Page 96 of Stolen Honor
The women knew. They always knew.
The goodbye was choreography they’d all learned, scrambling for their gear and then stealing a final moment with the people they loved.
Ash found Ellory waiting for him. He walked right up to her, framed her face in his hands and kissed her, taking his time to show her how much he meant it.
When he pulled back her gaze was steady on his.
“I’ve got you,” he said.
“I know.” Her voice was quiet and sure.
He reached into his pocket. He’d been carrying it for three weeks, waiting for the right moment, and then understanding—the way he understood most things that mattered—that there was no right moment. There was just the moment you had.
He took her hand and turned it palm up and set the ring in it. Closed her fingers around it.
Then he made himself walk away, because the team was moving even when they felt like they were being pulled in two directions.
He was halfway to the chopper when he heard her.
He turned.
She was running across the grass with her hair whipping behind her and her hand raised, and he felt his whole chest crack open. “Yes! Angelo! Yes!” She held up her fingers in succession.
Four. Five. Nine.
He pointed at her. She pointed back, laughing and crying.
The guys clapped him on the back in congratulations as he swung up into the bird.
As the chopper lifted and the base dropped away below them, he could still see her on the grass—small with distance,one hand raised, the evening light catching something bright on her finger.
He’d come back to that.
And they all understood what they were coming backfor.
THE END
