Chapter 38
38
We showered quickly – 60 seconds apiece, just enough to wash away the scent of sex. I went first while Rachel packed what few belongings she’d brought; then we exchanged places. We dressed just as hurriedly as we’d showered.
We paused at the door before she opened it. There could be no public displays once we crossed the threshold, so we took a moment before reentering the everyday world.
“This was absolutely amazing,” she said with a smile, her arms looped around my neck as she looked up at me.
“‘Absolutely amazing’ doesn’t even begin to describe it for me,” I said – and I meant it.
The sex had been the best of my life, bar none – but it was more than that: far more emotional and far more intense.
I felt like I could lose myself in her eyes forever if I only got the chance.
She kissed me again softly, her lips lingering on mine… and then she pulled away. “I have to go p>
“I know,” I said, and kissed her again.
Then I pulled away and she opened the door.
I escorted her out to the airfield in the early morning darkness.
“Are the mortars going to be a problem when the plane takes off?” she asked worriedly.
“No,” I reassured her. “The airfield’s too far away p>
“So, the military makes it a priority to guard the planes… just not the soldiers p>
“What, you had to ask?” I joked.
I didn’t tell her about the anti-aircraft missiles, though. They were uncommon, but I didn’t want to put ideas in her head.
I was silently grateful we’d pulled two dozen of them off the market during the raid this afternoon.
We got to the main runway, where a C-130 Hercules – a flying mountain of an aircraft – had its gangplank down. Soldiers were busy loading pallets of cargo into the hold.
Rachel put out a hand. “Well, Lars, it was a real pleasure p>
I shook her hand and squeezed it lightly. “I want to see you again p>
She looked surprised. Then she smiled sadly. “Lars… you don’t have to pretend this was something it wasn’t p>
“What are you talking about p>
She shrugged. “It was fun. We had a great time. But you don’t have to say that – ”
“I’m saying it because I mean it. I want to see you again p>
“That’s going to be difficult, given that I’m going back to London and you’re here in Afghanistan p>
“My deployment ends in 3 months. When I go back to Sweden, I’ll have some leave accrued. I want to use it to come see you p>
She looked at me for a long moment before she answered. “…I’m not sure that’s a good idea p>
My stomach twisted. “Is there someone else?” I asked, trying to sound as neutral as I could.
“No p>
I immediately felt better. “Then why isn’t it a good idea p>
She smiled sadly again. “Because nothing will ever come of it p>
“You’ll probably come,” I said in a quiet voice, low enough that none of the nearby soldiers would have a chance of overhearing.
She burst out laughing, then nodded. “I’m sure I would p>
“Several times, even p>
“Oh, way more than several p>
“So let me come see you, then p>
I could see her inner struggle playing out on her face. “…this is a bad idea p>
“I think it’s an incredible idea p>
Finally she gave in and grinned. “…alright p>
“Yeah?” I asked happily.
“If we’re not seeing anyone else in three months,” she added hastily.
I looked around the darkened base. “Given my surroundings, I think it’s fair to assume I won’t be seeing anyone else p>
She grinned. “Alright… if I’m not seeing anyone else p>
“Fair enough. Can I get your phone number p>
“No p>
She said it so quickly and definitively that it took me by surprise.
“…no p>
“It changes frequently. Part of my job p>
“Alright, how about your email address p>
“Give me yours and I’ll contact you p>
I looked at her sideways. “You promise p>
She smiled. “Yes p>
“No – seriously – you promise p>
Her smile broke into a full-toothed grin. “Yes, I promise p>
“Alright. Got a pen p>
She produced one from her pack, and I wrote my email address on her hand.
“Oh, this doesn’t look suspicious at all,” she said in a deadpan voice.
“It’s so you don’t lose it,” I said, clicking the pen and handing it back to her. “It was a true pleasure, Agent Bauer p>
“I’m pretty sure the pleasure was mostly mine, Sergeant Henriksson,” she said with a naughty smile. “But it was wonderful p>
We grinned at each other as we shook hands one last time…
And then she walked away and went up the gangplank of the C-130.
I stood there the entire time and watched.
She had a beautiful way of walking… the way her hips swayed back and forth…
God, what a woman.
When she got up to the top of the ramp, she looked back over her shoulder, flashed me one more smile, and went inside.
I walked until I was far enough away to be safe, then waited until the propellers of the C-130 fired up.
I watched as it pulled down the runway… gained speed… and took off.
And then I watched it disappear into the dark Afghan sky.
Only then did I turn and walk back.
The barracks were dark as I snuck in. Snoring filled the air.
When I sat down on my mattress and the springs creaked, Gunnar rolled over on the cot next to mine.
“…Lars p>
“It’s me,” I whispered in Swedish. “Go back to sleep p>
“What, before I hear the big news?” he asked sleepily. I could hear the grin in his voice. “Did you get lucky p>
“Incredibly lucky p>
I could hear the slight confusion in his voice. “What do you mean p>
I smiled in the darkness. “I think she’s the One p>