Page 23 of Entwined Hearts

I sip my beer, gazing at the distant city lights of Bishop. “She’s great now.”

“Did they separate? There’s no Marine Corps base in Bishop, right?”

I think through the possible ways to answer this question, but all end with my emotions too wound up.

“Sorry,” Anya says with a sigh. “I’m being nosy. I must be looking for a distraction.”

“I’ll be your distraction anytime,” I offer, bumping my shoulder against hers.

“But you gave everything up when you left,” she says. “She must mean a lot to you.”

I’m halfway to a reply when a rush of emotion surges up my chest. I blink it all away. “Most of the time, she’d probably call me a pain in her ass.”

Anya laughs. “I doubt that.”

“She’s a good kid. Just trying to do what’s right.”

We both take a sip of our beers. “It took a lot of guts to walk away like you did.”

She faces me, her dark silhouette framed perfectly against the distant lights. It takes everything I have not to touch her. Sharing so much has left me feeling wired and restless, and I’m moments away from saying something stupid or obnoxious.

I feel her hand on mine. “I missed you,” she says. “I feel like I’d just gotten to know you, then…poof…you disappeared.”

“I’m sorry,” I say, lacing my fingers with hers.I missed you too, I want to say, but the words won’t come.

“I’m not mad. I just wish you’d told me.”

“Everything happened fast,” I say.

“I get it.” She smiles sadly.

She lets go of my hand and gives me a teasing look. “I thought maybe I’d see Sabrina tonight.”

“I think she was busy.”

“She turned you down? I find that hard to believe.” She gives my shoulder a playful shove.

“Believe it. I think she said something about plucking her eyebrows.”

Anya laughs. “Then why didn’t you bring someone else?”

Because you’re the only one I want to be with. “Youcame unchaperoned,” I say in challenge, raising my eyebrow.

Her expression darkens. “I didn’t have a choice.”

“Sorry,” I say.Why do I keep putting my foot in my mouth?

“It’s okay.” She sighs. “I’ve had some time to think.”

“Any revelations?” I ask. For an instant, I imagine her telling me that she’s glad Jake left because it means she can kiss me.

She exhales a long breath. “It’s been hard.”

I run my hands through my hair to blast away the fantasy of my lips on hers. “You could have called me,” I say. “I’m a good listener.”

She circles the top of her beer can with her index finger, a wisp of hair falling across her cheek. “I was okay. I promise.” She looks up at the view. “When he was in Patagonia, I was worried about him, and I was worried about us. Deep down, I already knew he was pulling away.” She shakes her head.

I don’t know what to say to this. I’ve never led a girl on.

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