“We still have half an hour, you know,” Macie pointed out.
“Yeah, but in this line of work, if you’re on time, you’re late.”
This new life was going to take some getting used to, but in the end, I was positive it was going to be worth it all.
Baine
Chapter 19
I was convinced that saying goodbye to the two most important women in my life was never going to get any easier. After our little shower escapade my bear had at least settled down some. I even tried to stay in good spirits for the guys’ sakes.
We took two vehicles. Ben, Jake, Tarron, and I rode in one vehicle while the others led the way in our original SUV.
“How’s the mating going?” Ben asked.
I shrugged. “Good, I guess. Don’t exactly have anything to compare it to.”
Jake turned from the front passenger seat to look at me. He smiled. “I can’t even imagine what that’s like. Even just knowing there’s one person out there that’s perfect for just you, regardless of your faults or anything. Talk about taking the pressure off of the dating scene.”
“It’s ridiculous,” Tarron said. “I wish we weren’t bound by this mystical true mate. They say it’s rare for a shifter to find his, but these guys seem to be dropping like flies lately.”
I laughed. “Just wait, your turn’s coming.”
“Doubtful. We don’t exactly live in an area prone to fox shifters.”
“Who says your true mate is a fox?” Ben teased.
“Wait you’re a fox?” Jake asked. “That’s so cool. And you’re a bear, right?”
“Of course. All the coolest shifters are bears.”
“Hey now,” Ben warned.
“I mean, you know Shay already, so I think my point is safely secured there.”
Jake laughed. “Sorry man, but I owe a lot to this guy right here.”
“You’re really not freaking out in the least?” I asked. “I mean he said you knew about our kind, but like how much do you know? Have you even seen one of us shift before?”
Ben started laughing like I’d just said the funniest thing ever.
“When I joined the Ghosts, I had no clue what you people were or that anything like you existed outside movies and fairytales. Shay pushed me hard and I thought for sure he’d break me.”
“Most stubborn man I know right here, and that includes all of you assholes,” Ben said proudly.
Jake had an easy nature about him and just smiled at the compliment he’d just been paid then tried to brush it off. “I was terrified of failing so I just kept going. If he thought I was capable, damn straight I was gonna be. Anyway, so I pass boot camp under this guy’s scrutiny and I’m officially a Ghost. I meet the team and they tell me it’s time that I’m truly initiated. So, they formed a circle around me and then all at once they shift and at first, I’m standing there thinking, holy shit, what did I just get myself into this time.”
He and Jake cracked up reliving the moment as the team realized he was only human.
“And you left him on the team? There’re serums to help with those sorts of accidents,” Tarron reminded them.
Jake shuddered. “Don’t joke about that shit. Shay went to bat for me and I was able to earn my place in the unit.”
“Much like he’s gonna do here, watch and see,” Ben assured us.
“No way will Silas ever agree to take on a human.” I didn’t believe it for one second. “He’ll use you in this moment of desperation because he’s terrified. I’ll go in and just level the place, but otherwise, don’t hold your breath. I’d safely bet against it.”
Jake just grinned and shrugged it off. “I guess I’ll just have to prove myself the old-fashioned way then.”
I liked the kid. He was a bit arrogant, but I could appreciate that, especially in this line of work. We all wanted to be the best of the best in our field of expertise.
Talking helped to pass the time quickly and soon we were pulling into the same hotel we stayed at last time. Silas checked us in and then tossed each of us a key. Tarron and I were bunking together which wasn’t uncommon. Usually Ben crashed with us too, but with Jake, Silas justified a fourth room and I was grateful I didn’t have to fight for my own bed for once.
I headed straight for the room. Tarron followed and dropped his stuff onto one bed while I flopped down onto the other.
“We’re heading across the street to get a beer. You coming?”
“Nope. I need to call my woman.”
He shook his head and groaned. “Another one falls. It was nice knowing you.”
I just flipped him the bird as he left the room.
As soon as he was gone, I pulled out my phone and called Olivia.
“Baine? Is everything okay?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You’re on a mission and you’re calling me.”
“We stopped for the night. I just wanted to hear your voice.”
“Oh. I didn’t know that was allowed. You didn’t call last time.”
“Thought it would make it harder to be away from you,” I told her honestly.
“And now?”
“Needed to hear your voice.”
“Is Macie already in bed?”
“Yes, but she’s right here. We were just finishing up a bedtime story.”
“Don’t let me stop you.”
“She was already finished,” Macie said.
I grinned like an idiot just hearing my daughter’s voice.
“Oh yeah, was it a good one?”
“Not my favorite. Just something I checked out at the library. It’s definitely going back tomorrow.”
I laughed.
“What are you doing?”
“Just laying in the hotel wishing I was back there with my two favorite people.”
“You mean Mom.”
“No, I mean both of you. I’m glad you’re still awake now.”
“Me, too.”
“But, it is a school night, so pass the phone back to your mom and go to sleep.”
She groaned and there was a rustling on the other end. I heard Olivia kiss our daughter goodnight.
“Sweet dreams, short stuff.”
“Goodnight, Baine. Don’t get killed,” she yelled back.
“Macie Laine,” Olivia chastised her as Macie giggled in the distance.
A door shut in the background, then another.
“Are you still there?”
“Of course.”
“I’m glad you called.”
The stress physically left me, which was a surprise. I had no idea that she could soothe me and my bear from such a distance.
“Me, too. Did you two have a good evening after I left?”
“We managed okay. Macie puts on a tough act, but she was upset about you leaving so soon.”
“I wasn’t exactly thrilled by it either.”
“Is this how it will always be? A couple hours of notice and you’re gone?”
“Pretty much. Silas tries to give us as much notice as possible, but most of the time it’s stuff like this that just comes up quickly and we have to act.”