"I’m going to miss you, too, Reed,” she says softly. “Very much so." I release her hand, and it drops onto the hay. I lean my head in, and she meets me halfway, her lips meeting mine. Her tongue slides in to tangle with mine, and I roll her on her back. I can’t believe I’ve waited this long to kiss her. I can’t believe I’ve finally gotten the courage, and I’m leaving tomorrow. I’ve waited for this moment for what feels like my whole life. She melts in my arms, and I swear I’ll remember this for years to come.
There in the middle of the barn, I have her for the first time. We spent the night getting lost in each other until the sunshine starts to pour into the barn. I stand and put my shirt on, holding out my hand for her. She slips her hand in mine, and we slowly make our way out of the barn.
I hold her neck in my hands as I give her one last kiss. “You should get going before my grandfather comes out," she says, and I nod, turning to walk away from her.
I turn back to face her, walking backward. “You, Hazel Bennett"—I smirk—“are the best thing this town has given me." I hold my hands out to my sides.
I watch her smile one last time before I walk away from her and this town.
Chapter 1
Reed
Six years later
After parking the Jeep in the same spot I always park in, I turn it off and open the door. A hiss leaves my mouth when I stretch my leg and pull the stitches tight. "Motherfucker,” I say, getting out of the truck and slamming the door.
I walk slower than I want to, but the fact that I’m walking without a cane right now is a big deal. Even though they pushed it on me, I refused it every time. I was just going to push myself harder.
Eight weeks and three days ago, we were ambushed in our convoy. I close my eyes, and all I can hear is the sound of whizzing as the bomb came straight for us. I was pinned under the truck. I felt the metal pieces all the way down to my bone and knew I should have stayed put. I also knew that if I did stay put, I would die, so I ripped my leg from under the truck. I felt the bullets whizz by all of us, and I could call for close air support to assist in pushing back the assault. I would do what I needed to do to make sure we all left here together.
Heading up the concrete walkway, I pull open the glass door. I nod to a couple of the guys while I make my way down the white corridor. My heart beats erratically in my chest. I feel like I did when I first joined six years ago. I had no idea what or how long I would be in the military, but I fell in love with it and knew this is where I was meant to be. In ninety days, I’ll sign on for another four years.
I get to my commander's door and raise my hand to knock. “Enter." When I hear him speak, I open the door. He looks up, and a smile spreads across his face. “Staff Sergeant Barnes." He gets up from his chair and comes over to me, holding out his hand for me to shake.
"Lieutenant Colonel Rizzotto." I say his name, shaking his hand since he extended his hand to me first.
"You’re looking good." He looks down at my leg. “I heard it was tough."
"I’m fine," I say, and he gestures to the empty chair in front of his desk. I sit down, and my good leg starts to bounce as I wait for him to round his desk and have a seat. "Like I told the doctors in Germany, I’m good to go." I look at him.
"From what I read, you and your squad were all accounted for with zero casualties." He leans back in his chair. “And from the pictures I’ve seen, it’s a miracle." I nod at him, not adding anything else to it.
"I’m ready to get back to duty," I say. My leg clenches at the same time as I say it, but I push it back.
"I read that, too.” He puts his hands on his desk and entwines his fingers. “But I also got the report from the doctors."
I sit up. “All I need is some extra physical therapy, and I’ll be all good."
"And that is what you are going to get,” he says. “I’m not going to beat around the bush. You know better than anyone that I also have my orders. And as per the doctors, you aren’t as ready as you want to be."