Page 16 of Something Borrowed

A genuine laugh burst free as she pulled open her Camry door. “I’m not going to waste my time explaining why that doesn’t even begin to the be case, because I know it will be like talking to a brickwall.”

“But you’re good?” Jim shouted from wherever he was in relation to the phone.

Starting up the car she waited until the chime let her know the Bluetooth had kicked in. “I’m fine. I’m a big girl who has no need for check-ins from her favorite people.”

Kailey giggled into the phone. “I think it’s safe to say that at least for right now, my brother is your favorite person.”

Shaking her head she realized she was grinning and had needed the small, yet thoughtful, gesture from her friend. “I promise I’m fine. I have to work tonight and that will be enough distraction. Your brother and I will figure out how to do this, if it’s even worth doing.”

“You take that last part back. I’ve been planning this since we were preteens and I saw you staring at him at my wedding. You’ll figure itout.”

Her best friend could be a lot of annoying things, and overly optimistic was one ofthem.

“Goodbye, Kailey. Enjoy your honeymoon. Bye, Jim.” Reaching out she cut the connection to the call and leaned her head back into theseat.

There were so many reasons why a relationship with Jaxon was not only going to fail, but destined too. Yet, she couldn’t think of a single reason not to ride it out. She wasn’t looking for the wrong person, and there was a chance that Jaxon Donovan was the right person.

* * *

His eyes skimmedover the email, a knot was already forming in his stomach. Ever since he’d gotten on the plane he’d known something was coming. Sitting in the conference room, looking at the sixteen other faces in his unit and his Officer In Command, he knew they were about to be mobilized.

Of course you are. It’s been too serene the past fifteen months as you’ve plodded about here.He wondered if a snarl played at his lips, because he could hear it in the tone in his head. His entire stationing in Germany had gone without interruption. Of course with less than a year left, something would happen.

“I’ll make this brief because you all know there’s only two reasons you could be here, and unfortunately, I’m here to tell you it’s not a morale day.” His officer spoke, standing behind the podium with a grave look on hisface.

The room remained silent, though he’d bet his left nut every person alongside him was cursing in theirhead.

“We’re sending you all on a short deployment to Iraq. This is strictly a security detail to protect those continuing to work on improving conditions there. Soldiers from all over Europe have been selected. It is our utmost wishes that this deployment is peaceful, albeit warm as fuck.” A small crack at joke did nothing to diffuse the tension in the room. “You will leave in a week, and god willing, be home before the end of summer.” His officer stepped out from behind the platform and paced across the front of the conference table with short, staccato footfalls. “This isn’t the first time out for any of you, but I wanted to take a minute to remind you to get things settled up with your bills and for those of you with family, power of attorney and emergency lists completed. I wish you all the best of luck, and will be there to see you off at the airfield. That is all, dismissed!”

Each person in the room saluted back, the motion so ingrained into each of them that they could have done it in their sleep at the sound of a dismissal from their commander. Despite being alone in the room, it remained silent, free of complaints and gripes. He knew each person in the room form their time together, and they all did their duty with honor, regardless of the sacrifice.

Adrianna.

Her name flashed through his mind and he nearly leaped out of the chair to call her, not even thinking about the time difference. It’s been less than forty-eight hours and already I’m going to give her a reason to endthis.

The past few days were still locked vividly into his mind. He’d longed for Adrianna for so long he had woken up the day after the wedding shocked to find her tucked against his body in his childhood bedroom. He’d always heard stories of other military members reconnecting with a past flame after a dangerous deployment, but he and Adrianna had been nothing more than acquaintance, and he hadn’t deployed in nearly four years.

With a brief nod to Tanner on his right he pushed the chair back and exited the room. The door slammed into the frame behind him, but his feet were already racing toward the building exit. He could leave at any to make preparations for a sudden deployment, but save for calling Adrianna, there werenone.

Muggy spring air crashed over him as he walked out. Germany had nothing on New Orleans, but it sure as fuck was still oppressive. He could hear the harsh pounding of his boots into the cement as he damn near raced to his car. All calls had to be done out of public walking spaces. Reaching it, he ducked inside, his hand already slipping into his pocket to snag his phone.

It was only halfway through the third ring when he realized it was somewhere around four in the morning in New Orleans.

“Hello?” A gravelly-voiced Adrianna spoke softly. “Jaxon, I think we need to discuss time zones.” She chuckled, some of the raspiness having cleared out of her voice.

“Sorry, I didn’t think this couldwait.”

“What’s wrong?” Urgency blared with the small question and she sounded fully alert.

“Nothing alarming . . . sorry. I’m deploying.” He let the words hang on the air, trying to give her time to processthem.

“You mean you’re going someplace dangerous, not being moved from Germany?”

Blowing out a deep breath he rubbed his thumb and index finger over his brow, sighing. “That is exactly what Imean.”

“And you’re calling to see what I think ofit.”

He could practically hear the wheels turning in her head. He’d always admired her intelligence, but knowing she could do it fresh out of sleep was impressive.

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