Page 85 of Tameron

I’d never had a clear answer to that question. I loved my parents and family, but they weren’t my home anymore. My parents moved out of my childhood home shortly after I enlisted, so I had no emotional attachment to their current house.

I’d always lived on base while enlisted since that was easiest as a single guy, but I’d never thought of my place there as a home either. It had always been temporary in my mind, a stopover on a journey to…somewhere.

Then everything had blown up in my face—literally, pardon the pun—and I’d ended up here, in a strange city but with men who were my brothers. Nash had managed to make the house he’d inherited from his grandparents into a home for all four of us. For the first time in my life, home had become a place. Amidall the upheaval and the fight to transition to civilian life, it had become a refuge, the one place where I could be myself.

But while I was sitting on the couch, staring into space and being in my head as usual, Creek was packing the last of his stuff. He’d be officially moved out by the end of today. Bean barely spent time here anymore either. His room was still here, but he was usually at Jarek’s, except on Fridays because of movie night. Nash was still here, of course, but it wouldn’t be the same.

Creek deposited a box near the front door, then plopped down on the couch next to me. He let out a deep sigh, then removed his prosthesis and lining until he had his bare stump, which was redder than usual. “I’ve been walking more than I’m used to. It’s a little sore.”

“Need me to check it?” The bottom of his stump was hard for him to see and he often used a mirror to ensure nothing was getting too irritated or, far worse, infected.

“Nah, Heath did this morning. I just need a little rest, but that was the last box, so I’m good.”

The last box. That was it then. My chest tightened.

“You okay?” he asked with uncharacteristic sensitivity.

I shrugged. “I’m fine.”

Creek bumped my shoulder. “Do you want me to let you get away with that bullshit or call you out on it?”

I snorted. “Look who’s channeling Nash.”

He sat a little taller, grinning widely. “Yeah, I pulled that one off, didn’t I?”

“Sure did.”

Then his grin faded. “But I do mean it. We both know you’re not fine.”

I rubbed my face just so I could hide for a few seconds. “I don’t know what I am.”

“I’m sorry for moving out.”

“You shouldn’t be. I’m happy for you. Heath is amazing, and you guys are ridiculously perfect for each other.”

He sighed. “I know, but I feel awful for leaving you.”

“Don’t. You’re moving on, as you should. It’s not your fault I’m still stuck here.”

As much as I tried, I couldn’t keep out the bitterness that had crept into my tone.

“Yeah, that’s gotta suck.”

Thank fuck Creek was at least honest with me and didn’t try to convince me I wasn’t. “It does. A lot.”

“Hence my guilt for moving out.” He scratched his chin. “It wasn’t an easy decision, you know. Heath and I argued over it for a long time. I wasn’t sure if you were ready yet.”

Emotions surged inside me at the thought that he’d worried over me. “That means a lot, man. Thank you. But I want you to move on. I want you to be happy. Bean too.”

Creek slowly shook his head. “Jesus fuck, that man hit the jackpot with Jarek. Guy has the patience of a saint.”

“Bean’s worth it,” I said, my loyalty to Bean demanding nothing else.

“Course he is, but how many men would’ve taken the time and effort to find that out?”

“True that.”

As if on cue, Bean sauntered through the front door, his face lighting up when he spotted us. “Oh perfect, you’re not gone yet. I brought food.”

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