Erin traipsed through the open layout of the living room to her kitchen with Amy and George following closely behind. She sat the pie down on the island then turned and opened the bottom of the cherry oak cabinet. Removing a bag of Purina Beneful, Erin turned to George’s bowl and poured her happy companion some food. Immediately, George began eating and Erin returned the bag to the cabinet.

“Would you like some coffee, or hot cocoa?” Erin asked, opening the top cupboard next searching for mugs.

“Hot cocoa? It’s 84 degrees outside.”

“What’s your point?”

Amy pulled a golden lock behind her ear. “No, I don’t want anything but thanks.”

“It’ll go great with a slice of this hot apple pie.” Erin glanced down at the pie. “How is it still hot anyway, did you pull it out of the oven and come straight over here?”

“Something like that.” Amy leaned a hip against the counter and Erin took in her attire.

“If it’s so hot outside, why are you wearing jeans?”

Amy tugged at her spaghetti strap shirt. “It’s not my legs that bother me in the sun it’s my arms. Hence the tank top.”

“Ah ha, I see.”

Erin’s gaze fell to Amy’s lavish fingernails. “Got a competition soon? I see you’ve been to the nail salon.”

“Are you seriously avoiding my question?”

Erin crossed her eyes. “Everyone and their damn questions,” she said.

“What is that supposed to mean, and who’s everyone?”

“More questions,” Erin muttered.

Amy arched a brow and Erin sighed.

“What’s so special about last night that we need to revisit it,” Erin asked. “It’s not like we haven’t had a crazy night at the club before.”

Amy laughed, tilting forward slightly. “You’ve got to be kidding me. We’ve been waiting what feels like light years for our men to return. We’ve had countless conversations about what it will be like to have them back home, safe. And you’re going to act as if there was nothing special about last night?”

Erin moseyed around the kitchen making her coffee and wishing she could tune Amy out, but that wasn’t happening.

“We stopped talking about that three years ago. You and Mariah have been the only cheerleaders since then remember? Or do I need to remind you that my boyfriend—”

“Fiancé,” Amy corrected.

Erin paused and stared at Amy. What was she trying to prove?

“Yeah, well, ex-fiancé. We broke up, and I’d much rather forget about it, so can we change the subject?”

Amy was quiet for a long moment, then she sighed and climbed on top of a barstool sitting at the kitchen island. Amy crossed her slim legs and brought her hands together linking her fingers.

“Okay, I know you and Caleb went through a serious turn of events, but Erin, that can’t be the end of it. I know you still love him, and I know he still loves you.”

“Oh yeah? How do you know that, Amy?”

Erin took a sip of her coffee and tried to keep her frustration at bay, but this conversation was putting her on edge.

“Did you see the way he charged into the club looking for you? Because I did, and so did everyone else. And although I didn’t see him greet you, I saw that kiss.”

Erin squirmed, and a quiver fell down her body.

“That doesn’t mean he still loves me and for the record that doesn’t mean I still love him.”

Amy didn’t say anything for a long while. She just stared at Erin. In Amy’s mind, she attempted to put herself in Erin’s shoes just once, and each time, she saw herself demand Caleb give her answers. So, this nonchalant attitude Erin held was confusing to say the least.

“I don’t understand. Three years ago, Caleb called you and told you to move on with your life. He didn’t want to hold you back and didn’t feel like it was right for you to tie your life up because of him.”

Erin stared at her cup of coffee. Waves of heat drifted from the brew to her nose as her mind replayed the phone call and the surge of nausea that followed it.

“I’m waiting for you to get to the point,” Erin said with her gaze still painted on the dark brown liquid.

“And you just let it go, with no explanation of why he made that call.”

Erin’s eyes snapped up to Amy.

“What would you have me do, Amy? He knew how much I loved him. I went so far as to tell him I would join the Army too if his father could get the Lieutenant to allow me in his platoon! You see how that worked out?”

“What?” Amy gave a quick shake of her head. “You would’ve gone to the military?” She screeched.

“You bet your ass I would’ve. I was in love with Caleb. Anywhere he went I would go. Shit on the Titanic we would've been Rose and Jack.”

Amy’s face dropped, and her lips curved into a smile. She laughed slow at first then with a burst of giggles. “Rose and Jack, really Erin?”

Erin took another sip of her coffee, letting her stern look answer Amy’s question. Amy’s laughed simmered down.

“Oh my God, girl. That makes my point even worse. Why didn’t you ask him what happened? Haven’t you wanted to know?”

“Of course, I have. But you need to understand something Amy. It was a slap in the face when he enrolled without considering how it would impact me. It was a slap in the face when his father balked at the idea of me serving with his son. It was a slap in the face when Caleb made that call. I can only handle so much. I won’t be rejected again. If that’s what he wants,” Erin paused, and Amy cut in.

“But.”

Erin glared up at her and Amy held out a finger.

“But, last night, Caleb—”

“Acted as if he had amnesia,” Erin said. “Accusing me of never loving him after everything…”

Erin quieted down. “How could he?”

Amy sighed. “You’re right.”

Erin peered up at her friend. She knew that wasn’t the end of that statement.

“You deserve an explanation. Consider this for a minute, Caleb wants to reconnect with you but he’s well aware of his mistake. He comes to hunt you down and finds out that your dating Jason, his nemesis—"

“I’m not dating him.”

“But you made it sound like you were and you have a date with him, right?”

“Unofficially,” Erin added. “Still, he had no right to accuse me of never loving him. That, was just another slap in my face.”

“So, tell him.”

It was a challenge; one that Amy knew Erin couldn’t back down from. Since grade school, Amy and Erin had been as thick as thieves. Whenever either of them threw a challenge at the other, they were like men, always having to accept it.

“I can’t.”

Amy’s brows rose. “What?”

Erin swallowed hard but repeated herself.

“I can’t, Amy.”

Amy was literally shocked.

“Wow,” she said. “I never thought I’d see the day when Erin Sanders used those words.”

Erin sealed her lips shut and her eyes slowly followed. The room fell silent and neither of them spoke for what felt like an eternity. The clock on the wall could be heard ticking as they both held on to their determinations.

“Even if I were to ask him, he resents his father, he wouldn’t stay there. I don’t even know where to look for him.”

A slow prowling smile spread across Amy’s lips.

“I do,” she said.

Erin’s heart beat sped up and it annoyed her that the thought of seeing Caleb again made her anxious.

“Why did I know you were going to say that?”

“Because I’m your girl and I have your best interest at heart.”

Erin crossed her eyes and stuck her tongue out. “Sure.”

“I do, and you know it.”

“What happens if he rejects me again? Will you still have my best interests at heart?”

“I’ll kill him myself. He’s not the only trained soldier around here.”

Amy’s uncle Charley was a former sergeant in the U.S. Army. Since his retirement, he’d run his household like an infantry unit. Being in his care since and adolescent, Amy was used to structured parenting. Doing chores wasn’t your normal clean up your room or wash the dishes. Sometimes, he’d have Amy running drills, preparing her for real-life situations that Charley said could happen anytime. Amy was the closest to an unofficial solider that Erin knew; having the skill to put a rifle together in seconds, in case of an emergency.

“Besides, he won’t,” Amy continued. “Unlike you, I saw the way his eyes stretched over you and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one in the room who could feel the zing you guys were letting off.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Amy laughed and shook her head. “Sure, you don’t.”

The doorbell rang and they both turned their heads towards the entrance. George lifted his head as if deciding whether barking at the newcomer was more important than his meal. He waited a second then determined it wasn’t. Turning away, George went back to his bowl and continued eating.

“Now what?” Erin groaned.

“Maybe you don’t have to go to him at all,” Amy said.

“He doesn’t know where I live unless you told him.”

“I haven’t told him anything, but it’s not like he can’t find out. He did find your club, didn’t he?”

The doorbell rang again, and Erin’s nerves shot through the roof.

“Do you want me to answer it?”

“No!” Erin shouted.

Amy gave her a questionable look. “Are you sure?”

“Positive,” Erin said moving around the island toward the front door. “If you have it your way, Caleb and I would be in the back making out,” she mumbled.

“I heard that,” Amy said, “and you don’t need my pressure to make out. It's clear you guys have that settled on your own.”

“Ha, ha,” Erin said closing in on the door.

“Who’s kidding?” Amy returned.

Erin looked through the peephole and released a noticeable exhale as she opened the door and stepped to the side.

“Oh look, the gangs all here!” Mariah said entering without being told. She bounced inside wearing a cream ruffled blouse, slim fit jeans and dark brown ankle boots. Her blonde hair drifted over her shoulders in a bounty of curls and in one hand she carried an iPhone while the other held a brown camel tote that was her handbag. Mariah waved over at Amy then turned to Erin.

Erin closed the door and Mariah slipped her arm through Erin’s in a link.

“So,” Mariah began, coaching Erin back across the room to where Amy sat. “Do you have your date for the Centennial Ball? Are you taking Jason?”

The Centennial Ball was an annual event where the town of Panama City would come together and dine with one another for dinner plates that cost up to $250 and more. It was held strictly to gather donations for a charity of the member’s choice. This year it was for DAV, Disabled American Veterans.

“I didn’t know I needed a date. I just planned to show my support individually.”

Mariah frowned. “Why would you do that when Jason’s been begging you to go?”

“Because I don’t want to go with Jason.”

“And,” Amy added. “Caleb’s back.”

Mariah’s eyes popped in surprise. “Caleb—her Caleb,” she said pointing to Erin with a stutter.

Amy nodded. “The one and only.”

Mariah gasped. “How did I not know this?!”

“There’s not much to know. I think he came in last night,” Erin said.

“And went straight to look for Erin,” Amy added again.

Mariah’s mouth fell further.

“Close it or a fly might find its next home,” Erin muttered.

A loud squeal shrieked from Mariah and she jumped on her toes and clasped her hands. “Oh my God, you must be so excited, just in time for the ball! This has to be a dream come true—” Mariah paused quickly. “Wait a minute, if he’s back, does that mean Luke and Micah are coming home, too?”

Mariah’s eyes were bright, and Amy nodded. “Hell yes.”

Mariah suddenly felt dizzy. “Oh my God. The last time I talked to him he didn’t even mention it.”

“Probably because he wanted to surprise you,” Amy said. “But you know my uncle knows everyone and whenever he gets information, so do I.”

“And what exactly did he find out?” Mariah asked with an intake of breath.

“If I tell you, you promise not to faint?”

“Oh my God!” Mariah squealed, and a mist of tears glazed over her blue orbs. “They’re coming home!?”

Amy nodded again. Unable to hold in her excitement, she squealed right along with Mariah. Amy stood to her feet and she and Mariah hugged as tears crept from their faces. They jumped for joy and Erin couldn’t help but smile and feel a tug at her own heart; something like what she’d felt last night when Caleb walked through the door.

The celebration went on for another few minutes before the two finally wiped their eyes and tried to settle their fast beating hearts. Needing another cup of coffee, Erin walked around them and headed for her espresso machine.

“Erin, you should’ve woke me up last night girl. I wanted to scream with you when this day arrived.”

Erin poured her coffee then turned to her long-time friend.

“Unfortunately, my reunion wasn’t nearly as full of happiness as I’m sure yours will be. But you know why, and I don’t want to revisit it okay, so, let’s not get into it.”

Mariah’s excitement dimmed, and she went to speak, but Erin held up her hand. “Please.”

Mariah glanced over at Amy.

“She did me the same way. But I’ve at least gotten her to agree to talk to him.”

The glow in Mariah’s eye resurfaced. She’d been rooting for them all since the very day Caleb, Luke, and Micah left for basic training.

“I can accept that,” Mariah said.

Erin shook her head. She wondered if Caleb’s friends were doing him the same way, forcing them into a conversation. One that you so desperately want to have. Erin tried to erase that last thought, but it didn’t budge, refusing to go away much like that of her lingering friends.

She cast her eyes back at the wall clock.

“Oh my, look at the time,” Erin said.

Mariah and Amy frowned simultaneously.

“Is that your way of trying to get rid of us?”

“No, but if you want me to have a conversation with Caleb it won’t be later. It has to be now.”

“Why, because you’re afraid of what might happen if you two are in the room together… alone?”

Erin took a sip of her coffee. “Don’t be silly. Just give me the information on where he’s staying.”

“At the Sheraton Bay Point Resort downtown. Room 402.”

“Why is he staying in a hotel room?” Erin asked.

“I guess when you get there, you can find out,” Amy said.

“Do you have a number, too?”

“No, but I’m sure their front desk can connect you to his line.”

“Why do you need to call anyway?” Mariah asked.

Erin pursed her lips. “I can’t just go marching over there demanding we have a conversation. Who knows if he’s there or what if he has a visitor?”

“Who cares. It’s you, they can get out.”

“Mariah!” Erin screeched.

Amy lifted a hand and turned to Mariah. They gave each other a high five.

“My girl!” Amy said.

Erin dropped her head. She didn’t know what she would do about her crazy friends but thinking about calling Caleb made her gut churn. What would she say? What would he?