Page 49 of Inseverable (Carolina Beach)

“Callahan Sawyer, are you asking me out on a date?” I say, trying not to gush and failing miserably.

His lovely baby blues twinkle. “What if I am?”

“Then I’ll have to say yes,” I answer.

“In that case, I’ll pick you up here after your shift.” He pauses, and then adds. “I didn’t own a cell phone, but I bought one earlier today. I’ll give you the number so you can call me to let me know when you’re ready.”

“Okay. Sounds good.” I pull out my phone from my purse and send him a text so he’ll have my number, too.

As soon as I’m done, he leans in and offers me a very small, but very alluring kiss. “Goodnight, Trin.”

“Goodnight, Callahan,” I respond, struggling to pry my hands off him.

Somehow I manage and hop up the steps, resetting the alarm after I slip inside and lock the door.

I hurry to the upstairs balcony to watch him leave. Anyone else passing him on the street wouldn’t notice the darkness he’s experienced, and how it squares his shoulders, tightens his stance, and evens his stare. At least I don’t think so. But I see it, and maybe know it a little better now, too.

I only hope I can help him through it, and that he’ll somehow use me to be his light.

Chapter Fourteen

Callahan

Boom.

“Yeah. Get some!”

Boom.

“Run, Cal,run!”

Boom.

“It’s an ambush—Retreat. Jesus Christ,retreat.

Limbs fly. Maris’s blood soaks my shirt. They’re dead. All of them.

I curl inward, gathering the pillow around my ears. I tell myself they’re just fireworks in the distance—that I’mnotback in Iraq. But between Billy’s death and all the blasts lighting up the sky, all I hear is enemy fire and all I see are my friends lying in pieces.

My breath is too fast to register, my pulse too quick to trace. I clasp my wrist, focusing on counting each beat. One-ten. One-twenty. One-thirty.

“Cal, help me. I don’t want to die.Help me!”

“We’re counting on you, Ranger.”

Sweat soaks my sheets. I go back to counting my heartbeat. One-forty. One-fifty. How fast is too fast?

Fear rattles my body, making me convulse.

“Callahan?”

They’re dead.

“Callahan, are you in here?”

I know they’re dead.

“It’s me, Trinity . . .”

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