CHAPTER ELEVEN
Saturday, July 21st
Chad waited for Willa to get dressed as he flipped through the channels. He was looking forward to getting together with his friends and teammates and giving them a chance to meet his girl.
They were celebrating at Danny’s Bar & Grill, and he knew the place was going to be packed with the usual Saturday night crowd, and he didn’t expect they’d last much past eleven.
He had at least four months of deployment ahead of him, and he was going to have plenty of time with his brothers when they were downrange.
What he wasn’t going to have was time with Willa. And that tore a part of his gut out when he thought about it too long. The four months they’d spent together had been the best of his life, and he wasn’t exactly sure how he was going to sleep without her.
And he wasn’t just talking about the sex, though that was phenomenal. It was having her in his arms and knowing they were entwined.
Some seriously sappy shit, to be sure. But that’s where his head was at from the moment he laid eyes on her. He couldn’t get her close enough, bottom line, and there wasn’t any amount of separation that was acceptable.
Which meant his deployment was going to be a type of hell he was going to have to get used to. He was excited to fulfill his new responsibilities, to be sure, and was ready to lead his teammates on the boats. But, he was going to be leaving a big part of himself with Willa.
But he’d have to figure it out because he’d spent over fourteen years in the Navy and wanted to advance as far as he could and, God willing, make his twenty. After that, he could move into the private sector and make enough to take care of Willa and their family.
And he wanted one with Willa, no doubt about it.
Thinking about her being round with his kid always gut punched him even though it wasn’t going to happen for a couple of years. He knew they had to spend their first year of marriage alone, so they could be solid. After that, he’d be ready to put as many babies in her as she let him.
But, first things first, they had to get through this deployment and then move onto their next step. And for him, that was putting a ring on her finger and bonding them irrevocably.
Hearing footsteps, he looked up and whistled. “Damn, honey.”
Twirling, she gave him a sassy smile and then slid her hand on her hip. “You like?”
“I sure as hell do and I’m afraid you’re not going to be allowed to leave my side for a minute.” Her laughter filled the room, and he loved hearing it. They’d had a pretty good rough patch back when her anxiety was at its worst, and he was grateful they’d made it through, and she was doing the things she needed to manage it.
Between the therapy and the meds, she was in good shape and had told him more times than he could count that she was going to be fine when he was deployed. He’d checked in with Tia several times to make sure she was being honest with him and had dragged a promise out of her to keep in the loop when he was downrange.
Holding out his hand, he waited for her to take it and pulled her into his lap. “How did a sailor get so damn lucky to have a woman like you?”
“Oh, Chad, I’m the lucky one. You’ve been incredibly supportive and accepting, and there are not many people who’d be willing to put up with me and my baggage.”
“Babe, I’m not putting up with anything; we’re partners and navigating our lives as best we can. Some days you lean on me, and other days I lean on you.”
He took her hand and played with the ring on her finger. “You may not be as excited about me when you’re sixty days into this deployment, and I’m praying the flame we’ve lit is going to be strong enough to withstand the separation.”
“We’ve got a lot more than a flame and something closer to a bonfire, so I’ve got no doubts we’re going to be just fine.”
“I like your confidence.” He pulled her in for a smooch and then let her go. “I’ve got something for you.”
“Oh, yeah?”
He leaned over and grabbed a red box and handed it to her. “I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I’ll love it.”
Nodding, he watched her open it and pull away the tissue paper. Seeing her smile when she lifted it out of the box made him feel like a million bucks.
“It’s beautiful.” She lay the necklace in her hand and ran her finger over the small gold anchor and their initials.
“I’m your anchor and, no matter where we are in the world, we are tethered together. A mile or a thousand doesn’t mean a thing because we’re firm and secure in what we have with one another.”
Tears slipped down her cheek, and she nodded. “I don’t want you to worry when you’re downrange. I’m going to be here holding the faith and waiting for your return.”
“Can’t tell you how much your words mean to me and they’re going to be the fire in my belly when I’m out there.”
She handed him the necklace and pulled up her hair. “Put it on.”
Taking it, he fumbled with the latch and then finally got it open and fastened. Sitting back, he ran his finger over the anchor and their initials and grinned. “It’s perfect.”
Putting her hands on his face, she ran her finger over his cheek and nodded. “Yeah, you sure are.”
He responded by digging his hands into her hair and sliding his tongue along hers. Her scent, taste, and heart were imprinted on his soul, and he thanked God and whoever was responsible for putting Willa in his life.
Releasing her mouth, he licked his lips and nodded. “I do any more of that and we won’t make it to Danny’s.”
Moving off his lap, she stood and straightened her dress, sliding her hair over her shoulder. “Then let’s get the heck out of here before I can’t control myself.”
He stood and adjusted himself as best he could and flattened his T-shirt. “We’ll save our naughty shenanigans for later.” Taking her hand, he led her to the door and waited while she grabbed her purse. “We’re not staying long.”
“Whatever you want, Chad.”
“Now, just keep those words on the tip of your tongue because they’ll come in handy later on.”
“Got it, Chief.”
“Knew the promotion was going to work in my favor.”
They walked out of the apartment and he looked at the door to his place and knew he wasn’t going to need it for very much longer. When he returned, the first thing he was going to do was get them moved in together.
And then he was going to propose.
Looking down, he saw her smile and prayed she’d go along with his plans.
No matter how crazy they seemed.