Page 64 of Linc
We settle back down on the couch, “Thank you for all the packages you sent.I felt bad for the poor delivery kid, Steven, until he mentioned what you were paying him,” she says with a giggle.I paid the kid three hundred dollars a week to make sure she got her daily package at the same time every day.“You didn’t need to send me something every day but I loved them.”
“Yes I did.I wanted to make sure you had something to look forward to and try to keep your spirits up.”
“Having someone other than my dad help me bathe, was pretty nice.Thank you for doing that.It was great to start my day feeling clean and pampered.”She leans forward and presses her lips to mine.I let her take the lead and when she pulls away, I fist my hands from reaching out to keep her plastered to me.“How did you know what to send me?And how did you get some of the items personalized so quickly?”
Moment of truth.
“Your dad helped,” I admit.
“My dad?”She sounds shocked and I can’t blame her because I was too.
“He reached out to me two days after you went home,” I say and she looks surprised.“I was shocked too, believe me.He told me you were settled in and we had a long talk over the phone.I flew in the next day and stayed at the motel in town.We met briefly because he needed to get back to you and needed to grab you a few things.I knew then that I wanted to send you something so I asked him if it would be okay.He agreed as long as it didn’t upset you.I went home the next day but then found myself flying in every Friday and leaving late Sunday evenings.”
“But you never came by the house.”
“You asked for space and I wanted to give you that.”
“You came all that way and stayed in the motel?”
“Being in the same town you were in was enough.Your dad and I texted almost every day so it was enough then.”
“That’s just crazy.”
“I’d do it again if it meant you were happy and healing.My biggest restraint was when you started hiking.I was a nervous wreck waiting to hear from Tommy.I was so worried you would fall or get hurt.”
“I love hiking in the forest.”
“I know, your dad sent me some pictures and you looked so happy out there.”
“I do miss being out in the woods.Saylor and I grew up getting lost and finding our way back home.”
“Maybe you could take me some time?”I ask.
“I’d love that.”
A knock on the door interrupts us.
“Must be dinner, stay put,” I tell her and hop up from the couch.Before I leave the living room to answer the door, I turn back around and face her.She’s watching me with a questioning look.“Go out with me tomorrow,” I say.“On a date.”
“Okay?”She sounds so unsure and I must seem crazy to her right now.“Why did you ask it like that?”
“I feel like we need a fresh start and this is it.”
“Does that mean we have to wait for a certain period of time before we can move to the next base?”
That makes me laugh.
“If you want but I want you to know that I’m in this all the way till the end.”
“I would hope so if you’re telling me that you love me,” she says with a raised eyebrow.
“You know I do.”
There’s another knock on the door and this time it’s louder.I give her a wink then turn on my heels.
Yup, I’m putting a ring on her finger by the end of summer.
Everly
