Page 87 of Finding London

I shake my head. “That’s not true.” My voice cracks.

“It’s very true. I told you when we were kids, and I’ll tell you again…you are special. You have the kindest heart. You are brave. In this world of ugliness, you are a beacon of gleaming light. You are impossible not to love.”

“You don’t know me at all, Sarah.”

“Wrong. I know you better than anyone. Your experiences might have left you jaded, but they haven’t dulled your shine. Something about you makes you this enigma, Loïc Berkeley. Something about you makes you great.”

She scoots her body closer to mine until our faces are mere inches away. I can see the dark blue ring that circles her brilliant eyes.

“Once upon a time, you saved my life. The hope that I would find you and see you once more saved me again and again every day that we’ve been apart. You are my angel,” she says.

“And you are mine.” I wrap my arms around her, relishing in her living, breathing warm existence.

“I’m never leaving you again.”

“Promise?” I say against her soft hair.

“I promise you.” She nuzzles her face against my chest.

I sigh as my current life comes to the surface.

“What is it?” she asks.

“I’m leaving in two months on deployment. I’ll be gone for a year.”

I used to love being in the military. I lived to go on deployments. While overseas, I volunteered for numerous missions that didn’t need me. I’d be lying if I said that I had done it because of the love of my country. I know that’s the right answer, but it’s not my answer. I put myself into dangerous situations because I felt disposable. And to be honest, if I were going to go out, why not go out with some excitement, fighting for some cause? It felt good to fight for something when there was nothing good left in my life to fight for. I wanted to die as a man with convictions even if they weren’t mine. I’m not sure if that makes any sense, but it’s the truth. The other glaring truth is that I had no one on this earth who needed me or would miss me. Yes, I’m sure Cooper would have missed me some. But he’s in the military, so he would have understood.

But, now that I’ve fallen in love with London and gotten Sarah back, I’m leaving. And though a year isn’t forever, it sure seems like an eternity in this moment. The timing of all this just blows.

Sarah’s voice is calm and measured, as if she senses my inner turmoil, which she probably does. “It’s okay. We’ll be in contact while you’re gone, and I’ll be here when you get back.”

Her statement makes me realize that I have no idea where she lives.

“Where have you been living?”

“All over. That part hasn’t changed much. I’m currently in Orlando, Florida.”

“Oh, yeah? What do you do there?”

She giggles. The sound does something to my insides, bringing me back to when it was Sarah and me against the world.

“I work for Disney. I’m Princess Aurora. You know, Sleeping Beauty?”

“You’re a Disney princess?” I ask in amusement.

“Yeah, I dated Aladdin for a while. He got me the job,” she says casually.

I can’t help but laugh. The vision of her out with a guy in poufy silk pants and a barely there vest is a priceless sight.

“That’s bloody brilliant, Sarah.”

“Oh, I love when you use your British words!”

I chuckle. “It happens a lot less than it used to. Being around you makes me think of the past and my parents. I guess that’s why some of my dad’s phrases slip out. So, who would have guessed you would grow up to be a princess?”

“Yeah, not what I thought I’d be doing with my life, but it pays the bills.”

“I think it’s great. You deserve to be a princess.”

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