Page 65 of Yours and Mine (Friends with Benefits)

The training is routine now. I have another physical screening test next week for a special project. If I pass, I’ll have more time with you this summer. If I fail, I’m coming home permanently. It shouldn’t be an issue, since I passed the first one nine months ago. Sometimes, when I lie here at night, I wonder whether it’s worth it. Then the alarm sounds, the boys jump out of their beds, and we all do what must be done to protect our freedom. The adrenaline keeps me awake most nights. I fall in and out of sleep and can’t wait for a full night when I have you in my arms. Maybe I’ll finally sleep in peace. I can’t wait to tell you all about the new friends I’ve made here. They’re awesome guys.

I’m glad to hear that Carter’s doing better. You’re an amazing friend and he’s one lucky guy to have you in his corner. It sounds like a lot has changed at home. Have I really only been gone a year?

Love you with all my heart,

Nick

The bellon the front door dinged just as I reached to stack the boxes on the top shelf. This had to be one of the worst chores ever, and given that the shelf was so high, it was usually Dad’s job. But this morning he was busy outside, preparing to begin the construction on the new bakery next door. And since Marge was in the back mixing fresh batter, that left me to tend to the customers and stock the shelves. Once the new building was complete, we could renovate Marge’s house to be a normal home we all lived in, with a family and a dining room. The store next door would be kept separate.

“I’ll be right with you,” I called, concentrating on lining the square shapes evenly so that the stack would not tip over, as all the while my knees wobbled on the small ladder.

Whoa!

I felt myself sway from one side to the other as I tried to push the last box on the very top. The ladder flew from underneath me and I tensed my body, ready to hit the floor, but a set of strong arms caught me. I looked up and met Carter’s brown eyes as he held me close to his body.

“What are you doing here?” I breathed heavily, a little shocked and relieved that I wasn’t on the floor.

“Apparently catching you.”

“No, I mean here. At the bakery.”

“You invited me to come over more often, didn’t you?”

“Yes, but—”

“And your father offered me a job with the construction.” He slowly set me down on the floor and I straightened my shirt.

“Thanks for catching me. I might have broken an arm or a leg.” I wiped the drop of sweat off my forehead. The rush of almost crashing to the floor had turned on my perspiration as if I had a sprinkler under my armpits and on my head.

“Anytime. I promise there won’t be any broken bones while on my watch.”

“So, you’ll be here…”

“Every day until it’s done.”

“That’s awesome! It means you’ll be a fresh mouth to taste my new cupcakes.”

Carter looked like he was holding in a laugh, his lips straining at the corners.

“What did I say?”

He shook his head, mumbling underneath his breath, “I have a feeling that you and your beautiful cupcakes are going to drive me nuts.”

“Hey.” I punched him in his arm. “Are we still talking about my cupcakes, or something else you shouldn’t be thinking about?”

“I wouldn’t dare talk about something else.” He winked. “But I can’t promise that my mind isn’t elsewhere.”

“Here.” I passed him another stack of boxes and pointed. “You’re taller. They go there.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He climbed up the ladder and easily shelved the remaining boxes. “Hey, listen. So last week I saw that the soil around the weeping willow was moved around.”

“Yeah, I planted the daisies. You weren’t home, so I just went to the back.”

“What about the shrubs?”

“I might have cleaned up a bit too.”

His brows rose.

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