Page 35 of Something Borrowed

She laughed, stuffing the rest of the first beignet into her mouth, not caring about getting dirty. “You neverknew?”

“I hadn’t the foggiest. Though it makes sense now. Who wouldn’t find someone like Jaxon attractive?”

Chuckling, she moved onto the second treat. “Pretty much no one in his life. Unless they’re related tohim.”

“I remember that about him. I also remember he was pretty much a putz, so I’m glad he got his shit together before you slept withhim.”

“Mother!” She shouted, blushing. “Can we not talk aboutthat?”

“Okay, fine. It’s not like I don’t know.” Her mom took a sip of coffee. “Mmm, nothing like a cup of chicory in the middle of the night to soothe thesoul.

“Do you think he does this? Randomly misses me and feelsbad?”

“He’d be a fool not too, Sweetheart.”

“Thanks, Mom. I needed that, even if you have to saythat.”

“I do, but I mean it. You saw him at his worst, and love him at his best. You’re patient with him and ready to accommodate his life at the price of yours. Whether you realize it or not, you’re just as much a catch as heis.”

She grinned. “I do look pretty good on TV every night, don’tI?”

“Ha! Sometimes it’s not hard to see why you would be with Jaxon atall.”

Smirking around the beignet she said nothing, just sat back with her mom and watched the people goby.

* * *

“Doyou think it’s the one?” he looked over at Marzden over the stout on the table.

“I think if you ask me that one more fucking time I’m going to throw it onto an IED and make you have to start from scratch.

Growling at his friend he dropped the box into his pocket. “Can you blame me for freaking out? It’s not exactly like this is conventional.”

“What? Carrying that around for the next month and half until you get home for Christmas? Or moving as quickly as you are with someone you’ve known almost your entire life.” Mardzen grabbed the beer and downed it in oneshot.

“Both I guess.”

“I think given the situation, it’s not as abnormal as you think. I don’t blame you for rushing it. She seems pretty fucking amazing. If she doesn’t go for it, send her tome.”

“Fuck off,” though he grinned as he popped a fry into his mouth.

“When do you gohome?”

“Two days before Christmas. My dad already knows, but I asked him not to tell Kailey. I think my baby sister can benefit from the surprise as much as Adrianna. I’ve never been home for the holidays except when I was stationed out in the states at Twenty-Nine Palms. I don’t know if I even remember what a Donovan family Christmas islike.”

“This is my first one away,” Mardzen said solemnly. “You really do take certain things for granted. Thompson’s little girl turns one the day after Christmas and he hasn’t seen her since birth – poor bastard might not even be recognized. I can’t imagine what that shit islike.”

“Hopefully we never have too.” He felt a wave of unease cover him, thinking about what it would be like to be stationed away from his wife and kids should he have them. “Luckily his wife is a peach.”

“God, sometimes I fuckin’ forget you’re Southern and then you talk like that.” Marzden joked.

“Don’t be jealous that Southern men have all the charm you Northerners lack. You’ll wind up green withenvy.”

“Fat chance, Donovan. Fat chance.” Grabbing fries from Jaxon’s plate Marzden stuffed them in his mouth. “I’m going to head out. See you atwork.”

“See you,” Jaxon responded.

He was suddenly aware of the weight of the box in his pocket, as if it were a lead brick and not a diamondring.

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