Page 86 of The Runaway Bride of Blitzen Bay (Blitzen Bay)

“And he was hopeful—you know? With what we saw in our jobs, it was easy to get bitter, but he always found the good side. Kind of like you.” I add, “The hopeful part, not the quiet part.”

She laughs. “Understood.”

“I got kind of surly when we were over there too long. Mikey always knew how to cheer me up. And he didn’t even do anything, you know? Just having him around put me in a better mood. Again like you.”

She smiles. “He sounds like he was a great guy. I wish I could have known him.”

“Yeah, you would have liked him and he would have loved you,” I say, laughing. “He was into blondes.”

“Is that right?” she says, her eyes lighting up. “And how did he do with the blondes?”

“He did very well. The ladies like the strong, silent type.”

“Yes, we do.” She nuzzles back into my chest.

“How long has he been gone?”

“Exactly a year on the day of your wedding.”

She sits up quickly and looks at me with her mouth gaping open.

“Oh my God, Nash. That day had to be so hard for you already and then I pulled you into my nonsense. I feel awful. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. You saved me. I wasn’t sure I was going to make it through that day and then when you crawled into my truck. I forgot about him entirely.”

“And that’s a good thing?”

“Yeah, the last thing he would want is for me to be miserable,” I take her hands, “especially with a good-looking blonde around.”

She laughs again. “Somehow, I don’t think he would have approved of the blonde being the bride at the wedding.”

“Ah, Mikey didn’t care much about rules. Not only would he have approved of me going after you, he would have run interference so I could have a clearer path.”

“He sounds like Kit. She’s always been my enabler.”

“You know, on the surface, they have nothing in common, but Mikey always had my back just like Kit has yours.”

“I want to see a picture of him if you have one.”

I take a quick breath. I haven’t been able to even look at a picture of him since he died. I slowly pull out my phone.

“Let me see if I can find one,” I say as I start flipping through my army pictures.

I find one of him smiling like an idiot with his arm around a llama. I remember taking that picture like it was yesterday. I hand the phone to Elle.

She smiles. “He was so cute. And his blonde friend, too.”

“Believe me, that was not the kind of blonde he liked. I think that llama spit at him after I took the picture.”

“Where was this?” She zooms in on the picture. I look at his face clearly for the first time in over a year.

“Afghanistan, probably about a year before he was killed.” My voice shakes a little bit.

She hands my phone back and burrows into my chest again. “I’m sorry he’s not here anymore.”

“So am I.” I lay my head on top of hers. “You know, that’s the first time I’ve talked about him to anyone since he died. It felt kind of good.”

She opens her arms. “Do you need a hug? My chest isn’t as broad or huggable as yours, but it’s here if you need it.”

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