A month. A month has went by and the only time I ever saw Evony was if I went to the freaking library. Which I did. Not a lot, but I just wanted the chance to see how she was doing. Sometimes I talked to her, sometimes I just watched from afar. Just to make sure she was okay.
But it looked like there was a sudden tension about her when I walked in Friday morning.
I was about to leave for a while overseas and I just needed to talk to her. I missed her. I wanted her like I had never wanted anyone before and having her so close was like a slap in the face every time I came to town.
Layla had started trying to talk to me again and although I tried ignoring her, I wasn’t going to be scared to talk to her. I told her I was committed to Evony. Layla seemed determined though.
The closer I got to the empty counter, I could hear the anxiety in Evony’s voice.
“What if I fail? After Gavin left I just let my grades fall. I stopped caring about school. What if I have to take it over and over again? I’m not smart enough. All this preparing and it’s going to be for nothing.”
“What if the sky crashes down and kills us all? You’ll never know if you don’t go for it. You prepped, we studied, and you’re going to do great. Remember, getting your GED, then going for those fitness certificates will get you that much closer to what you want to do, Evony. Being a pole dancing instructor and hopefully one day, own your very own studio. Hell, you could even do more than that. You’ll get your fitness certificates in personal and group instructing. Don’t give up. You got this.”
“She’s right. Evony.”
Both girls whipped around and when they saw me, Rhona, who was now Rayden’s girlfriend, smiled brightly and Evony, whose worried look mixed with a blush that rushed over her skin.
“Could I talk to you for a second?”
Rhona said, “Yes, take her. Tell her she’s going to ace this test.”
She walked backwards and stuck both thumbs up in the air. I smiled and motioned for Evony to follow me around the counter and pass a few stacks of books.
She did and when I stopped and faced her, it was liked she was scared out of her mind. Fuck this. I hated seeing her so damn upset. I walked the few steps to her, hauled her in my arms and just kept her in my embrace. It took a minute but when her body relaxed, she reached around me, holding me tight.
“Gavin, I’m going to test for my GED today. What if—
“No what if’s, baby. I know you’re going to do great. You’re a very smart woman. Rayden told me how much studying you’ve done over the last few weeks. I know you don’t want me, but—
“Gavin, that’s not—
“For now. I know you need to do this. I am behind you one hundred percent, baby. You will always have me in your corner. No matter what. Just because we’re not lovers, doesn’t mean that I stopped caring for you. Stopped loving you. Stopped being there for you when you need me. I will be there for you, day or night. Well, when I’m here. I came here to tell you we’ll be leaving tonight for a mission. I don’t know how long it’s going to take. But I know you will surpass any test put in front of you. The fact you want to go for what you thought you couldn’t makes me happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you. I want you in my life, but I want you happy with yourself first. My love for you will only grow. I want you to know that.”
I cupped her shoulders, rubbing her throbbing pulse with my thumbs.
“The test is like eight hours long. I’m not going to remember anything.”
“Tests are like that, honey. I know you will do great. I’m hoping I’ll be back within a month. We’ll celebrate when I get back.”
“So much confidence in me.” Her voice was quaking, her nerves almost shot.
“Of course. You’re my girl. You’ll surpass anything that gets put in your path. You’re beautiful, smart, sexy, and brilliant.”
Her eyes lit up with happiness and I knew she needed that confidence booster right now.
“Thanks, Gavin.”
“You’re going to be just fine, baby. Cross my heart.”
“Be safe, Gavin. I’ll miss you.”
Her eyes widened just a little bit as if she hadn’t wanted to voice that out loud.
“It’s okay, Evony. I’ve been missing you since you left. I’ll miss you, too, baby. And I’ll see you soon.”
“Promise?”
I leaned down, gauging whether or not she’d let me kiss her but when she didn’t back away, I placed my lips on hers with a gentle firmness. I kept my hands to the sides, but they ached to press her more firmly against me.
When our lips broke apart, I whispered, “I promise. I will always come back to you, Evony. Cross my heart and hope to die.”
She threw herself into my arms, innocent and yet I felt the longing inside of her too.
“I love you, Evony.”
She just nodded and squeezed me tighter.
I hated letting her go, but I knew if I was later than I already was, my commanding officer would throw a fucking kitten.
“I gotta go, babe. Still have that gun I gave you?”
She looked around quickly, making sure no one heard me.
“It’s okay, Evony. Just be careful.”
I kissed her forehead, tugged gently on her braid before leaving her in the book stacks. If I stayed any longer, I might just end up going AWOL. That wasn’t an option. On the way to base, I made a few calls, got the ball rolling on a few things I overheard. And remembered from Dayton. She loved dancing. And she loved teaching it. So why not get all certified and shit and have her own studio? I could do that for her. Anything to make her happy. As soon as I came back, I was going to convince her that I could help make all her dreams come true.
⤧
Something went wrong. Three weeks in and a US Army camp was ambushed. Not many of the hundred survived. The team and I had to scout the area to check for other rebels in the vicinity. Luckily there wasn't. The few injured we were able to fly out and taken to the nearest hospital base in Germany.
Our CO told us to rest for the night but our mission wasn't done. Before we were sent back out to rebuild the camp, I wrote my girl.
I knew she would be getting her test results in anytime soon and I wanted to make sure she knew just how proud of her I was.
“So, you gonna write Evony?”
Rayden plopped down beside me with his chow, not even tasting the food but just tunneling it in.
“Yeah, you gonna write Rhona?”
“I did. I don’t know how it happened but man, I am falling for that girl. She’s this moxie of a girl who doesn’t let anything get her down. At times it’s exhausting, the way she’s happy all the time, but then she has these moments of fierceness where she tries to take charge. It’s like…fuck, Gavin. I’ve never felt like this before. She’s the complete opposite of me and I love it. And that hair. God. That beautiful riotess of red hair she has is fucking sexy as hell.”
“I’m happy for you, Rayden.”
“Well, I haven’t sent it off yet, so write yours and we’ll put it in the same envelope.”
Nodding, I got up and went back to our room, grabbing paper and a pen before sitting down. It’s been a while since I wrote anyone a letter. Evony’s was probably the last one I ever wrote.
Dear Evony…