Page 54 of Coming Home

“I only know the name because Walker mentioned it,” he said.

“Close the door, and tell him we’ll be right out,” I told the boys.

As soon as the door was shut, I jumped out of bed and went to the bags to throw on some clothes while Ben dressed, too.

“What were you and Walker talking about Patrick for?” I asked.

“He said this guy was overseeing Westin Force for Kyle and rumor had it they might have an opening on their Bravo team. I was going to put in some calls next week just to feel out my options,” he said.

I didn’t know much about Westin Force, though I’d seen a few instances of the kind of things they did. I wasn’t sure I wanted Ben to have any part of that. Then I remembered, that’s probably what he does. He hadn’t talked much about his actual job in the army, but as a member of an elite Rangers unit, I could imagine. Still, I couldn’t bring myself to ask him.

Once we were both presentable, we walked out to greet him. Before I could register Patrick’s presence, I was met with a squeal of excitement as his mate, Elise, threw her arms around me.

“Elise, what are you doing here? The boys said Patrick was here.”

“Yeah, apparently he wanted to talk face-to-face with your new mate, so I tagged along when I heard you were here, too,” Elise said.

I didn’t know Elise all that well. She was a year older than me, so we had attended Alpha camp together, but weren’t close friends like our sisters, Lily and Maddie, had been. Still, we had always been friendly, and I’d visited with her family enough times to get to know the adult Elise since Madelyn moved to San Marco.

“Ben, this is Elise and her mate, Patrick,” I said, making the introductions.

“I hear you’re just the man I need,” Patrick told Ben.

“Depends on what you’re offering, man. Walker and Cole only told me a little about the operation you’re running over there, but enough that I’m interested in hearing more.”

They jumped right into business, as Elise rolled her eyes and pulled out a box of doughnuts and some orange juice she’d brought for breakfast.

The boys showed up out of nowhere to grab a couple handfuls with quick thanks before retreating back into their own room.

“Cute kids,” Elise commented.

“Yeah, they are. I have them both for English this year.”

“That’s right, Lily told me you were teaching now.” Elise frowned as she looked over to Ben. “How attached are you to that job? If Ben takes Patrick’s offer, you know it would mean a relocation to San Marco.”

My heart dropped. Logically I knew that, and I was surprisingly okay with it. I was more disappointed that Ben hadn’t actually mentioned it. Would he even want me to go with him? He called me his mate and made sure everyone else knew it too, but he hadn’t actually claimed me or made any move to do so.

“I hadn’t even thought of it,” I told her honestly.

Ben reached over and linked our fingers together. “We’re not making any decisions today. We need time to consider all our options and determine what’s best for the both of us,” he said.

I let out a sigh of relief and fought back tears. He had made little comments here and there, but it was the first real thing he’d said about a future together for us. I had been so certain that he would mark me as his last night, that unfounded fears had surfaced when he hadn’t.

“Of course you guys don’t want to make a rash decision like that,” Elise said.

“Walker tells me you’re in the army?” Patrick asked Ben.

“Yeah, Rangers.”

“How much time do you have left on your contract?”

“A few months if I don’t re-up,” he said.

I knew Ben had said he could get out soon, but we hadn’t discussed any of the details on that. I drank in everything the two of them said as I tried to picture myself in Ben’s life permanently.

“Do you have a secure place we can talk, Ben?” Patrick asked.

He shrugged. “There’s a dampener in the bedroom.”

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