Page 98 of Miss Typed

At least Kendall had vouched for this girl, explaining she’d needed a roommate for a two-bedroom. I knocked on the door, ready to meet her.

The person who greeted me, however, rooted me to the spot.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Aiden

The last time I’d returned from Iraq, I’d been at rock bottom. I’d lost more than the lower part of my left leg. I’d lost my direction and purpose. As far as I’d been concerned, I was no longer a whole man.

This time when I stepped off the plane at LAX, I knew my purpose without a doubt. It was to live my life and be appreciative for the chance to do so.

After my near-death experience with the suicide vehicle, I’d made peace with the fact I was Aiden Samuels. A Marine Corps veteran who, despite missing part of my leg, refused to be limited. My existence in this world had value. And I didn’t need to risk my life in order to prove it. No longer would I feel sorry for myself and let self-pity undermine my future happiness. Instead, I would do everything I could to move on with the next stage of my life. Every fiber of my being told me that included Chloe.

After hanging up the phone with her three weeks ago, I’d put a plan in motion. A plan which now had her outside the apartment door looking at me with big brown eyes.

I waited for the love of my life to ask what I was doing here. What this meant. A million questions were probably in her head. But instead, she let her purse slide off her shoulder to the ground and simply tackle-hugged me.

My body barely had time to brace for impact, and then I was lifting her up until her legs went around my waist. I kissed her lips until we were both breathless, then allowing her to slide down the length of my body.

Her eyes were teary as her hand rested against my face. “You grew a beard.”

“I knew you were a fan.” I went to the front door and grabbed her purse. Once the door was closed, I tugged her into my arms again, unable to keep from touching her.

She looked around for a moment. “Wait. Where is the girl I was supposed to meet?”

“No such person. I had Reid get in touch with Teagan who got in touch with Kendall to help me with a surprise.”

“It is quite a surprise. When did you get back to the US?”

“Yesterday.”

“You’re back early. Why?”

“I realized I was done fighting the war. The internal one, sucking all the joy and gratitude from my life. I’m ready for this next chapter.”

“What’s the next chapter? What’s your plan?” She was biting her lip, looking apprehensive about what I’d say.

“My plan is to never return to Iraq or Afghanistan or any other war zone. They let me come home early because they’re giving me a different job here. I’m going to start training contractors before they leave since half those guys don’t know what to expect once they’re over there.”

Once I’d begun working with Alex, I’d realized I wanted to incorporate my skill set in training the contractor’s workers in how to stay alive, preferably before they went over. Gunther had liked the idea so much he’d made some phone calls, ending with the company sending me stateside to get started. “I’ll teach my first class in two weeks,” I said with immense satisfaction.

“That’s great news.” Her sincerity was authentic, but her voice wavered.

Shit. I was messing this up, making it all about me instead of her. I experienced a moment of panic that it might be too late. “I should’ve told you to wait for me. I wanted to.”

She sucked in a breath, meeting my eyes with hers. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I had to get where I am first. Hell, I still have some things to work out, especially when it comes to my injury. But I can now give myself the grace to say I’m a work in progress. I’m ready to talk to other amputees. Ready to follow my doctor’s orders. Ready to talk to a counselor. Ready to stop feeling sorry for myself and to find gratitude in even the simplest things.”

Her gaze didn’t leave mine. “What happened over there?”

I dropped my hands into hers, grasping them tightly. “A close call that put things into perspective.”

“The night you called me?”

I nodded. “It made me realize I needed to get home to you. It reaffirmed what I want in my life, and what I absolutely can’t live without. And that’s you, Chloe. Can you forgive me and give us a second chance? A chance to have a real relationship? A chance to start this new chapter together?”

She threw her arms back around my neck. “Yes. I want all my chapters with you.”