Page 2 of A Soldier's Secret Romance

I get in my vehicle and head home. When I walk in the door, my mom is sitting there waiting for me.

“Ryan,” she starts, and I cut her off.

“Mom, no offense, but I don’t want to talk about it. You knew, and you said nothing all week.”

I didn’t know anything for sure. I was suspicious and thought that something was going on, but I didn’t know for sure until today.

“Your brother and Megan wanted to tell you themselves. They didn’t intentionally set out to hurt you, son.”

“What about you, mom? You could have said something when plans were being discussed about the wedding, but you said nothing,” I calmly tell her.

“I couldn’t tell you what I wasn’t certain about. What are you going to do now?” she asks with a sigh.

“I’m going to head back to base and get ready for my next mission. There is no reason for me to stay here,” I admit.

“You should talk to Jeremy before you go.”

“I have nothing to say to him. He wasn’t even man or brotherly enough to tell me he was stealing my girl from me while I was out risking my life.”

“That’s not fair, Ryan. Your brother and Megan didn’t mean for this to happen, their hearts decided for them.”

“Yeah, well, too bad no one considered my heart, including you mom, since you are sitting here defending them. It’s fine though, I will go back to the family that really cares and looks out for me. I can see it’s not here.”

Mom cries, “that’s not true, Ryan, we love you very much, and we care about you.”

“From where I’m sitting, it sure doesn’t look that way,” I remark as I walk to my room to pack my bag.

When I walk back out, with my bag in my hand, my mom says, “One day Ryan, you will find the woman you are truly meant to be with.”

“I doubt it, mom. I will never allow another woman to manipulate me.”

“Megan didn’t manipulate you son, she just fell in love with someone else, who happens to be your brother.”

“I have to go, mom. I can’t talk about this anymore. Good-bye.” I kiss her cheek before walking out the front door and hear her say, “Love you, son.”

I drive myself to the airport and send a text to mom that she can have Jeremy pick up the truck from long-term parking. I get a flight back, and though I want to scream at the unfairness of life, I shove it down deep inside. My resolve is set, I will never allow another woman to get under my skin.

When I get back to base, I walk into the barracks and see Sergeant First Class Jonathan Moore, my teammate.

“Hey man, what’s up? Wedding plans become too much.” He ribs me.

“There is no wedding,” I state, walking to my room.

“Hey, wait up. What happened?”

I walk into my room, sit on the bed with my hands on my head, and sigh. “Megan called off the wedding.”

“Why?”

“She waited to have me home for a week before Dear John’ing me in person,” I remark coldly.

“Do you know who?”

“Jeremy, my brother.” I sneer out the words with disgust in my voice.

“Dude, I’m sorry. That’s some tough shit. What are you going to do?”

“Nothing. It’s done,” I sigh, wanting this conversation to be over with.

---