Page 100 of All Along

“It sucks your Army career is over but you weren’t planning to re-up in two years anyway,” Kyle says.

I scowl. “But that was before…”

“Before what?” he asks. “Before you saved my life?”

“Stop saying I saved your life.”

“Bro, I was bleeding out. You could have left me there. You were already in the clear. But you didn’t. You came back and carried me out of there. You saved my life.”

I frown. “You make me sound like a hero.”

“Because you are.” He slaps my back. “It takes time to adjust to civilian life. But you have a good group of friends to help you. And.” He waggles his eyebrows. “If this Maya is as wonderful as you always claimed she was – and based on the chocolate chip cookies she used to send you every month, I think she is – she’ll forgive you.”

“All you need to do is cut your chest open and bleed for her,” Flynn says.

I cringe. “Anyone else have a better plan?”

“Does she enjoy swimming?” Hudson asks. “I could put in a pool for you out back.”

Lucas chuckles. “There’s no way Maya is living in this cabin in the middle of nowhere.”

Crap. Is he right? I don’t want to live in town.

I shake my head. I’m making it all about me again. Which is how I landed in hot water to begin with. I need to start thinking about Maya. About the future without the Army. My heart stutters but I inhale a deep breath to calm myself.

I’ve survived worse than this. But I won’t survive losing Maya. I don’t want to.

Chapter 34

“Thanks for welcoming me to my own home.” ~ Maya

Maya

Ifrown as I walk toward my house. Caleb’s truck is parked in the driveway. What is he doing here?

I haven’t heard from him since the other night when he got drunk and mean. I’ve reached for my phone at least a million times to message him to ask if he’s okay. But I managed to stop myself.

I am not going to be the lame heroine who lets the hero walk all over her. I hate those heroines. They drive me batty. I refuse to be her.

I realize I’m standing frozen in front of my house and force my legs to move forward. Despite my desire to be the strong heroine in my own story, I want to hear what Caleb has to say. Will he apologize or will he break my heart?

My heart spasms and I rub a hand over it. I’ll be okay. Either way, I’ll survive. I survived parents who don’t love me. I can survive this.

I twist the knob but the door won’t open. It must be bolted from the inside.

“Caleb!”

“Hold on. We’re not ready.”

“We? Who’s we?”

If my girlfriends know what’s happening and didn’t tell me, I’ll put yeast in their beers. Women should stick together.

I place my ear against the door but I don’t hear any giggling or female voices. I do hear some grunting. What’s going on?

I knock on the door. “Caleb, open this door this minute!”

Footsteps rush around the room before the backdoor opens and closes. The front door flies open and I nearly tip over. Caleb steadies me with a hand on my shoulder but I shrug him away. He has some apologizing to do before he’s allowed to touch me again.

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