Page 40 of Forever Yours on Christmas Eve
“You know, it dawned on me,” he said, pulling back only as much as necessary. “We have someevaluatingto do.”
“Ugh, do we have to?” She sighed, giving him a bleak smile as she laid next to him. “You go first. We already know how my year went.”
“Technically, you know how mine went as well, but getting closer to you is what made it good for me,” he said, stroking his nose up the length of hers, and then down the other side. He was certainly aware of her struggles this year, and he wanted to be respectful of that. He didn’t want to come off as braggy.
At the same time, he knew she was so proud of everything he had accomplished.
“I did get some good attention for some of our missions,” he said, not surprisingly vague. It was so amazing to have someone he could “talk” to about this stuff without a demand to download every last detail he wasn’t allowed to disclose. “Word has it I’m up for a promotion soon. Plus, I’ve gotten to know some of the guys at work more. I really feel like I’m settling into this new duty station.”
“Well, I hope so, you’ve been there for two years now,” she teased.
“You’d be surprised,” he said, leaning his head on his arm and staring down into her stunning face. “There are some I’ve been at that I never felt settled into, no matter how hard I try. People just expect you to move on, so they never get close to start with. There aresome guys I can see myself staying connected with even after we move on.”
“Like my dad and all of his buddies. My ‘uncles,’” she said with a grin, referring to the motley crew of close family friends her dad had served with.
“I can see them being around in a few years like that,” he said, laughing at the thought. “All of us getting together on the holidays with our families. Our ladies,” he said, pausing to take her in.
Because there was only one lady he wanted to spend his future with.
“I’m really proud of you,” she said. “Of all you’ve accomplished this year.”
“Well, it’s not just that,” he said, reaching up to cup her face. She leaned into the gesture, loving the feel of his warm palm pressed to her cheek. “I loved getting to know you more. Even though I know this was a hard year for you.”
“I loved that too,” she admitted, her eyes drooping in pure contentment.
“So, moment of truth,” he hesitated, giving her a half grin. “How would you rank your year?”
“Awful,” she said, shaking her head and trying not to laugh. Sev figured it was either laugh or cry at this point. “I had such hopes for it being the best year ever, but… right from the start, it was just terrible. Be it my classes or the weather, and then my dad getting sick… this year can’t be done fast enough for me.”
“It’ll be over soon,” he reminded her, reaching for her hip and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Just a few days and we’re going to be in a brand-new year. One I know you’ll make your mark on.” He pulled a hand up and kissed her knuckles.
“There have been some good moments,” she admitted in a soft voice, locking eyes with him. “Every time I got a call or a text from you, I swear it gave me the strength to keep going. Just knowing you were out there, supporting me. Believing in me.”
“It’s what I’m here for,” he reminded her. “To help you weather the hard times.”
“Right up until last week, I wasn’t sure anything could redeem this year at all. But when Dad finally got the all clear, I just got this new perspective on how I wanted my life to be. It made me take a look at all the hard things I’d been trying to accomplish and ask myself… why?”
Sev’s eyebrows drew down, trying to understand where she was going with this conversation. “What do you mean?”
Kelsey lifted a shoulder as she mindlessly raised her fingertips to graze against his stubbled jawline. “I realized that I really didn’t like the program I was in. It seemed perfect on the surface. It’s what I wanted to study, and it was relatively close to my house. I never visited, never talked to professors. I took for granted that it would be a fit, and it hasn’t been. I think it’s time for me to leave.”
“Kels, you can’t leave your program,” Sev said, stilling as he took in her words. “You’ve worked so hard and for so long on this. Sweetheart, you were born to be an art therapist.”
“I know,” she said, smiling the widest grin. “That’s why I’m looking for a program that fits me better. I spent the last few days searching, and there are a couple in Massachusetts. There’s one not far from Newport, but also… there’s one just south of Portland.”
“Portland?” he said, his face lighting up andlovingthe idea. “Portland, Maine? Like, an hour from where I’m stationed?”
“Yes,” she said, unable to contain her excitement anymore. “I’m planning on visiting a few of them in January. If all goes well and I find a new one I like, I can start classes in a few weeks. Do you…” she hesitated, knowing that this was a monumental step forward for them. “Do you think you might like me being closer?”
“Sweetheart,” he said, pulling her into the largest embrace yet. “I love the idea of you being close to me.”
“I figure, even if I end up in Massachusetts, it’s closer than I am now.”
“Here in Newport is still close enough,” he said, slidinghis hand up to cup her face and hold her gaze. “Wherever you are, wherever you go. We’ll make it work.”
“I was hoping you’d say that,” she said, a drop slipping from her eye that Sev’s thumb did not hesitate to catch. “I’ve wanted to be yours for so long now.”
“You’re mine, and I’m yours,” he insisted, pressing her hand to his heart.
