Mending Hearts (The American Soldier Collection 11)

“You reacted too.”

He clenched his teeth. “Don’t know what you mean.”

“Fuck that shit. You don’t know what I mean. I fucking saw it. I saw your eyes widen and excitement fill them, and then you went straight-faced. You love her.”

“Used to, but it’s over.”

“She still loves you.”

“She’ll get over it. Don’t let her sweetness fool ya.”

“Don’t even try that shit with me. You’ve never been a man to put a woman, or any other person, down. You’re a goddamn Marine. Start fucking acting like one.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means tell the fucking truth. We’ve all been pussyfooting around why you’re so compelled to not move on and adapt to civilian life. Why you’re depressed, angry all the time, and hurtful in your comments. The rest of us have adapted. Why can’t you?”

“Because of this.” He slapped the upper part of his pants over his thigh. He lifted the cane and slammed it against the wooden railing of the porch.

“So you have a war injury and need a cane. Who cares?”

“I do.”

“Well, she wouldn’t care.”

“How the fuck would you know that? You don’t know her. She would act fine with it, but the moment she laid eyes on the gaping hole in my leg and the scars and welts, she would turn away. I’m not even fucking whole anymore. She’s perfection.”

“She sure the fuck is.”

Gabe looked up to see Geno in the doorway with a cup of coffee.

Gabe exhaled and leaned back in his chair.

“She is perfect. She’s beautiful, sweet, has one hell of a body, never mind a great personality. And we weren’t the only ones to notice her last night,” Geno told him.

Gabe swung around to look at him. His chest tightened, and his heart ached. He fucking loved Alana with all his heart, but she deserved better.

“You were with her?”

Geno smirked as he set the mug down and looked out over the porch railing.

“If I thought she would have accepted, then I would have invited her to come home with us last night.”

Gabe reached out and grabbed his arm. He clenched his teeth and saw fucking red.

“You want to fuck her?”

“What man in his right mind would give up a fine piece of ass like that, all ready for the taking?”

Gabe tried jumping up but stumbled and grabbed onto the arm of the chair. He felt about ready to explode.

“You son of a bitch. She isn’t like that. You stay the fuck away from her.”

Gabe saw Geno look at Jaxon and smirk. Then he noticed Gator and Jeb in the doorway, looking serious.

“I told you he still loves her. He’s just feeling sorry for himself,” Geno said, and Gabe realized what they had done. They’d made him confess his true feelings. He fell back into the seat and ran his hands over his face.

“So do you want to hear about the guys who hit on your girlfriend last night and how you weren’t there to protect her?” Jeb asked, now joining in this attack.