Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
She licks her lips, and I barely hold back the groan. “Davis, two years ago, you decided you didn’t need us… that we didn’t need you. You don’t get to make decisions for us anymore. I need you. Alexis needs you. My mom and dad need you. All I’m asking is to hang around awhile, get better, and let me decide if you’re any fun to be around or not.”
Looking into her bright blue eyes, I know I can’t refuse her, but what surprises me the most is the fact that I don’t want to. Even though I know I shouldn't, I find myself giving in. “You don’t have to worry about me being around your family. I really am clean. I haven’t—”
She rolls her eyes and pats me on the chest. “I’m not worried. I know you wouldn’t hurt any of us, Davis.” She shakes her head and is looking at me with hooded eyes. The faith she has in me fills me with a sense of pride. “I swear, sometimes I think I know you better than you know yourself. Come to dinner tomorrow night at Mom and Dad’s. Alexis and I are going over right after school so I can cut their yard, and then we’ll probably eat around five.”
I can’t tell her no. “Okay… but if you talk to your parents and that doesn’t work for them—”
She steps back, putting some distance between us again, and instantly, I miss her touch. “It’s going to be fine. Trust me, they’re all going to be excited to see you.”
There’s a part of me that hopes it’s true, but the other part of me wants to leave and not find out. I’ve led men into battle. I’ve carried friends on my back to safety, and I’ve sat in a small ditch without a working weapon while bombs and guns go off all around me. I literally had a bomb go off ten feet from me. But even with all that… the fear I felt in all those situations is nothing like the fear I have of letting Abby down. And I don’t know how to deal with that.
CHAPTER 3
ABBY
I’m still shaking. I left Davis’ apartment, and it wasn’t until I had driven for a few miles that it all hit me. He’s home. No more wondering where he’s at or if he’s okay. It’s like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders after seeing him—touching him—and knowing that he survived. He’s a different man than I remember, but there’s no way I can expect him to be the exact same. Not after everything he’s gone through.
I don’t know how long he’ll be here, but I do know that I’ll be seeing him tomorrow. I made him promise me before I left his apartment that he wouldn’t leave town in the middle of the night and that he would be at my parents’ house tomorrow. I trust that he’ll be there.
When I get to my parents’ house, I sit in the driveway and try to pull myself together before I go inside. I would have thought that after not having any contact with Davis in the past two years, my feelings for him would have gone away. I was wrong because if anything, this new Davis is even more appealing to me. HIs vulnerability is new, and I’ve never seen that side of him before.
I could sit here all night, thinking about him and replaying our conversation, but I don’t have that luxury. The front door opens, and Alexis comes running outside as my mom and dad stand on the porch, smiling from ear to ear.
I get out of my car and barely get the car door closed before Alexis slams into the front of me. “Mom! Where have you been? You missed dinner, and Grandma made your favorite.”
I pick Alexis up and swing her in my arms before setting her back on her feet, and we walk hand in hand to where my parents are waiting for us on the porch. “I missed lasagna? No way! Did you eat it all?”
She’s laughing at the outrage in my voice. “No, you know she saved you some. Papaw wanted to eat a third helping, and Grandma wouldn’t let him.”
I hold my hand up to my mom as we reach her. “Thanks, Mom.”
My dad is shaking his head. “Yeah, how about thanks, Dad? I saved you a piece of the apple pie too.”
I look at my mom, surprised. “You made apple pie? Wow, what’s the occasion?”
Alexis releases my hand and bounds over to her grandma. My mom takes a hold of her, but her eyes never leave mine. “You’ve been working so hard. I thought you deserved a treat, that’s all.”
I appreciate the sentiment, and I’ll take the slice of pie home with me, but I’m going to do my best not to eat it even though sweets are my favorite. “Thank you, Mom, for the food and the pie! And of course you too, Dad, for saving me a slice. Really, thank you both for everything. I truly appreciate you watching Alexis and always being here for us.”