Page 7 of Sparks Still Fly

The girls excuse themselves to go to bed at 23:30, but I stay up. Lainey is rooming with Charlie because their couch barely seats two people, so I’ll sleep in her bed tonight.

I’m distracting myself by messaging some guys I was on base with, just to check in, when I hear the click of the apartment door. I check the clock. 23:57.

“Hey. You’re back early.” I’m tempted to punch myself in the dick for not being able to think of anything less idiotic or obvious to say.

I see she’s got a pink box in her hands, and my curiosity is peaked.

“I wasn’t feeling the party tonight.” She sets it down and turns to face me, but doesn’t make a move to leave her spot in the kitchen. I stand and take a few steps toward her, reaching behind her to see what’s in the box. And to be near her.

“Whatcha got here, Maevey?” I lift the lid and see half a dozen sprinkle donuts. The corners of my mouth lift into a smile. “Sprinkle donuts, huh? What are you celebrating?”

“Oh. Nothing. I get sprinkle donuts for everything. Joy. Sadness. Celebrations. PMS. They’re perfect for all occasions.” Her cheeks take on a shade of pink I’m suddenly obsessed with. She’s fucking adorable. And sexy as hell. Goddamnit, this woman is tempting.

“And do you share said donuts?” I keep my hand on the counter, standing over her and taking her in from up close. Her makeup is intact, but her curls are loose now. I can still smell her lavender scent.

“Always,” she whispers, then quickly maneuvers away from me to get some plates from the cupboard, sitting them down next to the box without touching me.

I take two donuts and place them on the plates, and we silently make our way to sit at the breakfast bar. I raise my donut up, and she does the same as we toast with our midnight snacks.

“To you, fengári mou. To shining brightly.” Even if she has no idea I just called her my moon, she doesn’t show it.

“To you, O. To staying safe.” Her voice is soft, and she doesn’t meet my eyes.

“Always.” I take in her perfect cupid’s bow and chomp down on my donut, committing this moment to memory forever.

june, 8 years ago

“Don’t tell me that’s your dinner, Maevey.” My lips turn down at the sight of her bag of potato chips and the chocolate-covered cookies she always has with her tea.

“That sounds an awful lot like judgment, O.” She smiles as she slowly brings a potato chip to her mouth. She smells it first, taking her time chewing it, closing her eyes when her teeth first crunch into it. If I hadn’t seen her do this exact thing several times already, I’d think she was just putting on a show. But no, this is how Maeve experiences the first taste of her food or drink. Slowly. Deliberately.

Before I can tell her that she should be eating something healthier, Clay, a fellow Marine and one of my best friends, sticks his head into the frame of the video.

“Don’t listen to him. He had a cup of coffee for dinner last night because he didn’t want the hot dogs I made.” Clay pushes me out of the way so Maeve can see us both. “Hi, Maeve. I’m Clayton.” He does a goofy wave as he smiles widely at her. “Nice to finally meet you.”

This fucker better not open his big mouth to say anything to her or I will punch that smile right off his face.

“Too good for my Walkers crisps and too good for hot dogs? I didn’t take you for being so bougie!” My favorite pair of blue eyes sparkle, and I honest-to-goodness wouldn’t mind having her take jabs at me for the rest of my life if it means seeing her like this. “Hi, Clay. O’s told me a bit about you, so it’s nice to finally meet you, too.” She cocks her head to the side and smiles.

Stop staring at her like a lovesick teenager.

“The hot dogs were burned, Clay,” I say, doing my best to calm my dick down. “Not just a little bit, either. They were black all the way through.” Clay rolls his eyes dramatically as I talk. “And what flavor do you have today, sunshine? Prawn Cocktail? Come on. It even sounds disgusting.” I scrunch up my face to show my obvious distaste of her British chips, and Clay laughs at the gagging motion I make. I can always count on him for a laugh.

“Don’t knock it ‘til you try it, mister. I could eat these day and night. You have no idea what you’re missing,” she says, holding up a chip.

I bet I could eat her day and night.

Jesus, Owen, what the hell is wrong with you? Settle down.

Clay seems to catch on to my thoughts and lets out a booming laugh. “I can see why he enjoys talking to you so much. You keep him on his toes. My girl would like you, too.” He sighs. I know how much he misses Monica, and the thought sobers me a little. It’s that heartbreak, that guilt of leaving someone behind to wait for you, that I never wanted. And I need to be better at reminding myself that Maeve isn’t mine. I don’t want her waiting around for me or worrying about me. She doesn’t deserve that.

september, 8 years ago

The plane just landed back on base after too many days of intense rescue operations, and the fatigue of being awake for forty hours is becoming hard to ignore. I trudge through the hangar to my quarters and sink into a chair, my body begging for rest. Taking a deep breath, I slowly click the call button labeled ‘Ma and Dad’ and quickly fill them in before finally mustering enough strength for one more call. Lainey has heard nothing from me in weeks, and I know she’s probably been worrying.

As the video connects, I send a silent prayer to whoever may be listening that Maeve is there, too.

Lainey picks up, smiling brightly.

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