Total pages in book: 198
Estimated words: 186242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 931(@200wpm)___ 745(@250wpm)___ 621(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 186242 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 931(@200wpm)___ 745(@250wpm)___ 621(@300wpm)
“They really treated you like a rookie? At your age?”
That had his head jerking up, the funniest expression on his handsome face. “At my age?”
I pressed my lips together and lifted my shoulders. “You’re not twenty-four.”
Rhodes’s mouth twisted before he lowered his gaze once more. “They still call me Rookie Rhodes.”
I watched his fingers on my palm. “Were you . . . in charge of a lot of people? In the military?”
“Yes,” he answered.
“How many?”
He seemed to think about it. “A lot. I retired a master chief petty officer.”
I didn’t know what that was, but it sounded pretty important. “Do you miss it?”
He thought about it as he again, gently, put a big Band-Aid over my wound, his fingers slicking the edges down so that they adhered well. “I do.” The corners of his mouth widened as he took my other hand. His were a lot bigger than mine, his fingers long and blunt as they stretched the material of the gloves. I could tell they were nice, strong hands. Very capable-looking.
It wasn’t any of my business, but I couldn’t help myself. This was the most he’d talked to me in . . . ever. “So why did you retire then?”
His full mouth pinched. “Did Amos tell you his mom is a doctor?”
He hadn’t told me much of anything. “No.” I’d just settled for imagining a beautiful woman that Rhodes had once loved.
“She’s wanted to do this Doctors Without Borders–type program for years and got accepted. Billy wouldn’t want her to go by herself, but Am didn’t want to go, so he asked if he could stay with me.” He glanced at me. “I’d missed so much of his life because of my career. How could I tell him no?”
“You couldn’t.” So not only was his ex more than likely stunning, but she was smart too. No surprise there.
“Right,” he agreed easily. “I didn’t want to be gone if he needed me. I was up for reenlistment and decided to retire instead,” he explained. “I know I’m gone a lot, but it’s less than it could have been.”
“You can’t stay at home with him all day with any job.” I tried to make him feel better. “And you’d probably drive him nuts if you were hovering around constantly.”
He made a soft sound.
“I’m sorry you miss it though.”
“It was my entire life for more than twenty years. It’ll get better with time,” he tried to say. “If I was going to be somewhere, I’m glad he’s here. It’s the best place to grow up in.”
“You wouldn’t go back after he starts college? If he goes?”
“No, I want him to know I’m here for him. Not out in the middle of the ocean or thousands of miles away.”
Something tugged at me then. How much he was trying. How deeply he had to love his child to give up on something he loved and missed so much.
I touched his forearm with the back of my other hand, just a quick brush against the soft, dark hairs. “He’s lucky you love him so much.”
Rhodes didn’t say anything though, but I felt his body loosen a bit as he worked on my palm quietly, taping me up.
“He’s really lucky to have his mom and other dad too.”
“He is,” he agreed, almost thoughtfully.
When he finished with me and was putting all of his things back into his bag, his hip right against my knee, I went for it. I leaned forward, put my arms around him loosely, and hugged him. “Thanks, Rhodes. I really appreciate it.” Just as quickly, I let go of him.
His cheeks were flushed, and all he got out in a quiet voice was “You’re welcome.” He took a step back then and met my eyes. The lines on his forehead were in full effect. If I didn’t know him better, I’d think he was scowling. “Come on. I’ll follow you home.”
I didn’t sulk all the way home, but I maybe pouted a quarter of the distance there.
My hands still stung. My knees—the insides as well as the outsides—felt battered too, and I’d accidentally hit my elbow against the center console and cursed half the members of the Jones family to hell . . . because there was no one else really that I had any beef with.
I didn’t even bother putting my shoes fully back on either. I’d just slipped them on enough to hobble to my car and get in. Rhodes had closed the door after me, knocking once on the top while I’d kicked them off and set them in the passenger seat.
I stopped once to pee at a gas station, with Rhodes pulling in too and waiting in his truck until I got back.
Frustration pulsed deep inside of my chest, but I tried not to focus on it too much. I’d tried to do the hike. And failed. But at least I’d tried.