Page 90 of Sweet Somethings

"I've had a long time to make my peace. Being angry with her didn't accomplish anything."

"I was really angry when my parents died," she confessed. "I was mad that they took that trip without me, which is crazy, because I would have died with them, so I should be grateful I wasn't invited."

"But you felt left out."

"Before and after," she admitted. "I've never said that to anyone. It sounds absurd. They're dead, and I'm angry with them for dying without me."

"They just got on a boat, Juliette. That's all they did."

"I know. I just wish they hadn't."

He nodded and then put his arms around her. "I wish that, too."

He held her for a few minutes, then said, "Hey, you're missing the parade."

She turned around and they settled back against the bench as the brightly lit boats made their way across the water in front of them. "They're so pretty," she murmured.

"Not as pretty as you, but not bad."

"Now you're going to sweet-talk me?"

He laughed. "I hope you know that I just want you to be happy."

"I want you to be happy, too." She turned to look at him. "So, your physical is Monday?"

"Yes."

"Are you nervous?"

"Not about doing it, but the results could determine the rest of my life, so that's unsettling."

"You're in good shape; it seems likely you'll pass—don't you think?"

"I still get some ringing in my ears. It's better but I don't know if it's good enough."

"Won't they just extend your disability then?"

"I don't know what's going to happen," he said, tightening his arm around her. "I'm sure there are jobs I'll be offered if I can't go back to my unit."

"Would you take a different job?"

"I should. It's all about service. It's never been about what I want to do but what the Marines need me to do. The Corps has been my life, my family, my job for thirteen years. I can't imagine leaving, but I also can't imagine not being able to do the work I was trained to do."

A wave of sadness ran through her at his words. He was being honest, but that honesty was breaking her heart. How could she even want him to leave everything for her?

Maybe going back to his job wouldn't mean the end of their relationship. Soldiers fell in love, got married, and still served. But her life would have to come second to his. She'd have to follow him. How could she do that? How could she give up this life she was building?

She knew she was getting way ahead of herself, but time was moving fast. Next week Roman could be gone. She didn't know whether she should make the most of whatever time they had left or start pushing him away now so it wouldn't hurt so much.

However, the idea of pushing him away when he felt so good right next to her seemed impossible to fathom. So, she wasn't going to do it. Decision time would come soon enough.

They watched the boats for the next half hour, comfortable with silence now.

"That must be Doug's boat," Roman said, breaking into their quiet to point out a large yacht with a flag for the University of Alabama's Crimson Tide football program.

"Speaking of Doug. What happened last night?"

"We talked everything out—me, Doug, and Travis."

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