She turned to see Chief Vidmeyer jogging up to her. “All trainees get forty-eight hours liberty after Hell Week, and you didn’t get yours. Take the rest of today off. Tomorrow, too. I just got the admiral to okay it. We’ll see you back here in a couple of days. And be ready to bust your butt.”

“You’ve got it, Chief. I’ll be back, and I’ll be ready.”

Cal Kettering strolled over to her as she looked around, unsure what to do with herself with two whole days of nobody telling her at the top of their lungs what to do or where to go. “Can I give you a ride somewhere?” he offered.

“Yes, you can—if you know where I can find Griffin Caldwell.”

“You gonna punch him out, too?” Cal asked wryly.

“No. I need to thank him for everything he did for me.” And make it clear that if he doesn’t want to be with me, I will accept that and move on. No matter that her heart was broken. Or more accurately, shattered. Maybe forever.

“He’s probably on his boat. I’ll drive you over to the marina if you’d like.”

“That’s kind of you, sir.”

Cal led her to a pickup truck no less tricked out than Griffin’s. She was silent as Cal drove the vehicle up the coast. But when he slowed to turn into the marina, she said grimly, “So, are you and the Reapers going after Haddad?”

“Oh, hell yeah.”

“I wish I were two years farther down the road so I could go with you. After the past few days, I’d like a piece of that guy myself.”

Cal laughed quietly. “You really are turning into a SEAL, aren’t you?”

She hopped out of the truck and paused in the act of closing the door. “Why do all of you keep sounding so surprised about that?”

He smiled. “Because you’re just so damned much better looking than the rest of us. You want me to swing by here in a while and pick you up?”

“No, thanks. I see Caldwell’s truck over there. I’ll ask him to give me a ride back to base. And sir?”

Kettering looked over at her.

“Thank you for everything.”

“My pleasure. You’re going to be a hell of an asset to the teams. All of you women are.”

Smiling, she slammed his door and watched him drive away. Then she turned, took a deep breath, and headed for the Easy Day. Saying goodbye to Griffin was going to be the hardest thing she’d ever done…Hell Week included.

Taking a page out of the SEAL playbook, she didn’t overthink it and just jumped in. Here went nothing.

Chapter 25