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“Nothing. I d-don’t even know what I was going to say.”
“I want you to know I don’t think of you any differently. You don’t have to be nervous around me.”
Megan looked at him and sniffed. “It’s nice to know that.”
Troy reached across the table and held his hand open, palm up. She stopped folding the placemat and put hers in his. Of course they fit like a perfect match. Her hands were beautiful. Long, slender fingers with short nails that had the barest amount of polish on them. Perfect and natural. Just like her.
“I mean it. I’m glad you’ve told me so I don’t overstep.”
“It’s a relief really. I was worried you wouldn’t want to hang out anymore.”
Troy had considered it for a moment, and that would have been the case two weeks ago in Kentucky, but Megan was different.
“Well, I guess I better come clean too.”
Megan’s smile went away but she didn’t frown. “Is this the part where you let me down easy?”
Actually, yes it would’ve been. The thought wounded him. “No, no, nothing like that. I’m in the military. I’m only here on leave for a short time. I figured you knew that though.”
Megan blew out a breath and smiled. “I figured as much, but didn’t want to ask.”
“So just so you know, I won’t be around, and long distance is hard with my work schedule.”
Why did he feel so sad saying that? Megan pulled a tight smile and nodded as well.
“Are you disappointed?” he asked. Troy must have lost his damn mind, because he sure felt like it.
Megan smiled sweetly and gave a half shrug. “I’m glad you didn’t say you were suddenly gay.”
Troy let out a bark of laughter. “Or that I had a test come up out of nowhere?”
“Yep. That was good. At least this is legit.”
“Uncle Sam is very legit. I’ll show you my papers if you want. I had a girl ask me that on a dating app before. I guess she had been with a lot of guys who used to lie about that sort of thing.”
Megan nodded, impressed. “Wow. Good for her. Getting it out in the open from the jump. No, your dad told me. I knew. I just didn’t know how long you’d be here for.”
“Yeah, I had some leave to use up anyway, so it works out. I need to get back eventually for…you know, work stuff.” Troy swallowed the word therapy and started to bounce his leg under the table. Not ready for that yet, even if it was Megan.
He rubbed the top of her hand with his thumb.
“I’d still like to see you.”
“I’m glad. I’d still like to see you too.” Her shy smile bloomed into her cheeks as her blue eyes left their hands and met his own.
“Then it’s settled. No pressure.”
“None. Just fun and good company for now.”
Thefor nowintrigued him.
“Unless it turns into more.”
Megan gave a quick nod. “Of course.”
“So you’re open?”
Megan considered that for a second and watched his finger run slowly up to her wrist following the delicate bones under her fine skin.
