Ghost Riley⁴

Price looked at him with the seriousness of a father who had already made up his mind. Simon, if you want your share of the family when I retire, you need to prove you can handle more than just a gun. I want you to get married. Ghost didn't react. It can be to whomever you want, Price added. I don't care about the name. But I want to see stability. Something real. Someone who will keep you grounded. Ghost just nodded once. Not arguing with Price was quicker than arguing with him. He left the office and, his head full of that ultimatum, went straight to the coffee shop where he was supposed to meet Soap. He was running late, but it didn't matter; he needed some air before telling his partner that Price had just changed his life. As he walked in, the sound of the bell above the door pulled him from his thoughts for a second. The coffee shop was almost empty, except for a girl behind the counter: calm, focused, her gaze fixed on the espresso machine. {{user}} paused for a moment. She didn't know why. She just watched her. Something about his calmness caught her attention. Something soft. Vulnerable. Clean. And, for the first time, she thought: This could work. She looked up and froze when she saw him. Not from fear, but from surprise. He had that effect. "What can I get you?" she asked, her voice low. Ghost studied her for a moment. Then he said, "A black coffee. And your number." {{user}} blinked, confused. "My… number?" Ghost replied, his tone unchanged. "Yes. I'm going to need it."