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“Your pick. I think Ariana is ready, though being close to town would open up job opportunities for Mayala. It could also be good for Wren. Give her a few months on her own, knowing she has to transition from there. You don’t have to decide right now. Think on it.”
“I will.” It’s not like he had a lot of time, though. He placed a hand on Elizabeth’s hip and pulled her to him. “Since you understand you can’t talk about where I am, and I know you won’t, I promise I’ll be in touch as often as I can.” He was doing things differently this time. Not going dark like he had with Britney.It will be different. It will be different.Boss will be okay.If he and Elizabeth could get through this short separation so early in the relationship, they could figure out the next steps to make a long-distance relationship work once he moved—at least until she was ready for more. “I’ll text Colonel Holmstrom to let him know.”
“Can that wait until tomorrow?”
“They need to start pulling the paperwork in the morning and book my flight.”
“You’re not leaving tomorrow, are you?” The despair in her voice pierced him like a saber.
“No. Probably the next day, though.” He should have brought her flowers, but she already associated them with bad things.
“You weren’t kidding about soon.” She sighed. “I guess you can’t push it back a few days because your girlfriend is new to all this, huh?” She attempted a smile.
“If it were up to me . . . but not really.” At least she was trying to stay strong.
“Has Boss eaten?” She took the casserole dish out of the oven.
“Not yet.”
She pulled out the bag of dog food and filled Boss’s bowl. “You stay, boy. And you . . .” She crooked a finger at John. “. . . come with me. We’ll eat later. We have something else to do.”
He followed her to her bedroom.
ChapterFifty-Nine
HOW DO I LIVE – LeAnn Rimes
They’d playedwith Boss after dinner and made love again. Now, Elizabeth lay next to John, unable to sleep. Taking him to bed had enabled her to hold it together after he broke the news. It’s not like he’d asked for this assignment. But in the darkness, her heartache grew as the minutes ticked by.
Moving slowly so as not to wake him, she eased from bed. She slipped his shirt over her head.I’m holding onto this one. If only she could keep him here instead. This was so unfair.
Boss lifted his head when she came down the steps. “Shh,” she whispered as he got to his feet. He stood there a moment, then traipsed to the front door and waited. “Might as well.”
She quietly opened the door and followed Boss outside. While he sniffed her azalea bushes, she sank into one of the rocking chairs. Tears flowed unchecked, and a soft sob escaped.
Boss came up the steps and rested his face on her leg. He didn’t yet understand. At least they’d have each other from the start to make John’s absence a little easier. She wiped away tears with the sleeve of John’s soft T-shirt and rubbed Boss’s head. He lay next to her chair as she rocked and listened to the frogs and crickets.
The sky was clear with only a sliver of moon to give light. Tiny dots of stars shimmered through her watery eyes.
The screen door squeaked, and she dipped her head. John stopped a foot away. His bare feet were all she could see of him.
“Did Boss wake you to go out?” He caressed her shoulder.
“I think I woke him.” Her voice came out broken and rough.
John squatted next to her. “Oh, darlin’. I never wanted to make you cry.” He rested one hand on her knee. Pain dulled his eyes, and he gently brushed away her tears with a callused thumb before getting to his feet. “Come here.”
She took the hand he extended. He sat on the swing, and she settled back against his chest. His arms wrapped around her.
He pressed several tender kisses to her temple. “Are you mad?”
“Yes.”
“At me?”
“No.” The word came out weakly. “At the Army.”
He kissed her temple longer and harder this time. “I’ll tell them I won’t go.”
