Chapter 13

I’m at the pool. Come join me when you get home.

I leave the note on the counter and get my things together. Even though I’ve done the same thing the last few days, I still leave a note. Every day, I have breakfast with Bryce and Nate and then go to the pool while they go to class.

Usually, I’ll have my daily call with Quinn and then read for a few hours before they get home. We’ve gone out a few nights with their friends again, but thankfully, no more run-ins with ex-girlfriends. Every night, we spend tangled up in each other’s arms.

I adjust my towel and lay down on my usual lounge chair. As soon as my eyes close, I doze off. The sound of a chair scraping along the deck makes me stir, and when I open my eyes, anxiety fills me.

“Hello, Devon,” Holli says snidely.

“Holli.”

“Thought it was time we talk.”

What would we have to talk about? I decide to ignore her, hoping she’ll go away. My eyes close again, and I soak in the sun. No such luck. Just for my protection, I punch a few buttons on my phone and decide to record this.

“How long?”

Ignore her.

“I asked how long? How long have you been seeing each other?” Her voice is borderline screaming.

Ignore her.

“I asked you a fucking question, you little man-thieving whore!”

This gets a reaction. I whip my head up and give her an evil glare. “First of all, there was no ‘thieving’ at all. Secondly, it’s none of your fucking business. Bryce and I are not your concern.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, little girl. Bryce and I have a history, one you can never compete with.”

My heart races and anger flows through my veins. I’m starting to regret my decision to protect her feelings the other night.

“From what I understand, your ‘history’ is filled with painful and manipulative memories. I’ll never speak for Bryce, but you and I know he was never going to marry you. You used your unborn child together to try to trap him. I’m not competing for anything; you’re not my competition. As a matter of fact, you’re nothing.”

“A guy like Bryce has certain needs I doubt you can fill.”

“Holli, you’re embarrassing yourself here. Being petty and chide isn’t a good attitude for you. You should run along.”

“Not until I get my answers.”

“Honestly? Let it go.”

“How fucking long has this been going on!?”

She wants to know. Might as well tell her the truth, even if it devastates her. “We’ve officially been together since around Christmas.”

“That’s it?” Relief washes over her face. “That’s nothing.”

What. A. Bitch. Enough being nice.

“Holli, I wouldn’t be so smug. His plan to pursue me started way before we actually got together. It was he who chased me down and begged my forgiveness and a second chance. Every day he shows me how much he loves me. He’s gone to great lengths to make sure he gets stationed in Virginia until I finish school. So, if you think us being together a short time is an advantage to you, it’s not. Bryce and I have a history and a future that no one can compare to. Especially not you.”

“You’re delusional if you think he loves you. What in the world do you have to offer him? You’re still a girl.”

Her shit is getting old. I get up and gather my stuff, ready to leave. “I think he’d disagree. But to answer your one last question, what do I have to offer him? Forever. According to Bryce, I’m his forever. In my mind, that includes wedding vows and kids. A life filled with love, happiness, and health.”

“No,” she whispers, and her bottom lip starts to tremble. Tears fall down her cheeks and she starts shaking.

“I felt sorry for you in the bar when I saw how upset you were at discovering Bryce and I are together. But now, there’s no sympathy. Suck it up, move on, and leave my boyfriend alone.”

“How can you be so callous? We went through so much.”

“Bryce lost a child. He was sad, he felt guilty, he grieved that child. It’s unfortunate your casual relationship caused an accidental pregnancy. It’s terrible that baby didn’t make it. I’m sorry for that loss. But Bryce took care of you out of kindness and a sense of obligation. You put him through so much.” I walk away and don’t look back.

Her sobs can be heard all the way around the corner. I don’t know how Bryce put up with that for as long as he did.

“Graduation will be here before we know it. Then I’m taking you away for a week. You pick. Somewhere tropical, sun, sand, beaches, boats—all of it.”

I don’t speak, just nod against him. My body and mind are both in denial of leaving. When we sat down last night and looked at our calendars and schedules, we discovered there were no free weekends between now and his graduation for us to travel. My heart physically hurt at the thought of not seeing him for six weeks again.

The tears started almost immediately, and he took me to bed. We didn’t even get up to eat dinner. This morning, I promised to make our last few hours together happy. We went to Nate’s favorite deli for breakfast, and all three of us took a walk around the campus. Now that Bryce’s plans after training are out in the open, Nate and I discuss his future. He swears he’s not partial, but I secretly agree with Bryce. He wants San Diego.

Now, Quinn is five minutes away, and the harsh reality of leaving hits me again. “Devon, did you understand me?”

“Yes. I need to pick a place and you’ll get us there. Because after that you’ll be gone for twelve weeks.” Emotions clog my throat.

“Please don’t cry.” He cradles my face in his hands. “I love you so much, and if you leave here crying, it’ll cripple me.”

I plaster on a smile and kiss him quickly. “No more. This has been an amazing week.”

“Wanna play your game?”

“That’s really a Quinn and Devon game.”

“Make an exception. Tell me about Bryce Randolph.”

“Well, he hasn’t really made the loser list yet,” I joke and giggle. “He probably won’t either. He does this thing with his tongue that makes my toes curl. Just last night, I swear I felt him in my throat when he took me from behind.”

“Jesus, Devon. I’m hard now.”

“Better get acquainted with your hand then. I know I will.”

“Not helping. The thought of you touching yourself is a huge fucking dream.”

“We still have our iPad dates at night. Maybe we can make that happen.”

“Be quiet. Here comes your brother.” He turns us so I’m leaning into him, covering his body.

Quinn drives up, honking even though she sees us waiting. Nate pulls me into a tight hug then loads my suitcase.

Bryce claims my mouth once more, crushing his lips to mine. The kiss turns hot, and I have to break away to breathe.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

“We have six hours ahead of us. Let’s ride, lovebug!” Quinn shouts.

I get in the car and wave until we turn the corner.

“Who starts?”

“I’ll start.” I get my phone and play her the recording of my confrontation with Holli.

“Holy shit, that’s good. I’ve been dying to hear it.”

“Yeah, well, I’ve about played it out. Nate and Bryce listened to it like twenty times. Bryce still wants to chase her down and cuss her out, but I’ve convinced him otherwise.”

“Do I want to know how you did that?”

“Nope. But I got just as much pleasure out of it.”

“Gross.” She pretends to gag.

“I can’t help that I love sex now. Why did you not tell me what I was missing out on?”

“I didn’t want to brag when your one and only time was so shitty. Then to find out you didn’t actually do it—well, there are just no words.”

“True dat.”

“Tell me about everything I don’t already know about. The good stuff.”

“Well, my parents drove me crazy but acted normal when Dean arrived. They loved him. He’s going to try and fly up in a few weeks.”

“Wow, snoozeville. That’s all you got?”

She shrugs her shoulders, but the smile creeping on her lips gives her away. “Let’s just say that you’re not the only one getting laid anymore.”

“Woohoo! Give me PG rated deets.”

“I now know the difference between sex with a boy and sex with a man. And no matter what, I’m never going back.”

“Sounds serious.”

“I think so. We’ll see. Hey, do you think Nate or Bryce could get me two tickets to the Graduation and ROTC Ceremonies?”

“Yeah, but why? Won’t you be bored as hell? I’m obligated to go.”

“Well, I thought Dean could drive up and meet me and we could spend the weekend together. I want to be there, okay? Nate and Bryce are like brothers to me.”

“Okay. If you say so.” Something seems odd. Who would willingly sit through hours of boredom?