Page 102 of All Along

“I still have a bumpy road ahead of me. I have a lot of guilt to deal with and I’m struggling with my time in the Army coming to an end before I was ready.”

I appreciate him being open with me, but I have questions. “Why guilt?”

He grunts. “My buddy lost his leg because of me.”

I don’t know the situation. I don’t know the buddy. But there’s one thing I know for sure. “There’s no way it’s your fault.”

He smiles at me and his eyes fill with wonder. “What did I do to deserve you?”

“Same, soldier boy.”

He flinches. “I’m not a soldier anymore. It’s official. I’ve been honorably discharged.”

I squeeze his bicep. “I’m sorry, Caleb. I know being a soldier is important to you. But I’m certain you can figure out your next step. You need time is all.”

“I already accepted a position with Hudson.”

I rear back. “What?”

“I’m the new head of his security.”

“Congratulations. You’re going to rock at it.”

He palms my cheeks. “Does this mean you forgive me?”

Of course, I forgive him. How could I not? The closed up hermit who initially refused to open his door to me admitted to his fears about the future and his guilt about the past. He’s even starting therapy. Forgiveness granted.

“Yes.” I smile up at him. “I forgive you.”

“Thank fuck,” he murmurs before his head descends.

I hold up a hand to stop his lips from meeting mine. My hand shakes, but I do it.

“We still haven’t discussed you moving into my house.”

Don’t get me wrong. I want to live with him. But him moving in should be a decision we make together.

“Better to ask forgiveness than permission.”

I stab him in the chest with my finger. “For future reference, this is not true.”

“I’m sorry, Maya. I wanted to show you how serious I am. How sorry I am.”

I bite my bottom lip. “But living in town? Will you be okay with having people around you all the time?”

“Smuggler’s Rest isn’t Kabul or Baghdad.”

I guess I don’t need to wonder what countries he’s been stationed in any longer.

“Thank the mermaids it isn’t.”

“I know you prefer to be in town close to the brewery andBootlegger.”

He raises an eyebrow and my cheeks warm.

“What did you hear? I didn’t wear a mermaid costume. That’s an outright lie.”

“But you did sing and declare Taylor Swift your queen and insist everyone in the bar bow down to her image on the screen?”

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