Page 1 of Reunited with the Soldier

PROLOGUE

KASH

Nine years ago.

I park my car, my gaze on the beach, I don’t have to look far, Lauren’s standing there waiting, as she always is.

Fuck. I love her. I never thought it would be possible to love someone as much as I love her. She’s everything to me but I know that I’m going to break her heart. I’m going to shatter every dream she ever had tonight, and I’m going to walk away without looking back. I hate that I’m going to do this and I wish I had another choice, but I don’t.

I walk over to her, each step I take is heavy and filled with gut wrenching dread. I fucking love her. I don’t want to see her cry, then again, I don’t think I’ve ever seen Lauren cry. She’s fierce but sweet and sexy.

“Hey,” she greets me with a wide smile, but I notice that it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Is everything okay?” she asks with a furrow between her brows. “You don’t seem yourself.”

“Baby,” I begin, my voice etched with anguish.

“Kash,” she says, stepping closer to me. “What’s going on?”

I shake my head. “Lauren—”

Her eyes flash with pain, almost as if she knows what’s about to happen. “Lo, you always call me Lo.”

I sigh. “Baby, I’m so fucking sorry."

She pulls in a shaky breath. “You’re leaving, aren’t you?” she says so matter-of-factly.

I nod. “I signed up to the military, my bus leaves at six this evening.”

She wraps her arms around her stomach and turns to look out at the sea. “So all that stuff you said last night was bullshit?”

“No,” I growl. “Fuck no. You think I lied about loving you?”

She keeps her gaze directed at the sea. “How long have you known that you’d be leaving today?” she asks quietly.

I don’t answer, I know that no matter what I’ll say she’ll be pissed. I fucked up. How do you tell the girl you love that you’re leaving? How the fuck do you do that?

“So you knew you were leaving but you still fucked me,” she says bitterly. “What was it, make sure you took Lauren’s virginity before you left. One last hurrah?”

I spin her to face me, not missing the anger and pain in those gorgeous emerald eyes of hers. “It’s not like that. Not at fucking all, Lo, you are the only person I’ve ever loved, will ever love. Joining the military is something that I want—need—to do.”

She shakes her head. “So you’re leaving, that’s it. No discussion. Nothing? Did you ever think to tell me about it? Hmm, you’ve listened to me for the past six months talk about plans. Plans for the both of us once we graduate. Instead you should have been honest from the get-go. Not once did you ever mention that you wanted to join the military, Kash. Not once.” Her nose scrunches up and she steps back from me. “Do I even know you at all?”

Fuck. This is so much worse than I had ever imagined.

“Tell me you don’t think that’s true?” I growl as I step forward and pull her into my body.

“What the hell am I supposed to think, Kash? You’re leaving and this is the first time I’m hearing about it. What else do you think I’d believe?” She glances down at our feet and I hate this. I fucking hate every second of this.

I sigh. “Baby, look at me,” I whisper, but she shakes her head. “I’m asking you please, look at me.”

She raises her head and I’m hit with those gorgeous emerald eyes of hers, filled with pain and tears. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she whispers. “Why did you make me want everything just to snatch it away?”

“I’m so sorry,” I repeat. There really is no excuse for not telling her. “It’s something I’ve dreamed of for years, something I’ve aspired to. I was afraid to hope in case it didn’t happen.”

“I was always the backup plan,” she says softly. “I get it, I really hope you achieve everything that you want, Kash.”

She pulls out of my arms and I know that right here and now is the very last that I’m ever going to see her again. She presses a kiss to the corner of my mouth. “Be safe and more importantly, be happy, Kash.”

“You too, Lo.”

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