Rediscovering Peace (Military Love Book 1) (8 page)

“Look, Skye, I am not asking to fall back into a relationship right away but I am not going to lie. Seeing you tonight is doing something to me. I want to spend time with you and see where it goes. I want to take you on dates and hopefully we can be together again.”

“I can’t. Look it’s really nice to see you again. Honestly, I just got out of a nasty relationship. We were engaged and I found out he was cheating. My world is turned upside down right now. I still love him and I think it will be that way for a while. I could use a friend though. I know it’s a lot to ask, but can we just be friends?”

“Friends it is. I’ll take you anyway I can get you, Skye. Your ex is an asshole and if I knew him I would kick his ass for breaking your heart and putting that sad look on your pretty face.”

We danced some more. It felt good knowing that Braden was back in my life even if we would just be friends. I could never allow a man back in my heart. When I left Germany, I left a piece of my heart with Braden and then Oliver broke the rest of it.

S
kye

I woke up to Faith jumping onto my bed the next day. “Go away. It’s too early to get up.” I groaned.

“It’s noon. Get up and tell me all about Mr. McHottie. You guys seemed pretty cozy last night.”

“We were just dancing, Faith. I don’t know if you remember but I just broke up with my cheating fiancé. Braden and I knew each other in Germany.” I pulled my pillow over my head hoping she would get the hint and go away.

“Wait a minute... Is he THE Braden? The one you broke up with because you thought the distance would kill your relationship? Your first love? Braden as in the guy that you never got over even when you were with Oliver?”

Ugh. I forgot Faith knew every little detail of my life and had the best memory ever.

“Yes Braden as in THAT Braden.”

“OMG! That’s so exciting. I bet you two are gonna end up together again.”

“Stop right there. We are not getting back together. I told him about Oliver and what he did. Braden and I are friends, nothing more.”

“But why? You know what they say. The best way to get over a man is to get under a new one. Or in your case an old one.”

“Why are we friends again? Get out!” I glared at Faith. I couldn’t believe that she really thought I would get over Oliver that fast. I loved him.

“Whatever. I saw the way you two looked at each other. The sexual tension was just radiating off of you guys. You can tell me what you want but you are at least going to sleep with him.”

I threw a pillow at her back as she made her way out of my room. I grabbed my phone and saw I had a text from Braden.

Braden: Hey! What are you up to? There’s this movie I have wanted to see. Want to go with me?

Me: Hey. I can’t today.

His response came immediately.

Braden: What about tomorrow?

Me: Some people work you know.

Braden: Skye, I am not asking you to go on a date. I am asking you to go see a movie with me as friends. You’re my movies buddy, remember?

I laughed at his answer. When we first met we always went to the movies together. There wasn’t a whole lot we could do on base so we always opted for that. We referred to each other as “movies buddies”.

Me: Fine. I will meet you tonight. It better not be some horror movie or I will kick your ass.

Braden: Yay! You just made my day. How about we meet at 6pm and grab dinner and then head to the movies? Still not a date. Just two friends catching up.

I agreed to meet him for dinner and the movie. There was nothing wrong with hanging out as friends.

I found Faith and Caige in the living room watching some action movie. I flopped down next to them.

“Any plans for today, babygirl?” Caige asked with a curious look.

“Eh. Braden... Parker and I are meeting for dinner and a movie at 6:00 p.m. Other than that I was just going to hang out with you guys,” I answered.

“I still can’t believe that you know Parker. You’re also the first person that I have heard call him by his first name. You guys must’ve been really close.”

“Caige, are you really that stupid? Parker... Braden, whatever is Skye’s first love she was together with in Germany!” I was going to kill Faith.

“Wait? You’re his Skye? When we met in Kentucky he always talked about you. How the one girl he ever loved walked away from him. Of course, how did I not put that together last night?” Caige slapped his forehead. I just wanted to disappear. I never thought that Braden would be as hung up on me as I had been on him. I thought he would just move on and find another girl. I wasn’t all that special.

“He’s a good guy, Skye. Maybe you guys should give it a try again?” Caige looked at me expectantly.

“What the fuck is wrong with you guys? I broke up with my fiancé ONE week ago and you’re already trying to get me to go out with another guy. Braden and I are friends. That’s all we will ever be. I am done with men. If you’ll excuse me now I am going to my room to read. I don’t feel like talking to either one of you right now.” I got up and walked away. I was so angry at them. They acted like my relationship with Oliver had never existed. I sat in my reading corner and got lost in one of my books. Reading had always been an escape for me when I wanted to get away from reality.

After a while a knock on my door pulled me out of my book world. The door opened and Caige walked in. I wasn’t really mad at him anymore but I wasn’t going to tell him that.

“I am sorry, babygirl. I didn’t mean to upset you. I should’ve known that you wouldn’t just up and jump into Parker’s arms. It’s just that I want to see you happy again. I know at one point Parker was a huge part of your life. He always talked about you and how much he wished he could find you. Whatever you decide, just promise me that you will be honest with him. He’s been through a lot in the last couple of years. He doesn’t need any more hurt.” Caige put his arm around me and pulled me into one of his hugs.

“I am not going to hurt him. I told him about Oliver the minute we started dancing. He knows everything. I told him that I still loved Oliver and that I didn’t want a boyfriend, but that I could use a friend. He’s okay with that. I’m not gonna lie, Braden was my hardest goodbye. When we were together I always saw us getting married and building a family. However, we were young back then. We didn’t know better. I am glad he is back in my life, but he’s back as a friend. That’s exactly what I need right now.”

“Okay. I am sorry I assumed. You should probably get ready it’s already 4:30. You don’t want to miss dinner!” He hugged me and walked out of my room.

I decided on jeans, boots and a black shirt. We were going out as friends so there was no need to get all dressed up. As I was putting my hair in a ponytail, Faith walked in. Privacy was nonexistent in this apartment.

“Is that what you’re wearing for your date?” I glared at her again. She held up her hands. “I am just kidding. I know it’s not a date. Look I am sorry about earlier. Can we be friends again?”

“We never stopped being friends, dummy. It was my story to tell Caige and I didn’t want him to know yet. It’s too late now but you need to ask me next time before blurting everything out, okay?” I smiled at her. I could never stay angry with my best friends for long–they meant the world to me. I knew they had the best intentions - I just didn’t have the same views on this matter.

I finished getting ready and drove to The Grill where I was supposed to meet Braden. As I was walking up to the restaurant I saw him waiting for me already. He was still wearing his uniform which was weird, but I sure enjoyed the view. There’s just something about a man in a uniform. I needed to get a grip. Braden and I were just friends. Why did I have to keep reminding myself of that?

“Hey, beautiful, I’m sorry I am still in my ACUs but we were released late and I didn’t want to make you wait,” Braden said and hugged me.

“It’s okay. You could’ve just texted me, I would’ve met you a little later. You had to work on Sunday?”

“Well I didn’t want to wait till later, but if you don’t mind I would like to stop at my place on the way to the movies and change. And yeah, some stupid training.”

“No problem. Let’s go inside and eat, shall we?”

Once we were inside we were seated in a quiet corner. The Grill was famous for its burgers so that’s what I decided to order for both of us not giving Braden a chance to look at the menu. After the waiter left I saw Braden laughing at me.

“What’s so funny?”

“You are. What if I don’t like burgers?”

“Are you kidding me? You live for meat. If your mom would’ve let you, you would’ve eaten burgers for breakfast. Trust me these burgers are to die for.”

It should’ve probably surprised me that I still knew Braden so well, but after spending as much time together as we had back in the day it just felt natural.

“You’re right, I love burgers. I am just pulling your chain.” He smiled at me and I was reminded how much I had missed his dimples. “So how have you been in the past eight years after you left Germany?”

“I have been okay. As you know Dad was stationed in Hawaii when we left Germany. I loved it there but I also missed Germany a lot. After that he was stationed here and when he retired he decided Savannah was where he wanted to settle. I was really glad about that. By that time, I had met Faith and Caige and for once I couldn’t imagine leaving friends behind. Those two are my rocks. I graduated from Savannah State University and work for a marketing company now. I love my job. It’s challenging and according to my boss, I am good at what I do. I just landed this huge campaign which is kind of a big deal.”

“That’s great! Of course, I always knew you would be good at whatever you decide to do. You are passionate about everything you do, that’s what I love about you.”

I almost choked on my drink – did he just say the L-word? Clearly I heard him wrong.

“Are you okay? You turned pale all of a sudden?” Braden asked me with concern on his face.

“I am fine. The drink just went down the wrong pipe. So what about you? What have you been doing all these years? Besides the army thing?” I was curious about how Braden had spent the last eight years.

“I haven’t really done much besides the army thing. A year after you left I joined, Mom was devastated. She already had to deal with Dad always being gone now she had to go through the same with me. Don’t get me wrong she was proud of me but I knew she hated the fact that we wouldn’t all be together anymore. I went to basic training and AIT in Ft. Benning while they were still in Germany. It sucked that they couldn’t be there when I graduated but that’s just how life works.

“After that I was stationed to Ft. Bragg. I loved being Airborne, just like Dad. About a year in I deployed for the first time. It was rough but I try not to think about it too much. I was engaged to a girl named Chelsea while I was deployed but when I came back I found out she was cheating on me so I left her. I wasn’t even upset – I had planned on breaking things off anyways. She wasn’t who I wanted to spend my life with. I realized that while I was in Afghanistan and I didn’t miss her at all. After my time in Bragg, I went to Ft. Campbell and from there I ended up here.

“I’m no longer in an Airborne unit since there isn’t one here, but I am okay with that. Jumping out of planes got old anyways. All I care about is that I’m close to Dad and can take care of him. He needs me here. Mom’s death has been rough on him. I feel like he took his last breath with her three years ago.”

“I am so sorry about that, Braden. I feel so bad for not being there for you through all this.” I reached out to touch his hand and instantly regretted it when I felt a familiar sensation go through me. By the look on Braden’s face, he had felt it too. I was in so much trouble.

“Don’t feel bad. It’s in the past. Though I can’t say I didn’t often wish that I could talk to you about all that but what matters is that you are here now. I am so glad I found you again, Skye. I missed you.”

“I missed you too, Braden. I hate that I was so selfish and stayed away. Back then I couldn’t handle just being friends with you. I had loved you so much. I hated my dad for taking me away but I realize now that it wasn’t his fault. It’s just how life is in the army.”