Page 21 of Callahan

I wasn’t talking about the food.

“I’m starving!”

“Me, too.”

And even though the only thing I’d eaten since breakfast was the croissant she’d offered to let me sample, I still wasn’t talking about the food.

Lainey reached for my hand, then seemed to think better of it and dropped her arm.

“Come on, let’s eat. And you can tell me why you’re here.”

Andtherewas the sober reminder my dick needed to calm the fuck down.

****

Lainey

The conversation with Adam over dinner was easy, like we’d known each other forever instead of having just met today.

His stories about his fellow Marines had me laughing so much my cheeks hurt. And it was evident by how many of his stories included my boyfriend that Adam had cared as much about my Shawn, as Shawn had him.

The wicked grin Adam had been wearing all through our meal fell away when I stood to remove our plates and said, “So, are you going to tell me about this promise you made to Shawn?”

He nodded solemnly. “I have something for you.”

I felt the blood drain from my head.

“Okay…”

I had no idea what it could be. Maybe something Shawn had written like one of those, “If you’re reading this…” type of letters.

While I rinsed our dishes, Adam retrieved his backpack from where he’d set it by the door.

He sat on the couch as I bagged up the leftover pizza and cookie and put it in the fridge.

I knew I was stalling. I wasn’t sure I was mentally ready to face whatever he had to give me.

“Do you want another beer?” I asked with the refrigerator door open.

“Um, sure.”

I pulled a brown bottle from its cardboard carrier and grabbed a water bottle for myself, then handed him his drink before I sat in the chair kitty-corner from where he was on the couch.

Inhaling deeply so the air filled my chest, I held my breath for a beat before slowly releasing it. With a forced smile, I said, “So…”

It looked like he was going to take something out of his backpack then changed his mind and left his hand inside.

“First, I want to apologize for not validating your feelings earlier. You’re entitled to think life isn’t fair, and I discounted that. I’m sorry.”

Oh wow. I hadn’t been expecting an apology.

“I appreciate that. But you’re right. I am blessed, and it’d behoove me to remember that.”

“You’ve been through a lot. It’s only natural you’d feel angry at the situation.”

I shrugged. “Anger isn’t going to change anything. It’s wasted energy, and I don’t have any energy to spare.”

He stared at me for a beat, then murmured, “You’re amazing, you know that?”

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