Page 46 of Embracing Trust

I glimpse at Julia as her hair catches the breeze and her ponytail blows around. The sunlight makes her skin glow.

Julia brushes a few stray hairs away from her face. “Just curious, after we broke up, did you date a lot?”

Sweet Julia. I’m sure she’s processing everything and who can blame her. I hurt her.

I wrap my arm around her shoulder to reassure her. “I dated some while I was in North Carolina. I had a girl that I saw when I was first there—Samantha—but it was hard because I was gone a lot. I worked weekends and had training exercises, so sometimes it would be two or three weeks before I could contact her again. I think she got tired of it. We saw each other for a few months and then she broke it off.”

Julia nods. “That would be difficult.”

“I dated off and on—mostly girls I met through the locals—just out for fun. I was gone to Afghanistan and when I got back, I dated a woman named Aubree for the last six months I was in North Carolina.”

“Are you still involved with her?”

I turn my head to Julia, and she bites her lip. “Sorry,” she whispers. “The whole trust thing.”

“Jules, I told you. I’m not with anyone and she knew I was coming back here.”

“Since me, have you been with a lot of girls?”

“No, not a lot, but I can tell you I’m no saint. I’m not going to lie and say you were the last one I was with, but I will assure you there were only a few.”

We continue walking in silence.

“What about you?” I tease and give her a friendly shoulder bump.

She grins. “What about me?”

“Areyouseeing someone?”

She gives me a powerful punch to the bicep. “Knock it off.”

“Well, I know I don’t have to compete with the doctor anymore.”

She laughs, scoots away from me, and takes off in a run. Her joyous laughter fills the air. I catch up to her and wrap her in my arms.

“Hey,” I say as I look into her eyes and move a stray lock off her face.

She rests her hands on my shoulders. “Hey.”

Our lips meet in a soft kiss. She opens and my tongue finds hers. She tastes like strawberries and root beer.

We break the kiss and continue our trek down the sand.

“Back to your question. I didn’t really date in college. I did have one boyfriend for about a year, but nothing serious. I was too busy studying. Especially math.” She giggles and continues, “I mostly had guys who were friends. We would go to the library or meet for discussion groups—that kind of stuff.”

It’s difficult for me to hear her talk about the way she’s been treated by men. Her father broke her heart, and the punches keep on coming for this woman.

“Can you see the light pole in the distance? There’s a set of stairs that go to the shops. Not much farther.”

My eyes squint as I can just make out the light pole she’s talking about. This part of town is all new since I was last here.

We walk in comfortable silence. We spot other families and groups as we continue to make our way into town.

I manage to catch an overthrown football meant for a teenaged boy running out for a pass.

“Sorry, man,” the teenager says as I toss the football back to him.

Julia laughs. “Still the football star, huh.”

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