’t wait to get back to work.”

* * *

Fallonand the other guys had left shortly after our sneaky kiss in the bathroom, and I started counting down the days until I could see him again.

Later that night, while I lay in bed, I sent Alexis some photos I’d taken during breakfast and then pulled out the prepaid phone to text Fallon.

I had fun today. Glad we got to spend some time together

I held on to the phone, hoping he’d message back quickly, but minutes passed without a response.

While I waited, I grabbed my other phone and checked my email. One was from Agent Tanner asking me to meet with him the following week to discuss plans for the inauguration in late January. Even though I was technically off work, it wasn’t uncommon to get called in. Since I was supposed to be learning more about the detail lead position, it was expected I would be there.

My eyes grew heavy, and I had just drifted off when a notification dinged on the prepaid phone.

Me too

The short response wasn’t quite what I expected, but maybe he was tired too. I sent another message:

What are you doing?

Just getting ready to go to sleep

The fact he didn’t seem interested in engaging in conversation stung a bit, but I couldn’t be mad about him wanting to sleep.

I’ll let you get some rest then. Talk soon?

Yeah. Good night

Good night

* * *

The next fewdays passed in much the same way. I’d message Fallon, and he’d take a while to respond, and our conversations would be brief. Then on Christmas, when I texted him in the morning to wish him a Merry Christmas, I didn’t hear from him until almost midnight. I knew he had plans with his family, but I still couldn’t help but wonder what I may have done that had him avoiding me.

Two days later, I headed to the command post to meet up with Agent Tanner. Since I had Poppy more, I ended up buying a car so I wouldn’t have to rent one each time she stayed with me.

After parking my new vehicle on the street, I made my way into the high-rise. As I walked down the hall, I was tempted to go to Fallon’s condo first and talk to him, but with my fellow agents around, it probably wasn’t a good idea.

Jones looked up from the camera feeds when I walked inside. “How’s it going? Enjoying your time off?”

I shrugged. “It was great while I had Poppy with me. Now, I’m kinda bored.”