Ascension

Chapter Thirty-One

One week had passed since the successful mission with the Slovakian. One week has passed since the successful date of mine. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks everytime I think about it, it's so surreal. The estate had gone quiet and everyone had almost fallen back into our normal routine. Gavin and I also fell "normal," again.

I wasn't sure if I wanted everyone to know what we had going on between us, it was still so early in my arrival. Whenever we finished with our little lesson of the day, whether it would be our grappling sessions or the gun range, we had found an excuse to run off somewhere and spend time with one another.

We both found it almost awkward when sitting at the dining table or around the entire group for any extended period of time. We would still playfully bicker at one another, but attempted to not make it obvious. The only one who would give us sideways glances was Manny, who walked in at the wrong time the night Gavin took me to the oasis.

But what could I say?

A side of Gavin had unlocked. Something you would have never been able to pick at on the surface. He was more vulnerable, kind, gentle, and more human than he had given himself credit for. I could see behind his shell now.

I stared out the window at the drizzling sky. Frost started to tint the windows. "You really need to get your license." Emma groaned, tapping on the wheel as we came upon new traffic.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I lost my Abel privileges." I laughed as I adjusted the sleeves of my black puffer coat.

"He's probably the only one you could convince to let you drive." She gives me a sideways look. "But it seems you have been spending your time elsewhere."

I raise a brow. "I've just been training."

"Liar. Spill the beans!"

I scoffed, "you didn't tell me you were pregnant! When were you planning on telling me that?"

"When I looked like Santa Claus."

"See? We all have our secrets. I'm not doing anything I'm not supposed to." I admit. "And when I'm comfortable sharing, you'll know."

She sputters her lips. "I wanted to wait until I was out of my first trimester before telling anyone. I didn't find out until two days before the mission. I couldn't change the plans at the last minute, and you needed every person you could get your hands on. "

"I was kidding, Emma. You don't owe me an explanation. I completely understand." She finds a parking spot and easily parallel parked.

She turns towards me. "But I do. I owe you honesty. I owe you the truth. For so long I've had to bottle up everything and now you know. Now you're here. After I told Luke, you were the first person I thought of telling."

I reach over and squeeze her hand. "Thank you. I'll hold you to it for the next baby!"

She squeezes back. "Deal."

I unbuckle my seatbelt, very aware of the gun in the holster at my belt. I zip up my jacket above my chest. "Are we sure we shouldn't find indoor parking?" I ask. "Luke will kill us if anything happens to his car."

She was applying her chapstick in the rearview mirror. "If anything does happen, I can assure that poor man that everything will be okay."

We both step out of the car and join one another on the sidewalk. It was about that time of year to actually begin Christmas shopping. It was also that time of year that I needed to buy something for Gavin's birthday.

The weather was bearable enough to walk in if we just kept moving. Standing still and the icy chills of the wind were enough to want to stay inside. It was a beautiful sunny day, we were just fighting the cold.