Fractured

“Ah, yeah, been there, done that. Folks can be assholes when they want to be,” he tells me before nudging his head to the right, and I follow along with my suitcase and a smaller backpack weighing me down.

After walking down a long hallway, he stops and pushes open a door and steps aside. The large open space is filled with bunks in neat rows against the walls, along with wall lockers and trunks at the foot end of each bed. No privacy, no solitude.

“That’s your one,” Grim points out to one closest to the back of the shared space. He follows me deeper into the room, and I take in my new sleeping quarters. I’m in the thick of it now.

I dump my bags on the floor, sitting on the bunk bed that’s clearly not been used in a while from what I can tell.

Grim settles on what I’m guessing is his bunk which is opposite me. “So, tell me what’s really brought you here? Most of us are here because we’ve wanted this our whole lives; others are here to prove something to themselves. You don’t strike me as the type to willingly put yourself here.”

“I’m here because my father was a SEAL. When he left, he started working as an operative. The man knows everything and can find out anything. I can’t really talk about his work because he’s never told me anything.”

“What about a girl? You got one back home?” Grim smiles, his eyes filled with humor when I sit back and sigh. “I knew it.”

“Yeah, she’s perfect. But we only just admitted we loved each other, then my dad decides to send me away.” The bitterness in my tone is clear. The anger drips from my words, but I can no longer hide it.

“So, you’re a lover boy,” Grim says with a chuckle. “Listen, if she’s as perfect as you say, she’ll wait for you. I know most girls do. Granted, I’ve heard some sob stories from men who go back after serving, and they find their girl bouncing on another dick.”

I can’t help but wince. I can’t imagine Autumn being with anyone else. When she told me she loved me, I could see the truth in her eyes. Even though I couldn’t answer her text messages, I’ve tried to let her know I’m not leaving voluntarily.

“She’s not like that,” I tell Grim. “She’s a good girl. One of those who comes along once in a lifetime.” He looks at me for a long moment before he nods. “So, why are you called Grim?”

“Well, Renard reckons I could kill anything I put my hands on. The Grim Reaper.” He chuckles. “We all have our call signs here. Most of the guys are young, eighteen, so they’re all for it. I happily took on Grim because, at times in here, I feel like it.”

“How long have you been here?”

He pins me with a stare. “One week.” There’s a sadness to him. Like he’s battling something internally. “I came here to escape the shit I’ve been dealing with back home. All my life, my stepdad thought it’d be good to beat up the boy who isn’t his son. When I turned eighteen, I fought back.”

“Shit.”

He nods. “Anyway, when my mother died, I figured I could walk out. The asshole still called me back, told me he’d change. People don’t change. They’re set in their ways.”

“Yeah, they are. There’s no excuse to be a bastard though.”

He shrugs, leaning back with his hands behind him. He looks me dead in the eye. “You better toughen up, Lover Boy. You’re in for quite an intense few weeks.” He smirks at me, and I can’t help but laugh.

“Lover Boy?”

“Yeah, suits you. Far too pretty to be here. But then again, women love a man in uniform. Don’t they?

“They can love all they want. I’m taken, man.” I push off the bed and start unpacking. I’ll be here a while, so I may as well get comfortable. We settle into an easy conversation about food, drink, and women. It seems Grim enjoys his uniform and the women who love it far too much. But I can’t fault the guy. If I were single, I would too.

Even though Autumn and I didn’t actually confirm we’re together, I’ve got my mind set that we are.

Nothing will change my love for her. Not this stupid fucking distance. Not my overbearing father. Not the time I’ll be away from her.

“Listen,” Grim says after a while. “I know she’ll be on your mind for a while. But if you keep your head in the game, work hard, he’ll probably allow you to go home for a week to see her.”

“I can do that?” With the thought of possibly seeing her soon, I’ll do what Grim says. But what worries me is—will she wait for me?