Page 69 of The Senator's Secret

“Why me?” Wes asks.

“Because you are fucking her!”

“I married her!” he shouts back and fuck if I hadn’t missed this when we all went our separate ways.

“Let’s get back on track here, gentlemen,” Rick says. “Someone just needs to kick Ghost’s ass so he can go claim his girl and win an election.”

“Hooyah!” they all shout at the same fucking time.

“Abandon all hope, sailors. All is lost,” I tell them sadly and fuck me if I don’t sound pitiful even to my own ears.

“Wow,” Lee says. “I thought you were a SEAL.”

“And not a pussy,” Wes adds.

“Do SEALs quit?” Rick asks.

“No, sir!” they all shout.

“When are the easy days?” Wes prompts, and they all pause and wait for me to answer them, and fuck it if I don’t have a little hope that maybe I can right this ship and fix my life.

“Yesterday,” I answer them. “The only easy day was yesterday.”

“Hoooyah!”

“Now hit the fucking shower, Captain,” Lee says, falling into his old routine. “You smell like whiskey and desperation.”

“Fuck you.” I laugh as I head for the shower, flipping them off on my way. “Someone book me a flight to Tall Pines.”

“Where the fuck is that?” Wes asks.

“The middle of fucking nowhere,” Rick answers.

“It’s everything,” I correct him. “It’s the most important place right now.”

“That it is, brother,” Rick says solemnly. “Take it from me; when you find your missing piece, the other part of your fucking soul, grab it with both hands and never let it go.”

“Roger that.”

He doesn’t have to tell me twice.

Batten down the hatches, Grace, because I’m coming for you, and I won’t give up. Not fucking ever.

She’s my everything. I should have told her five years ago that I thought she was amazing. I should have chased after her then with ruthlessness, but parts of me were still too dark. I had seen too much; there was too much blood on my hands. She was too clean and pure, and I didn’t deserve her. I still don’t deserve her, but I won’t walk away. It’s like Rick said—she’s the other half of my soul, the very best parts of me, the one who makes me want to be a better fucking man.

With her, I am everything. Without her, I am nothing.

Sure, I could keep breathing, keep my heart beating without her, but I would just be existing like I have been for the last three days. I want to live. I want to live for her. I want to love her like she deserves and, hand to God, if she gives me another chance, I will make sure she never regrets it for the rest of her life.

I love her that much.

“It’s a landslide.”

Chapter 22

Got my vote

Grace