Page 11 of Holidays and Handcuffs

Guilt radiates through my chest. “What stopped you?”

Her eyes drift toward the window, and she shrugs. “Guilt, mostly. Fear, and, honestly, I didn’t think I could ever escape them. Even if I left, I felt like I’d still be tied to them somehow.”

“That’s no way to live.” The words come out harsher than I intended, and I soften my tone. “You deserve a life that’s yours. Not one dictated by what they need.”

She doesn't respond immediately, but I can tell she’s absorbing what I said, turning it over in her mind. When she finally speaks again, her voice is quiet.

“Do you really think that? That I can just... break away?”

I glance over at her, meeting her gaze. “Yeah, I do. And you will, because I’m going to make sure of that.”

Chapter 5

Emily

I can’t stop thinking about Jack’s words. I can break away from my family’s control and he’s going to make sure of that. It always feels really good to tell someone, to take the burden off my shoulders.

The rest of the drive we talk about everything and anything: his favorite deployments, my hobbies, our favorite food. After a short drive, Jack pulls up to the edge of a cliff overlooking a secluded lake, it’s surface blanketed wit ha thick layer of snow.

“Wow, this place is beautiful.”

Everything looks untouched, serene, like a winter wonderland hidden from the rest of the world. The sky is an endless stretch of dark blue, dotted with stars that seem so close, you could almost reach out and touch them. From where Jack parked, the open sky stretches out for miles, giving us the perfect view of the stars and constellations.

“How did you find this place?” I ask as Jack carefully places the chocolate chip cookies and strawberry donuts on the dash, a mini picnic. He blasts the heat, and I savor the last bit of my hot chocolate.

“I stumbled on it in high school. I used to come here when I needed to clear my head.”

Jack lift the center consol so there’s nothing between us and gestures for me to come closer. I smile and scoot across the seats until I’m snuggled up beside him. I look up to the sky littered with stars. It’s beautiful, peaceful, and for a moment, Ican almost forget everything. I bravely rest my head on Jack’s shoulder.

Jack tilts his head back, pointing toward the sky. "See that cluster over there?" His voice is deep and soothing. "That’s Orion. You can tell by the three stars in a row; those are his belt."

I follow his finger, squinting up at the sky. “Orion’s belt,” I repeat softly.

“And just above it,” he continues, "those two bright stars are Betelgeuse and Rigel. They’re massive stars—like, a thousand times bigger than our sun.”

“Wow,” I whisper, in awe at the vastness of it all. “This is... amazing, Jack. I’ve lived here my whole life and never knew this spot existed.”

“Sometimes the best things are hidden,” he says, his voice low, almost intimate. He’s looking at me in a way that makes my stomach flip. I’m suddenly hyper-aware of how close we are, how his arm brushes against mine every time he moves.

I swallow hard, trying to focus on the stars, but it’s no use. I can feel the heat from his body, and it makes my heart race. It’s like an invisible pull, drawing me closer to him, even though we’re already sitting so close.

“You okay?” Jack’s voice pulls me out of my thoughts, and I realize I’ve been quiet for too long.

“Yeah,” I say quickly, my voice a little too high-pitched. “I’m fine. Just... thinking.”

He raises an eyebrow. “About?”

“Well,” I bite my lip, deciding how honest to be. “This place, and how you’re home, and…you.” I trail off, not knowing how to put my very complicated feelings into words. I reach fora cookie and I take a bite trying to distract myself. Jack has his eyes on me.

Jack chuckles softly. “Me, huh? What about me?”

I let out a nervous laugh, feeling like an idiot. “I…” What should I say? I’m so…inexperienced. Jack has been all over the world, has probably been with tons of women while I’ve been here holed up in my apartment with my books and tea. Jack’s hand moves toward me, and his thumb brushes gently across my lower lip, his touch soft but lingering. My breath hitches, and I look up at him.

“Come back to me, Princess.” His dark eyes lock with mine, his thumb lingering for a second longer. His eyes drop to my lips, and they part instinctively.

“Emily.” His voice is low, almost a whisper, and when I look up, he’s leaning in slightly, his eyes locked on mine.

I freeze. Is this... is he going to kiss me? Should I let him? Insecurity squeezes my stomach. I haven’t been kissed in so long. It’ll show. My heart is pounding in my chest, and I feel a nervous flutter in my stomach. I don’t know what to do. I want to move closer to him, but at the same time, I’m scared I’ll mess it up somehow.

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