Page 6 of Reunited with the Soldier

“That’s Kash.” That’s all I need to say. She knows my story and she knows what I went through nine years ago. Gemma has been a great friend and I don’t know what I would do without her.

“Do you want me to throw them out?” Her face hardens and I can’t help but smile at her.

“No, but thank you, you’re like my personal bodyguard.” I don’t look in his direction and turn to grab a glass for a drink.

“Lo.”

No one else knows me as Lo, not since he left me for the military. I’ve been Lauren to everyone since then.

I spin my head to see where it came from and I’m bombarded by his beautiful eyes and his smile.

“The hell are you doing here, Kash?” I stare at him and hope he crumbles under my glare.

“Got done with the military and now working not far from here. You look good, Lo.”

“Lauren. I stopped being Lo the day you left me behind.” I’m trying to control my voice, but I can feel it’s shaky. “Now, do you want a drink, if not, get the hell out of here.”

“A beer, please.” I pour him a beer, hand it to him and that’s when I feel the connection that we always had. The sparks of electricity travelling through my veins whenever he touched me. Fuck, what does that mean. I don’t need this complication in my life, I’ve finally been able to settle down and start over again. I haven’t lived in fear for such a long time. But seeing Kash has reopened all my wounds and brought my memories crashing back down.

“Take for that beer, I’m going on my break. And don’t let him follow me.” I storm out from behind the bar and make my way upstairs to the kitchen area. I need to breathe.. I can’t believe he’s here. Kash is here. Fuck.

After ten minutes, Gemma comes to find me. “Are you okay?”

“Did he leave?” I plead, my eyes filled with tears.

“No, he waited for a while and then went back to his table. They are all still down there. I just wanted to check on you. Do you want to go home?”

“God no, I need the money, you know I do. I can’t let a blast from the past upset me. I’ve cried enough tears over him over the years, I don’t want to give him anymore.”

She pulls me into a hug and slaps me on the back after squeezing me tight. “Come on then, you need to get back down there and show him that he doesn’t affect you, even if he does.”

“He doesn’t know about Elijah. I don’t want him to ever know about Elijah. He can’t take him from me.”

“You need to calm down. He doesn’t have any right to take him from you, Lauren. Take some deep breaths and let's go back downstairs. The quicker you get down there, the quicker it is to get home and hug Elijah. You’ll feel better then.”

I know she’s right and I make sure my make up isn’t smudged and then I head back downstairs to serve at the bar. I’ve worked here for about four years now and they are so good to me and Elijah.

I can see Kash and his friends at their table. They seem to be really good friends and they are forever man hugging, fist bumping and laughing. It’s good to see him with his friends, and I have to admit he looks fucking incredible, the military was good to him by the looks of it.

But, I don’t want to talk to him or see him again. This is my one night to drink in everything that is Kash and then I don’t want to see him again.

When my shift is over, I glance over at Kash’s table. It’s empty, they left about fifteen minutes ago and I’m happy about that. I didn’t want Kash to come over and talk to me when they were leaving. It’s bad enough he knows where I am, I hope he’s just passing through. I don’t know how I would feel to see him every night at work, I would need to find a new job.

I need to get home to Bailey and talk to her about what to do. Bailey has become the mom and best friend that I never knew I needed. After that night when she took me to hospital she hasn’t left our sides. When Elijah was born, I needed to go into surgery to repair my broken bones, shattered ribs and repair some of my organs. Bailey looked after Elijah until I was well enough to hold him and feed him. I moved in with her and then after my step father was put in prison, we left town together.

She looks after Elijah at night when I’m working and I have him to myself during the day when she works. She bought the local bookstore and she loves working there. Myself and Elijah go down there often to look at the books. I’ve even sat down and read some of them to the other kids who are in the shop.

After grabbing my jacket, I step outside of the bar and that’s when I see the dark figure leaning against the wall.

“Hey, Lauren, wait.”

“No, I don’t have anything to say to you, Kash. You walked away from me, remember.” I walk back to my car, hoping he walks in the other direction. But I should have known, Kash was always pigheaded and did what he wanted. That’s how he left for the military, right?

“I just want to talk. Please, Lo.”

I spin around and stare at him, the anger is brimming just under the surface and I can feel that I am getting ready to explode.

“I told you, it’s Lauren. You don’t have the right to call me that anymore, Kash.” I stomp my way back to him and poke him in the chest. “You left me at a time when I really needed you, but you were just looking out for yourself, you didn’t give my feelings a thought. Did you?” I poke him.

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