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“Why did you leave the military?”
He started pacing again. “My unit was struck by a roadside bomb. One that I should have anticipated. Eagle and I were the only ones who made it out, and they discharged us for medical reasons.”
This was a surprise. I hadn’t had much interaction with Eagle, but I wouldn’t have guessed that he and Leo were close like that. Leo was quiet but confident and stern, and even he gave in and let himself laugh with his brothers and his friends. But Eagle seemed more of a loner. Keeping to himself.
“I was thankful they let us go. I don’t know if I could have gone back. The memories were just too much, and I had too much here to fight for. Eagle is much the opposite, though, he had a lot of close friends in our unit and no family left here. He has a heart full of revenge and righting wrongs. He likes to keep moving, afraid that if he stops for too long, he’ll get stuck.”
“I felt like that after I lost my dad,” I told him, clearing my throat before the emotion clogged it completely. “I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do. Kept swapping and changing my mind, going to different colleges. I think it was because I thought I had to make him proud, but without him there, I had no idea what he would want for me. So I just felt like if I kept trying new things, one day, I’d just feel it.”
Leo looked up at me with his lip curved up in the corner. “So how did you go from college girl to housewife, to stripper, to here?”
I giggled, it really did sound ridiculous. “I finally realized that my dad was proud of me no matter what I did. The only thing he wanted for me, was to be happy.”
His face seemed to drop a little at my words, so I hurried to continue, “I gave up caring what other people thought. Why did it matter to them, as long as I was happy doing what I was doing?”
“People look down on our girls. I’ve seen the looks they get in public. But they aren’t treated badly. We respect that they give up their time and their bodies to make the men happy.”
I nodded. “We shouldn’t be made to feel like we should be ashamed of our bodies or sexuality. Why should I be looked down on because I like orgasms, and guys are looked up to for the same thing?”
Leo chuckled. “That old saying I guess. If a key opens many locks, it’s a master key. But if a lock is opened by many keys, it’s a shitty lock.”
I laughed loudly, pushing my aching body off the bed and onto my feet. “Think about my lock as more of an ignition key for your car. Just because your key slips in, doesn’t mean you’ll be able to turn me on.”
He stepped forward, his lips turning to a smirk. “That a challenge?” He reached out to cup my face, and I cringed at the sharp pain, pulling away. He stepped toward me again, this time, brushing my hair away from my face to reveal the small stitches in the side.
My eyes flicked up to see his jaw clench and his eyes narrow. “We’re gonna put a stop to this.”
I just nodded. He was right. Even if technically, his plan to stop this, was much different than mine. His head dipped, his lips brushing against mine and I let out a soft sigh, enjoying the moment that I might never have again.
“I need to get back to Macy. I’ll come get you for church in the morning,” he whispered softly before pulling away.
Soon he was gone, and my body sagged onto the soft bed.
I knew my feelings for Leo were strong. I also knew that somewhere inside, he felt something for me too. But it was obvious he was confused. He still loved Kim, she was Macy’s mother, his high school sweetheart.
There was no way I could live up to that.
I cared about the both of them, and there was no way I wanted them caught up in my fight.
I touched my fingers to my lips, hoping that somehow I would remember forever how it felt when he kissed me.
Because that may have been the last time.
