Page 136 of Pretend
He hugs me tighter and then lets me go just as fast.
“I’m sure you’ll find out soon with the type of clearance you have.” He pats my head with his military-issued gloved hand.
“You have to tell me how you met this new woman of yours!”
Kane smiles littered with sunshine. He gives me a salute and starts to walk backward. The creases of his dark blue eyes are present, signaling that signature happy smirk.
“Yeah, about that…” his voice trails off with unease.
“Oh gosh, what?” I bark after him. He can’t leave me on a cliffhanger like that. Thechismosain me wants to know his secrets.
“It’s a long story, but I’ll let you know soon. I’m going to leave now before Creature kicks my shit in for hugging you. See you, shortie!”
“Whatever!” I shout at his back.
“Kane! You were going to leave and not say goodbye?” A voice I know because of my time in the hospital rings through our ears. Kane stops, and it takes him a second to gather himself. I watch him turn around and face Ari Rider. She’s in a beautiful red summer dress.
He stiffens but then relaxes. His aviator sunglasses are still on, and he grins with pure sunshine.
His cheeks flush a bit, and he stalks back to where Ari stands.
Every step he takes gets faster, and Ari holds out her arms in a friendly manner.
They embrace finally, and she tiptoes as he hugs her. She pats his back three times, and she smiles.
“Please be safe. Bring me back my husband.” She pleads as they let each other go. Her brown eyes sparkle with genuine concern for their safety. I shouldn’twatch them say goodbye, but it’s quite literally happening a few feet away, and I wanted to see all the guys off.
“We always are. And, of course, I will.” He reassures her as she holds his hands in hers.
“I’ve never stopped caring about you, Kane. You mean a lot to me. Just…be careful? He told me this was going to be a long deployment.”
He lets go of her hand and clenches his jaw.
“It is going to be long.”
He replies as he starts to walk backward.
“You haven’t stopped caring about me…but I’ve never stopped loving you. I’m not sure I ever will.” His smile is gone, his voice deep and full of emotion. He scoffs. Looking down at his boots as he walks.
She stiffens, and pain hits my chest.
Kane is always good. He is always happy. He is a good man who loves someone who belongs to someone else. I guess that’s life sometimes. Not everyone gets to have their soulmate.
“Goodbye Ari Alvarez! I’ll make sure that we both come back home, don’t worry.”
She relaxes a bit and smiles. He turns around.
Grim watches at a distance from the plane and Ari waves to him. She kisses her lips and holds out her hand in the air.
I watch Kane reunite with Lopez. Lopez twirls a toothpick. He’s maskless and notices me watching all of them. They all have camo paint all over their faces, like they’re ready to jump in and fight somewhere.
He winks at me, “Adios bonita!”
I pinch my brows together as I roll my eyes and purse my lips.
Always a flirt.
I watch them enter the plane before I give in to my journey back to the parking lot. I’m sitting in my car, listening to music while I watch the plane ascend into the sky. The airplane lights flicker, and the entire airfield vibrates from it taking off. It takes me back to the night we stargazed and pretended that the military aircraft were shooting stars.
