~Raiden~
“I’m wearing the smile you gave me…Love, Elli”.
Sweet girl…what are you doing to me?
I print her picture and tuck it away with the other one, getting more and more worn, I can’t seem to not look at it at least fifty times a day.
I step out of the comm tent and almost run straight into Weston who is bouncing from one foot to the other.
“Whoa dude, what are you doing? Spying on me or some shit?”
I poke him in the chest playfully because of course, I know my brother wouldn’t invade my privacy but it’s still fun to take the piss out on him.
“Guess what, man! Guess fucking what!”
He grabs my shoulders shaking me back and forth like a rag doll. I grab his forearms to steady myself and say, “What?!” He is so excited, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him like this, it’s absolutely hilarious!
“They’re pulling us out early.”
Did I actually hear him correctly? I can feel my eyes get big and I just stare, not moving, not breathing.
Weston chuckles and starts waving a hand in front of my eyes, trying to break me out of my trance. I slowly blink, bringing him back into focus and finally take a breath.
I choke out, “We…. we’re going home?” My throat suddenly so dry I’m surprised I even spoke.
Weston busts up laughing, smacking me right in the face with his happiness it’s radiating off him in waves.
“Yeah buddy, we’re going home the end of next week!”
He shakes me a little and then turns me around back in the comm tent, where he forces me to sit down, while I’m still in a daze. He bends down next to me and forces me to look at him.
“Skype your girl, call her, email her, whatever the hell you two do, and tell her the good news man.”
On that, he walks out and I just sit there with my hands in my lap.
Elli.
I can meet her.
I can change my path.
I can find new dreams.
It’s all becoming so real. My sweet fantasy suddenly becoming reality.
I shake my head bringing me out of my delirious thoughts and crack the biggest fucking smile the world has ever seen.
I bring up my email, and then shut it back down, needing to see her beautiful face when I tell her the news.
I click to open Skype, praying she’s online. Which, as if she can sense that I need to talk to her right now, she is.
Before I can even click to connect to her, an accept call comes through from her.
Duh, accept.
My sweet beautiful girl fills up the computer screen, looking absolutely delectable. Her hair cascading around her shoulders, no makeup, glasses on, a big T-shirt and yoga pants on. Sexiest creature alive.
She throws me a blinding smile while I just stare at her, caught up in how perfect she is. “Elli, babe, I’m coming home.”
I let it slip out, a smirk tipping up my lips.
She pauses looking dumbfounded for a second, only a second, and then her squeal fills the entire comm tent.
“ARE YOU SERIOUS?!”
Her hands fly up to her mouth to stifle her screeching and if I’m not mistaken I can see her eyes start to well up with tears. I lean in closer to the web cam.
“Yeah, end of next week, I’m coming home.” My voice is really husky at her reaction.
I see a tear break free and roll down her cheek, then stopping at her hand, still covering her mouth, my eyes watching its descent.
“Sweet girl, why are you crying?”
A note of concern peaks through my voice.
“Raid,” she breathes, “I am so happy.”
More tears fall and then it hits me that she’s crying because she’s happy I’m coming home.
She cares that much.
My heart bursts like a dozen fireworks in my chest, seeing my girl crying with joy for me. I’ve never had anyone care about me like this. I can see it in her eyes, she feels like I do. This beautiful, fragile yet strong woman feels like I do…
Breaking me free of my thoughts she asks ever so timidly, “Can I come meet you when you get in…. like at the base?”
She wants to meet me the second my boots hit American soil… Fuck me.
“Yes baby, please meet me, I need to see you.”
She blushes a deep scarlet when I call her baby, and God If I don’t cherish that blush. This girl...
“Email me the details and I’ll be there, handsome.”
She gives me a shy smile once more and I know it then, I’m a goner.
She’s gonna have me wrapped around her little finger the second I see her, hell, I already am and we aren’t anywhere near each other.
We talk for an hour, basking in the intoxicating bliss of being able to connect even if it’s just through the internet.
When I finally have to peel myself away this time, I blow her a kiss and tell her I’ll be seeing her soon.
My heart so full to the brim, I almost can’t walk. This next week better fly by because I need to feel Elli in my arms, knowing how it felt in my dreams I just know the real thing is going to take my breath away.