Page 69 of I Promise You
Heavy footsteps behind me were followed by a comforting, soft voice from the nurse who took me under her wing when I first got to Iraq.
With every step I take, my muscles and joints are strained with the bit of energy I have left.
“Girl, you’re coming with me to Hawaii one of these days. It's so fucking beautiful there,” Lori reminds me of the vacation she took with her girlfriend.
“So I’ve heard and only seen it in photos.”
“By the way, we never got to talk…”
I furrow my brows as I look at her.
“Tsk. Tsk. Tsk. Those hickeys were not from Doctor Diaz. They were from Rider. Please catch me up on that part of your life.”
I roll my eyes, fighting the blush.
“Well…yes. Yes, they were,” I concede, defeated.
“Hmm, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I didn’t know what we were. Plus, I was still processing what was going on between us.”
“Dude,talking about relationships brewing when we were in Iraq… I have some fucking hot tea about our favorite Doctor Diaz.”
“Oh my gosh, spill it! Tell me.” I look around, making sure no one can hear us.
“His wife cheated on him while he was still in Iraq!”
"No!”
“Bitch, yes!”
“That man gives so much to be cheated on.” I frown, leaning on one side of my hip.
“Yeah, I know. He’s the kindest person I’ve ever met. The best doctor I’ve ever worked for. Some people can’t handle the long distance and the time apart.”
A wave of guilt crashes into my chest when she says it. Because when I came back to North Carolina while Danny was still deployed, it sucked. It was so hard. His absence made me question our relationship, and he almost felt like a ghost from our zero communication.
Clouds of doubt hover over my mind. The love I have in my heart for Danny is unwavering, but this lifestyle is lonely.
It ate me up inside, worrying about him when he was in Iraq, mainly because of what happened to Violet and Damon…my brother.
I swore off military men, only to get deeply wrapped up in one.
Each day that went by without him felt weird.
“How did Stacy handle you being away for so long?”
Lori shrugs and sighs as she fills her mug with coffee.
“This isn’t something new to her. Of course, in the beginning, it was hard for both of us…but she trusts me, and I trust her. Next year, we’re planning on getting married.”
“Oh my gosh, Lori, stop. You’re going to make me cry,” I shriek with happiness, pushing her shoulders playfully. I’ve always been a hopeless romantic. The thought of marriage seemed just that,a thought. Does Danny even believe in marriage if he can’t say those three words I long to hear?
If I had to guess, probably not.
“Don’t cry. Fuck, I should’ve chosen my words more carefully. I’m sor—” Lori picks up on my emotions that I’ve been trying too hard to bury, at least when I’m at work.
“Don’t be!” I wave my hands in front of me, hectically. “I’m truly happy for you. I’m not upset, I promise. I’m just so excited for you.”
