Page 33 of Forever My Soldier

My back to her, I heard her call, “It wasn’t a suggestion, Jenna.”

That meant it was an order and I would be wise to do as she asked and invite Deacon. The truth was, I did want Deacon there with me, if only to make the night a little less insufferable. However, I did not want to give my family, specifically my mother, an opportunity to do something.

* * *

It’d been more than a few days since my mother volunteered me to plan the DAR event at her house and the day of the event was coming much faster than I could’ve hoped for. By my way of thinking, the sooner we got this over with, the better. I’d been spending way too much time with her these days and could only handle so much more before I lost my mind.

I had been putting in plenty of hours the past few days, juggling work and planning nicely. I also hadn’t seen Deacon since he cooked me dinner, and I wasn’t altogether sure how I felt about that, but it gave me the time I needed, so I wasn’t complaining.

However, today was all for me. I spent some time outside getting some sun, doing my nails, and organizing my closet. It was exactly what I needed and I felt refreshed after my shower. I wore a hot pink slip dress and put my damp hair in a high ponytail, leaving some loose tendrils out. My face was makeup-free, already aglow from the sun I took in earlier. I felt good, excellent even.

Deciding I needed a snack, I went in the kitchen to plate up some carrots with dressing to satisfy my appetite. Sitting on one of my bar stools, flipping through my social feed, and biting down on a carrot, I was surprised to hear a knock on my door.

“It’s open!” I hollered, putting my phone aside and swallowing before taking my next bite.

Next thing I knew, Deacon walked through in khakis and a white shirt and looked so muscular and oh-so-sexy. “You know,” he started, closing the door behind him, but looking back at it. “It’s not safe to keep your door unlocked or announce that it’s open.”

I was still chewing when I shrugged my shoulders, a reaction he clearly didn’t like because he crossed his arms.

“I’m serious. What if it wasn’t me?”

“But it was you,” I pointed out. Then I added, “I never really leave it open and I won’t ever again, okay?” I waited for his acknowledgment and moved on. “Now that we have that out of the way, you look sweaty. Do you want some iced tea?” I made my way over to the fridge and pulled out the pitcher I had prepared. “Here.”

He took it and poured some in a glass. “It’s roasting outside.”

“Don’t I know it. Got a nice little tan for myself today.”

He smiled, looking at me and I felt my insides tingle a little at just that one look. “What have you been up to?” I asked.

He took a sip, more like chugged it really, before answering, “Just trying to get my life in order. I need a place of my own and to figure out what I want to do now that I’m back.”

“Those aren’t small things,” I admitted. “Did you get anywhere with them?”

He laughed. “No. I have some options, but nothing that really speaks to me, if that makes any sense. I don’t want to just fill my time, waiting for something better to come around. My brothers all found what they want and are happy, that’s all I’m looking for.”

I felt for him, I really did. It was a lousy feeling to be lost like that. “Can I help?”

He shook his head, settling onto the bar stool next to me. “No, I don’t think so. I’m giving myself more time for now.”

“Sounds sensible.”

He picked up a carrot from my plate and took a bite. “How have you been? Any more surprise visitors?”

“Aside from you?” I joked. “No, thank goodness. I’ve been too busy to deal with any of that anyway. Between work and planning an event with my mother, I’ve been swamped.”

He sucked in a deep breath. “That sounds bad. How did you get roped into that?” he asked sounding concerned.

I brushed it off because he really had no idea how ingratiated my parents were in my life. We hadn’t really discussed any of that yet. Which was fine was by me, if I was being honest. “Long story, but the misery is almost over.”

“That bad, huh?”

“Oh, no, it’s all rainbows and sunshine,” I jested. ”You know, spending time with my mother is just like hanging out with one of my girlfriends. We talk for hours on end, go shopping together, and braid each other’s hair.”

He furrowed his brow. “Noted. I won’t ask about it again,” he said, ready to move on to other topics.

I heard my phone vibrating next to me and groaned, throwing my head back. “Every time we’re together that phone rings. I swear, I’m going to chuck it out the window.”

“Maybe it’s something good. Answer it.”

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