Liam’s movie was nearing the end when he noticed a pair of shoes step into his field of vision right in front of him. He had pulled his long legs up to prevent accidentally tripping anyone. The feet were standing between them, almost on top of him. He had grown used to people wanting to thank them for serving, but this seemed a little aggressive even for a friendly civilian.
Pausing his movie, he slowly pulled out his earbuds. His eyes lifted, scanning the body in front of him. When he finally reached the face belonging to the feet in front of him, he did a double take.
“Chiara?” he asked. No, it couldn’t be her. He must be having some nasty hallucinations caused by a brain injury they missed in the x-rays.
Using Sergeant Craig’s shoulder, who must have sat down unnoticed earlier, Liam slowly rose from the floor. “What are you doing here?” Taking a quick assessment around him, he noticed his troops had settled down the wall next to him. They had stopped what they were doing to watch him.
“No, you don’t get to talk,” Chiara said, placing her hands on her hips in front of him.
“Maybe we should go…” He motioned feebly, looking around. If she was going to drive the final sword into him, he didn’t need everyone listening. Placing a hand on his chest, she pushed him against the wall.
“Stop talking. It’s my turn to tell you a thing or two,” she said, narrowing her eyes.
“Up,” Sergeant Jacobson barked out, jumping to her feet. When she led the rest of the platoon to the other side of the boarding gate, out of hearing, he could have kissed her. Except that would be wildly inappropriate, and he’d most likely be court-martialed. Perhaps a quiet thank you later would suffice.
“I didn't mean to chase off your friends,” Chiara said, watching as the soldiers quickly moved out of hearing.
“Well, I’m their commander, so it’s probably better they don’t hear this,” Liam answered.
“You’re in charge?”
“Yeah,” he said with a dismissive shrug. She stood, considering the group of men and women.
“Wow, that’s impressive.”
“Thanks.”
She still had him pinned to the wall with her hand on his chest, so he waited until she was ready to finish what she had come to say. Suddenly, she turned back to focus on him.
“Wait, I’m mad at you.” He tried to ready himself for his fifth dress down of the week knowing they had the full attention now of the entire waiting area.
“What gives you the right to waltz into my world, show me how amazing my life can be with the right person, make me fall completely in love with you, cause the largest display of commotion that bar has seen since Parker’s stupid proposal to Astrid, and then write me a Dear Jane letter?”
Liam closed his eyes for just a moment to digest what she had said before they popped back open. Wait, had she said she loved him?
“Chi, did you say…”
“I said no talking. ” He made a show of clamping his lips together. But, he couldn’t stop the slight uptick to the corners. “A letter Liam? A letter? You tell me right now if you love me, because…” Her voice broke, and it took everything in his power to not scoop her up in his arms, but she deserved to be heard. “Because I really want to be waiting at the baggage claim in some tiny town in Oklahoma for you six months from now.”
Without a second's hesitation, he ran his hand into her riot of hair, pulling her lips to his. His efforts were met with cheers, whistles, a few catcalls from his platoon, and a fuck ton of pain on the one side of his face.
But none of that mattered. Chiara loved him. She wanted to be with him. He felt her melt against his chest as he deepened the kiss. He hoped she could feel how much he felt the same.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, sir. They want us to board,” Sergeant Jacobson said next to him. Releasing Chiara, Liam stepped back to relay his orders.
“Thank you, Sergeant. Please see everyone aboard, and I’ll join you in a few minutes,” he said.
“Very good, sir,” she answered, returning to implement his instructions. He knew this display would earn him a solid six months of good-natured shit from his platoon. He would relish it if it meant he got to come home to Chiara. Turning back to her, Liam took both of her hands in his.
“Chiara, I do love you. I’m sorry I ran like I did. When Max accused me of being just another man looking to use you, it freaked me out. It suddenly didn’t make any sense how I could love someone so deeply in such a short time. I began to question what we were doing.” He moved his hands to her face as he looked into the dark pools he loved so much. “I’ve figured out this much, though. I fell in love with you. I don’t know what our future holds, but I know I want you in it.”
“I’d like that too,” she whispered. “And, may I just say, you look incredibly sexy in that uniform, even though my brother worked you over a good one.”
He chuckled before placing a gentle kiss on her lips. “Only you would be turned on by camouflage,” he said with a smile. “I’m so sorry I ran, Chi. I love you.”
“I love you, Liam.” Pulling her against his chest, they held each other. He just wished he had more time.
“Sir, they’re closing the doors. You have to board,” Sergeant Craig said, briskly striding up to them. Liam turned Chiara loose and scooped up his daypack.
