A fire burned bright in Mama Rosie’s backyard Saturday night. Micah, Casey, and the team had spent the day in Fort Worth with Whitney and her little girl. They’d gone to the park to play with her, swapped stories about Juan, and a few tears fell in the midst of laughter. Now standing next to Casey under the stars once more with the SEALs, his sister, Mama Rosie, Shawn, Teagan, and even TJ and Emery, something sank into place. His team. This was his team. It didn’t look perfect. It didn’t have a label. They were a combination of the places the Lord had taken him and the circumstances placed in his path. And somehow it all worked, together.
“You’re quiet, handsome. What’s on your mind?”
“It’s been a crazy last few days.”
“Guns, SEALs, meeting the fam. I’d say this is a new level of crazy for me.”
Firelight danced over her face, now unguarded. She’d let him in. She was letting him see all of her. And he loved it.
“I kinda love you, you know.” He leaned in close so that only she could hear, his team around him laughing and talking and roasting s’mores. But in a sky full of stars, he had eyes only for Casey Stewart.
She wrinkled her nose. “Only kinda?”
He held his arms wide. “More than this. Is that okay?”
She tapped her chin, studying him. “This isn't going to be one of those relationships where you fall madly in love with me in the aftermath of every fight, is it?” Casey smirked. “I’m just not sure I can manage your fragile ego every time.”
“Not a chance, love.” He wound his arm around her waist. From where they stood off to the side in shadow, Micah had all the privacy he needed. Laughter surrounded him and the fire crackled. The scent of pine and smoke coated his clothes, and the faint elixir of roses tickled his nose. He tipped Casey’s chin in his direction and tightened his grip around her waist. "I fell for you before this mess."
A flicker of doubt flashed across her face, and he pulled her even closer.
“I’m not going to run away from you when it's hard. If anything, I'm going to run toward you and try to dive in between you and whatever mess you've stirred up, love.”
She chuckled softly, her grip on his shirt tightening. “Love, huh? I kinda like that one. Is it too cheesy, though?”
His breath was warm on her cheek. “Never too cheesy, and it can never be said enough. I think it is your defining quality, even when you built your walls. I think it’s what drew me to you initially. I could see your fight and how strongly you cared. And I think that kind of love is something we can build a life and a home on. I think love led me here. To finish out goodbyes. Love intrigued me as I watched you in your world. And love is keeping me here. For you. For these kids. For the family you have built with Mama Rosie, Teagan, Shawn, and Al. For the family you have with Emery.”
“Mmm, now I really like it.” She slipped her arms around him, her fingers tracing circles on his back.
He smiled the smile that now belonged to Casey alone. “I love ya, Casey. And I want to spend the rest of my life learning how to love you more, fighting for you," he placed a kiss on the tip of her nose and leaned in close, "and with you."
Her laugh stirred something in him. Something he had been missing since his buddies died, since his accident, since he'd given up the SEALs. She stirred his warrior's heart to action. In Casey, Micah had found a strong partner, a valiant woman, and a gift worth fighting the rest of his life for. He’d found his team. He’d found his home.
He’d fallen in love with the heart of a tiny warrior.