Page 44 of Yours and Mine (Friends with Benefits)

“What time is it?” I asked, lifting my body halfway up, supporting myself on my elbows.

“Just after two. Jo… there’s something you should know.”

I sat up and looked at the duffel bag on the floor beside my desk.

“What’s going on? Why are you dressed? It was a late night. You should be sleeping in.” I swept my hands through my eyes, wiping away the last of my sleepiness, and looked at him again. I could physically feel my eyes growing wider in slow motion. “Did you cut your hair?”

“Yes, I had to before I left for the Navy. I didn’t think that it would be so hard to say goodbye. I wanted to remember you laughing, not crying.”

“Nick?”

“Jo, we don’t have a week. I’m leaving for the navy today.”

“No, no, no.” Hoping that I was still dreaming, I blinked several times, but it didn’t work. I was still in my bed, and Nick was dressed, telling me that this was it.

I shook my head, feeling my throat tighten. He wiped the tears off my cheeks as I struggled to keep myself upright.

“Please don’t cry, Jo.” He took me into his arms, gently whispering in my ear, “You’re the strongest woman I know, and you can overcome anything. I will be back sooner than you think.”

“Nick, please…”

“It would be harder counting down the days. I’m… I’m sorry.”

“You’resorry? Nick—”

“I didn’t want you crying. You mean too much to me to be in so much pain. Please don’t cry. I will love you no matter where I am. And I’ll write to you. I’ll do so whenever I can, the old-fashioned way with pen and paper. Waiting for the letters will feel more special than email.”

“I love you too. I just… I thought we had more time.”

“We’ll have a lifetime together, I promise.”

I pulled in a longer sniffle. There was no way I could control the river of tears streaming down my cheeks. After the best night of my life, I had to face my worst day.

“We should go downstairs. Your father will drive me to the station.” He looked at his watch. “We don’t have much time.”

I still couldn’t believe that this was happening to me. The man I’d loved my entire life, whom I’d spent almost every waking hour with, was about to vanish from my life for an entire year. I quickly pulled on a sweatshirt and shorts. He swung the duffel bag over his shoulder and took my hand.

We walked downstairs without saying a word. I wiped my nose with my sleeve every few moments. My father and Marge were already waiting in the kitchen, their faces almost as somber as mine, yet I couldn’t imagine anyone else bearing the torment and sadness that was tearing my heart apart.

He took me into his arms one last time, whispering, “I’ll be back before you know it.”

“Promise?”

“Yes, baby. There’s nothing more that I want from life. You and me, together, in this little town.”

We followed our parents outside. My father was already standing by his truck, looking at his watch.

“But we can have all that right now.” I tried to make the argument one last time.

“I don’t want to be a coward. I need to be strong for you and for me. I love you, Joelle. I promise you that will never change.”

“I love you too, Nick. Come back home to me.”

He nodded and kissed his mother goodbye. She gave him a box of his favorite cookies she’d made earlier. Nick turned around and got into my father’s car. I could have gone with them. In fact, I should have gone with them, but I’d been struck with this news only a few minutes ago, I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I didn’t even think about the possibility. Marge could have managed both our stores for the day. But then again, if I went with him, I was afraid that I’d never let him go. As soon as the truck pulled away, I turned around and slammed into Marge’s body. She held on to me tightly, smoothing my hair like a loving mother.

I turned back once more to see a wave from Nick, but there was nothing left but dust.

Nick was gone.

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