Page 49 of Keeping London (Flawed Heart)

“Are there any bars or anything around, so you can go out and celebrate?”

I shake my head. “No. Actually, there are two general orders on base that must be followed. Number one is, no sex in the AOR, which means Area of Responsibility. So, that’s like the entire base. Number two is, no alcohol. I don’t think the guys in charge think it’s a good idea to have drunk dudes walking around with firearms, you know?”

London nods in understanding. “Oh, yeah. Two very good rules. Not that either applies to you.” She winks.

Man, I wish she weren’t about to leave for the airport because a bout of Skype sex sounds incredible right about now. Seeing her face makes me miss her even more.

“Exactly. You’re not here, and I don’t drink anyway.” I take a moment just to gaze into the screen to take her in. “You know, I’ll probably just go to the gym, hang with Cooper, watch a movie with some of the guys, maybe play some cards, but none of that compares to what I’ll be doing at eight thirty in the evening.” I stare intently.

She squeals excitedly. “Oh, I love you.”

She leans in and presses her lips in front of her laptop’s camera, so all I can see on my end are her plump lips taking up my screen.

“Muah!” she says before blowing me a virtual kiss. “I’ve gotta go, babe, so I don’t miss my flight. I still have to finish packing before I leave.” Disappoint sounds in her voice.

“That’s okay. I’m just so happy that I was able to catch you online. Plus, I’ll see you tomorrow, right?”

“Right!”

“All right. Bye, baby. Have a safe flight.”

“I will. You stay safe. I will see you tomorrow.”

She blows another kiss toward the camera before she clicks out of Skype, and I’m left staring at a blank screen.

Well, it was a shitastic day, but at least it ended on a good note. I let the vision of London fill my head as I lie back on my pillow.

Maybe tonight, for once, I can dream of her, of happiness. Though something tells me that’s not going to happen.

London

“There’s just something unnatural and depressing about celebrating a special occasion without the one you love.”

—London Wright

“Merry Christmas, baby,” Loïc’s gorgeous face says from the computer screen.

“Merry Christmas,” I respond as a blanket of happiness falls over me.

I said good-bye to Loïc twenty-one days ago, and that time has been, without a doubt, the longest twenty-one days of my life. Yet all of that longing dissipates, or at least lessens, when I get to see his living, breathing, smiling face—even if it is on a screen.

I couldn’t wait to see him today. I miss Loïc all the time, but the ache is fiercer when it’s a holiday. There’s just something unnatural and depressing about celebrating a special occasion without the one you love.

“How was your day?” I ask. “Do anything special?”

“Well, we had roast beef in the chow hall, which was a treat for the holiday.” Loïc shrugs.

“Was it good?” I ask with a laugh.

“It was edible. Cooper would tell you different though.”

“That’s because Cooper is a fantastic chef and knows how food should be.”

“True. He has less patience for the crap they call food over here.” Loïc pauses to think before continuing, “Some of the guys threw around some tinsel and green and red garland in the rec building.”

“That’s festive.”

“Yeah, I suppose it is. But, more than anything, it’s a pain in the ass. That silver tinsel shit sticks to everything. We’ve all been walking around base today with shreds of silver hanging on us.”

---