Total pages in book: 57
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54287 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
I nod in complete understanding because everything she’s saying is the same way I felt. We all did. “He knows, Mom.” I’m about to tell her the story. It’s on the tip of my tongue, but it’s not my story to tell. A part of me feels like I’d be betraying Davis’ trust, so I can’t bring myself to tell everything I know. “There’s uh, reasons why he hasn’t been in touch, but I’d rather him tell you if he wants to.”
My mom is about to argue with me. I know she wants to know what’s going on, but my dad interrupts. “None of it matters. All that matters is he’s coming to see us.”
My mom nods and claps her hands together. “I’ll fix my fried chicken. That was always his favorite.”
“Fried chicken is my favorite too,” Alexis pipes in. She’s busied herself, drawing in a notebook with her crayons, but she’s still paying attention.
I put my hand on top of her head. “Yep, it sure is, honey. Why don’t you get your things together? We’ve got to get you home and ready for bed. We both have school tomorrow.”
A lot of kids would hate to hear those words, but not Alexis. Nope, a smile fills her entire face, and she sprints from the table to grab all her things. As soon as she walks away, I take another bite of my food.
“How is he? How is Davis?” my dad asks.
It’s obvious he’s been worried about him just like the rest of us. Davis and my dad were close, and I know it hurt him to not be able to be there for him. “He’s good, Dad. He really is.”
He shakes his head. “Why—”
And before he gets into it, I stop him. “I’m sure you all can talk tomorrow. Ask him everything you want to know. He is good, though. I mean, he of course has a limp, and he’s still doing rehab, but he’s alive.” I use the same word that Davis used to describe himself.
My dad isn’t happy. It’s obvious he and Mom want more, but they’re going to have to wait because Alexis comes barreling back into the dining room. “I got it, Mom. I’m ready.”
I stand up, grabbing my plate. My mom and I talk about dinner tomorrow. I offer to go to the store for her, but she tells me she’s got it. I make her promise to not give Dad the key to the lawn mower and then Alexis and I are on our way across town to home, and I have the piece of apple pie in the back seat. I know we both need to get to bed. It’s still early in the school year, and we’re adjusting to our new schedules, but I know I’ll be lying in bed tonight, thinking about Davis and letting myself imagine what could be between the two of us, even though I know nothing will ever come of it. He can never know my true feelings for him.
CHAPTER 4
DAVIS
I step into the rehab facility and go straight to the therapy room. I’m early for group, and even though I’m hoping we can start early, I realize there’s no chance when it’s only me and Kanan in the room. The therapist is nowhere around, and after bypassing the coffee bar, I sit down in the only chair left that’s facing the door.
“You’re here early.”
I look at Kanan, and I realize I’m rubbing my thigh. After flexing my fingers out, I force myself to let my hand rest in my lap. “Yep, I am. I was hoping to get started early, which I realize is ridiculous now.”
Kanan stares at me. He shifts in his seat and is rotating his shoulder to stretch it out. “We can start early. I’ll be your therapist.”
I can’t help it; I laugh. Kanan is a grumpy Marine. We worked together for three years under Walker’s command, and after everything we’ve been through, he’s someone I trust completely, but I definitely don’t want to have him trying to heal me. “I doubt Dr. Kline would appreciate you taking her job or me bailing on group, thank you, though.” I turn in my seat to face him. “What do you think about all this?” I wave my hand around the room.
His eyes are on mine. “You mean the fact that Walker brought our whole team here and offered us jobs? Or that as part of our job, we all have to take part in mental and physical therapy? Is that what you mean?”
My answer is gruff. “Yeah.”
He shrugs his shoulders, sits back in his chair, and stares at the floor. “I think he knew that the six of us were lost, and we couldn’t get our shit together. I mean, think about it. This place came together in the two years since… everything happened. He’s brought all six of us here to supposedly work. I don’t know what I think about it yet. What about you? What do you think?”