AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Even when Blue mocked him publicly, asking what happened to his face. Red offered up a business card to help with the scarring. He didn’t care about that… he was more fearful of Calista’s reaction if she ever noticed it someday.
But that would be like a brown-eyed person wanting blue ones… it wasn’t something he could change, so he normally didn’t worry about it.
… Until her.
Calista had just walked up onto the deck, looking over the railing at the clouds and water silently, looking lost in thought. He’d been out here for about thirty minutes, letting the peace seep into his soul, when he heard movement and saw her out of the corner of his eye.
Will waited, watching, and then decided to make his presence known so he didn’t scare her.
“Orange…” he said simply in greeting, trying to maintain a level of distance and professionalism that had been sorely lacking on his part.
“I didn’t mean to bother you,” she immediately responded, making him feel bad for disturbing her.
“You aren’t.”
“I can leave.”
“I’m not telling you to. The ship is yours to explore,” he said simply, not even looking in her direction.
He couldn’t.
Will was keenly aware of the lulling sounds around them, and it would be so easy to pretend he wasn’t a disfigured, jaded, worn-out man… but that would be lying to himself and allowing someone close enough to hurt him.
And then he felt it.
Hope.
She wasn’t moving or saying anything – just enjoying the peace with him. What would that be like to have someone to talk to, to be close to, that enjoyed these simple peaceful moments as well? All he had to do was step a little closer to her and say hello.
Maybe they could talk or have a true conversation? What if he touched her hand, held it? Before he took a step – he heard another sound.
“Miss Calista?”
Will froze.
Bo was there, walking towards her.
Calista didn’t seem to notice him, and honestly? She would probably be better suited for the nice guy who seemed to try so hard to please everyone. Bo had always been like that, even when he first got assigned to the squad overseas. Gosh, he’d never met such a young, innocent boy in an eighteen-year-old’s body… and immediately went into a protective, big brother mode.
All of them did.
Jared was exceedingly protective of the young man – even now – ten years later. He made sure no one commented on Bo’s leg because he was so sensitive about his prosthetic, occasionally teasing him that he was going to carve him a fancy peg-leg for fun, to liven things up.
… Like Shepherd and that stupid hook.
Will cracked a smile in the darkness and listened, fascinated.
“Hello Bo,” Calista said politely.
“I hope I’m not bothering you,” Bo began, and Will winced, hearing the fawning adoration in the man’s voice. “I really am a huge fan of your books.”
“Thank you.”
“You mentioned you would autograph one for me?”
“I’d be happy to,” she began, and then hesitated.
Will couldn’t blame her.
