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Yours to Keep or Throw Aside
Yours to Keep or Throw Aside
Yours to Keep or Throw Aside
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Yours to Keep or Throw Aside

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When their paths cross, Kasey and Andrew embark on a tumultuous journey that demonstrates just what they're willing to do to save the ones they love.

"Redemption. This was the first word that occurred to me with the last sentence of the book. Redemption for what we've done; redemption from what we've suffered. ...a touching story of two people struggling to find their place in life and their true self, two souls which have suffered more than enough, two human beings who have discovered that we are the loneliest in our darkest hours." ~ Tsvetalina Baykusheva

After her husband's infidelities are revealed, Kasey Sanford just wants to rediscover who she is, including her new friendship with police officer and soldier Andrew Adams. Intent on preserving her marriage for the sake of her young daughter, and with no one else to confide in, Kasey turns to Andrew for support.

But Andrew's own life is falling apart as he's put on standby for another deployment, triggering painful memories he'd rather ignore. He'll do anything to forget the soldiers who didn't return home with him, his stillborn son, and all those he's disappointed, including God.

As their relationship grows, Kasey must decide if she will repair her marriage and remain with the man she's always loved, or if she will give up everything she holds dear to save the soul of a man she barely knows, a man who fights her at every step, a man desperate to regain his faith in God, in humanity, and in himself.

EVOLVED PUBLISHING PRESENTS an intimate glance inside two people's struggle to find happiness and contentment in their often troubled lives. [DRM-Free]

"This book left me feeling both happy and depressed. ...There was a point early on in the book where there was no turning back and I could not put it down. ...It stuck with me, so much so that I had to hound my best friend to read it so we could discuss it. It would be a great book club selection, and the author even includes some questions for discussion." ~ Charlie

 

LanguageEnglish
Release dateJun 10, 2016
ISBN9781622532315
Yours to Keep or Throw Aside
Author

E.D. Martin

E.D. Martin is a writer with a knack for finding new jobs in new places. Born and raised in Illinois, her past incarnations have included bookstore barista in Indiana, college student in southern France, statistician in North Carolina, economic development analyst in North Dakota, and high school teacher in Iowa. She draws on her experiences to tell the stories of those around her, with a generous heaping of “what if” thrown in.She currently lives in Illinois where she job hops while working on her novels.

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    Yours to Keep or Throw Aside - E.D. Martin

    YOURS TO KEEP OR THROW ASIDE

    By

    E.D. Martin

    Copyright

    www.EvolvedPub.com

    ~~~

    YOURS TO KEEP OR THROW ASIDE

    Copyright © 2015 E.D. Martin

    Originally Released as The Lone Wolf

    Copyright © 2013 E.D. Martin

    Cover Art Copyright © 2015 Mallory Rock

    ~~~

    ISBN (EPUB Version): 1622532317

    ISBN-13 (EPUB Version): 978-1-62253-231-5

    ~~~

    Editor: Mishael Witty

    Senior Editor: Lane Diamond

    ~~~

    eBook License Notes:

    You may not use, reproduce or transmit in any manner, any part of this book without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations used in critical articles and reviews, or in accordance with federal Fair Use laws. All rights are reserved.

    This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only; it may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, please return to your eBook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

    ~~~

    Disclaimer:

    This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are products of the author’s imagination, or the author has used them fictitiously.

    Other Books by E.D. Martin

    A Handful of Wishes

    Not My Thing – A Short Story

    The Futility of Loving a Soldier

    Yours to Keep or Throw Aside

    ~~~

    Please Visit

    E.D. Martin’s Page

    At Evolved Publishing

    ~~~

    Or Visit E.D. Martin’s Personal Website at

    www.EDMartinWriter.com

    Table of Contents

    Title Page

    Copyright

    Other Books by E.D. Martin

    Chapter 1 – Kasey (Present)

    Chapter 2 – Andrew (Age 34)

    Chapter 3 – Kasey (Present)

    Chapter 4 – Andrew (Age 33)

    Chapter 5 – Kasey (Present)

    Chapter 6 – Andrew (Age 14)

    Chapter 7 – Kasey (Present)

    Chapter 8 – Andrew (Age 17)

    Chapter 9 – Kasey (Present)

    Chapter 10 – Andrew (Age 12)

    Chapter 11 – Kasey (Present)

    Chapter 12 – Andrew (Age 24)

    Chapter 13 – Kasey (Present)

    Chapter 14 – Andrew (Age 29)

    Chapter 15 – Kasey (Present)

    Chapter 16 – Andrew (Age 31)

    Chapter 17 – Kasey (Present)

    Chapter 18 – Andrew (Age 6)

    Chapter 19 – Kasey (Present)

    Chapter 20 – Andrew (Age 19)

    Chapter 21 – Kasey (Present)

    Chapter 22 – Andrew (Present)

    Book Club Guide

    A Note from the Author

    About the Author

    What’s Next?

    More from E.D. Martin

    More from Evolved Publishing

    Chapter 1 – Kasey (Present)

    Rainbow light danced inside diamonds as I twirled my wedding ring around my finger. Despite annual cleanings and the care I took with the stones’ facets, a dull sheen muted the sparkle that had shone so brightly when my husband David first slipped it onto my finger nearly a decade ago.

    Earth to Kasey.

    I looked away from my ring, at my friend Ann across the bistro table. Sorry. What did you say?

    I said Colbie enjoyed staying at your house last weekend. Her daughter and mine were in kindergarten together, nearly inseparable. Ann eyed me. You were real quiet at the Junior League meeting today, even for you. Problems with David again?

    Her barely noticeable enunciation of the last word was meant as friendly concern, of course it was, not an intentional slight. It wasn’t as if I complained about my husband all the time, about my empty life.

    Nonetheless, I chose my words carefully. No need to make myself the gossip at the next Junior League meeting. I don’t know what it is. Something feels off.

    Well, Kasey, every marriage is bound to hit some bumps every now and then. She took a sip of her sparkling water. Tim and I are fine, of course, but lots of couples have problems.

    It’s not so much problems, as we don’t seem to connect as well as we used to. Ever since he made partner he’s been working all the time. It seems like we never have the chance to talk or really spend much time together.

    Have you talked to him about it?

    I shook my head. When would I have a chance? He works crazy nonstop hours, and when he gets home he pours himself a drink and then goes to bed. And if I try to say anything, he claims everything is fine and clams up.

    Maybe you should do something nice for him. Make him feel appreciated.

    I try. I do. He’s just oblivious to it all.

    Like this morning. I’d gotten up early to make him his favorite breakfast, eggs and bacon and waffles. Then he’d overslept, blaming it on me for not setting the alarm clock or checking on him enough, as if he were a child and not a thirty-two-year-old man. He’d grabbed his briefcase and a Pop-Tart and stomped out, barely saying a word to me or our daughter Aida.

    I couldn’t tell Ann this. Ann with all the answers, with the perfect marriage and family and manicure. Ann in her form-fitting velour jogging suit, getting appraising looks from men in the restaurant and jealous stares from their wives and girlfriends. Ann who loved the lifestyle that came with being the wife of a wealthy Southern doctor.

    You’ll figure something out. He’s such a great guy. She glanced at her watch. I hate to dine and dash, but I need to run some errands before school gets out. Tim’s out of town this week, or I’d have him do it. She fingered her bill. Hey, Colbie and I are having a special girls’ night tonight. You and Aida should join us.

    Tuesday is David’s career networking night, so my mom’s picking Aida up. I rolled my eyes. I think tonight we’re going to a client’s house for cocktails, but I might feign a headache and stay home.

    That’s the price we have to pay. She pulled her wallet from her purse, counted out some bills. We get the fancy house, gorgeous husband, big allowance, and social bragging rights, and all we have to do is play trophy wife a couple nights a week. What’s the problem?

    The problem is, I don’t want to be a trophy wife. I’d give up everything in a heartbeat if we could just spend more time as a family. I stabbed a tomato slice with my fork.

    You make it sound like we’re being forced into this. She wrinkled her nose. I’ll see you at the PTA meeting tomorrow, right?

    Yeah, unless my headache extends to that too.

    Kasey, she said with a laugh, having to be around other people isn’t a bad thing. You have the perfect life. Lighten up!

    Except for the unhappy marriage, I muttered as she walked away.

    And what was life worth without someone in it to love you?

    ***

    After lunch I had a few errands to run too. Most people scoffed when I denied spending my days at home on the couch eating bonbons, but there really was more to being a stay-at-home mom than daytime soaps. David believed in making the best impression possible, so he asked that his suits be impeccably cleaned and pressed; that meant frequent trips to the drycleaners. I tried to get into Aida’s school, if not her classroom, on a weekly basis, and PTA consumed a good deal of time as well. On top of that were numerous social obligations: luncheons for various organizations to which David belonged, meetings for clubs he’d encouraged me to join, and evening cocktails and dinners with friends and clients. Aida was currently in gymnastics and begging for riding lessons, which would mean more running around on my part. Throw in routine house cleaning, laundry, and grocery shopping, and I had little time to myself.

    Today I arrived home with several hours free to spend however I wanted, for once. I’d stopped by the library and picked up a couple books, trashy historical romance novels that were as far as I could get from my mundane suburban life, but as I walked up the sidewalk to our front door, the fresh scent of lilacs reminded me of work that needed to be done around the yard. Not that I minded gardening. Today, however, I needed to know there was something beyond my Richmond neighborhood, beyond being a lawyer’s stay-at-home wife, even if it only existed in books.

    As I stepped onto our front porch, an envelope tucked in the front storm door caught my eye—no return address, no postage, just Mrs. Sanford scrawled in messy feminine handwriting. I picked it up, opened it, and pulled out the contents: a letter, wrapped around several photographs. I smiled at the quaintness; who printed out pictures anymore when they were just as easy to email?

    I set the letter aside and studied the photos. Their low-quality fuzziness indicated they’d been taken with a webcam, but I could still clearly discern two people intimately engaged. As I focused on the images, my smile faded. One figure was David; although his face wasn’t visible in the photos, after almost ten years together I’d have recognized his stocky frame anywhere.

    The other figure, the female, was not me.

    No, I whispered, shaking my head. No, no, no. Louder and louder, shaking my head more fiercely, it was all I could say as I backed up and collapsed onto a wicker chair on the porch. The letter in my hands trembled so badly I could barely read it.

    Dear Mrs. Sanford,

    Your husband and I have been in love for a year now. I make him very happy, much happier than you ever did, as you can tell in the pictures. But every time I bring up ending his marriage he makes excuses. I got tired of this and gave him a final choice: me or you. He refused to leave you. I want a man who isn’t too cowardly to follow his heart, so you can have your husband back.

    Sincerely,

    A woman scorned

    PS - good luck satisfying him after he’s been with me.

    The words blurred through my tears. Another woman? Things weren’t great between us, but infidelity was the last thing I expected from David. Ever since we started dating, he’d always said he loved me and only me. I thought he meant it, had no reason not to believe it. Things like this happened to other people. Not us. Not me.

    Shaking, gasping, unsure of what to do next, I somehow stumbled into the house. I wanted to cry, to scream, to smash something, to go back in time just ten minutes and throw that letter away, never read it, never find out my husband had been with someone else. Instead, all I could do was stand in our living room, sucking in breaths, the letter and photos clutched in my hands.

    Minutes passed, hours maybe, and gradually I was able to breathe again. I paced the room, the movement instilling in me a false sense of decisive action. I tried to determine what to say to David, how to handle this, the next steps to take. I tried to be rational but my thoughts wouldn’t cooperate, wouldn’t stay in one place long enough for me to work anything out. I shook my head occasionally, although whether it was to clear my thoughts or in disagreement with them, I couldn’t say. How dare he jeopardize our family, our home, everything we’d worked so hard to create for ourselves!

    Something I was certain of, however, was that whatever happened next, we’d never have our life back, never the same as it had been. Gone, all gone. I sank down onto the couch, wishing we had a pet, something soft and warm to hold for comfort, settling for a chenille throw pillow that I hugged close.

    I picked up my cell phone and called Ann. It went straight to voicemail.

    Hey, Ann, it’s Kasey. I paused, unsure whether I wanted to tell her about this. She always talked about how perfect her relationship with her husband was, how many men had loved her before she’d picked Tim to spend her life with. She wouldn’t understand. I— My mind blanked. Feeling foolish, I stared at the pictures as I waited for the message to time out, then deleted it and hung up.

    David was the only man I’d ever loved, who’d ever really loved me. I’d had boyfriends in high school and college, some casual and some long-term, but David was the only one who had ever meant anything. He’d always had a way of making me feel as if I mattered. Maybe at first I was just flattered by the attention of a popular attractive guy, but it quickly became more than that. He listened to me, supported me, backed up my ideas and defended me, took care of me.

    I thought I was doing the same for him. Turned out I was wrong, that I’d missed something along the way.

    My phone rang, probably Ann returning my call, but I ignored it. I read and reread the letter, trying hard not to stare at the pictures but failing again and again. In one the sheets were tangled around his legs, his back muscles tensed. Her arms hugged his neck, legs wrapped around his waist. In another she straddled him, long blonde hair falling to mask her face as she leaned forward, masking David’s as well. All clues to her identity were carefully hidden except for the blur of a tattoo on her ankle.

    It was obviously him; he wouldn’t be able to deny it. Why had he done this? Was he going to leave me once I confronted him, or would we be able to work through it all? Should I even confront him? Should I leave him?

    And what about Aida? Anger rushed back. We had a daughter, a wonderful little girl who didn’t deserve this mess, didn’t deserve to have her home broken because her father felt—felt what? Unfulfilled? Horny? Bored?

    My mind raced from one scenario to another as I cycled between rage and sorrow, always coming back to the basic fact that my husband had cheated on me. Despite years spent doing everything I could to create the perfect home for my family, to be the best partner to him I possibly could, my husband had cheated on me.

    ***

    The front door opened and I heard David walk in, whistling a tune he’d probably heard on the way home. His briefcase thudded on the foyer’s ceramic tile, and his suit jacket rustled as he hung it on the coat rack. His footsteps moved into the kitchen, paused, and then he strolled into the living room, running a hand over his short blond hair, unaware of how our lives had changed. Late afternoon sunlight streamed in from the floor-to-ceiling windows, mottled slightly by saplings in the tiny backyard, illuminating his figure.

    Hey, Kase. He came over to me and kissed my cheek.

    I flinched but he didn’t seem to notice. Didn’t notice I’d been crying. Didn’t notice everything was different now.

    Court adjoined early, so I stopped and picked up dinner on the way home. I know you’ve been pretty busy and tired lately. Hope you didn’t cook anything yet.

    I shook my head and bit my lip, still unsure how to bring up the letter, the pictures, the fact I knew he’d cheated on me. My husband had cheated on me. That sounded so harsh, so clinical, so daytime-talk-show trashy.

    Where’s Aida? he asked.

    With my parents, since we’re supposed to have drinks with the Carvers tonight. I’d really like to skip it though. After an afternoon of crying, the headache I’d wanted had arrived.

    Alone time for us? I like it. He grinned and pulled me into his arms, as if everything was fine, as if he hadn’t been taking another woman into his arms.

    I pulled away and thrust the letter and pictures at him. Trying not to shake, I said in as level a voice as I could manage, Someone stuck these in the door today.

    His brow wrinkled, then his eyes widened as he read the letter and saw himself in the photos. Surprise was conspicuously absent; he’d known I would find out, knew of the woman’s ultimatum.

    That realization channeled my jumbled emotions into pure rage.

    What’s going on, David? My voice was as smooth and deadly as ice.

    He glanced at me, then looked away and sat down on the couch. He was thinking hard, going into lawyer mode with himself as the defendant this time, weighing his words against the truth and what I’d believe. It meant he was hiding more.

    What the hell is going on, David?

    Kase, I can explain. He twisted the letter in his hands.

    Yeah?

    It happened, and it’s over. I didn’t want you to ever have to know about this.

    Why were you in bed with another woman, David? I folded my arms across my chest.

    I’m telling you, babe, it didn’t mean anything.

    I don’t care if it meant anything or not. A lie, pure and simple. Why were you sleeping with someone else?

    He looked down at his hands, at the letter, at his feet, still not at me. She wanted me to leave you for her. I told her no. I guess this was her way of getting back at me.

    Yeah, that’s what the letter says. What I want to know is why you were in bed with another woman to begin with. I glared at him with a bravado I didn’t feel.

    He glanced into my eyes and was caught, unable to look away.

    I never meant to hurt you. She was there, and I was stressed, lonely, I guess. She provided an outlet. I don’t know. She didn’t mean anything though. I love you and only you.

    Who is she? My voice was still cold, my fists clenched, fingernails cutting into my palms.

    The one in the pictures? She was—

    As opposed to who, the one taking them? I pounced on his choice of words; after years as a lawyer’s wife, I’d learned the importance of paying attention to the nuances of someone’s speech. What do you mean, the one in the pictures? There were more?

    I swear, they didn’t mean anything. His voice trembled as he stood and held out a hand in supplication.

    They? How many, David? I backed away, out of his reach. How many?

    He stared at me. Kase, I—

    How many?

    Two, he whispered.

    Two? You slept with two women? I pressed my arms across my body, clutched my elbows to stop the shaking in my hands as a wave of hysteria threatened to destroy my body.

    Yeah. She makes two. He nodded at the letter in his hands.

    You slept with two women who weren’t me. When? Why? I took a deep breath, then another, as my world continued to collapse around me.

    The last couple years or so. Again in a whisper.

    A couple years? This has been going on for a couple years? Another deep breath. Were you going to tell me? Were you going to let me know you were this unhappy, that I apparently wasn’t meeting your needs?

    He came over and placed his hands on my arms. I’m sorry, Kase. Please believe me. I don’t know what I was thinking. I wasn’t thinking. I was stupid, I know that. I love you, and only you. Please forgive me. I tried to pull away again but his grip tightened as he stared into my eyes, pleading for me to believe him. Please, Kasey.

    I looked at him, at the man I loved, standing in front of me, and looked away. My gaze fell on a picture of Aida on the mantel. Next to it was a family portrait, then our engagement photos, our wedding. This was my husband, my partner, the father of our child. It wasn’t supposed to be like this.

    The tears I hadn’t realized were waiting under my eyelids spilled down my cheeks, and my frame was wracked with sobs.

    David wrapped his arms around me, his tears mixing with mine.

    How could you? I whispered, any strength I might have had to fight his touch gone. How could you do this to me, to Aida, to us?

    I’m so sorry, he murmured, stroking my hair. I’m so sorry, Kase. I’m so sorry.

    Chapter 2 – Andrew (Age 34)

    Metallica blared from my cell phone, jarring me from my sleep. I didn’t mind. I was having the same dream I’d had for the last ten years. My unit patrolled a frozen forest and came under ambush from concealed machine guns. An explosion silenced the onslaught, sprayed us all with hot desert sand. When the smoke cleared, every soldier I’d ever lost stood facing me, staring at me with accusing eyes.

    No, I didn’t mind waking up at all.

    The couch creaked as I rolled over and hit the talk button. ‘Lo?

    I miss you, Andrew. You know how much I hate being alone. My girlfriend, Lauren, or probably my ex-girlfriend after tonight. And I hate fighting with you. We need to talk.

    It’s— I checked my watch, the numbers barely visible in the light coming in from outside —three in the morning. Can’t this wait until tomorrow?

    Did you even think about what I said?

    Babe, it’s late. Can’t we talk about this tomorrow?

    We’ve never gone to bed angry, and I don’t want to start. Come back over.

    I sighed. Fine, I’ll be there in a little bit.

    I hung up the phone, then sat up and stretched. I didn’t fit on the small couch very well, not for sleeping, at least. I’d stormed out of our apartment after Lauren started screaming. I didn’t plan my exit very well, ending up at my kid brother Jesse’s place, crashing in his living room.

    I got dressed and scrawled a note telling him where I was going, then slipped out the door, careful not to slam it behind me. His wife didn’t like me much, wasn’t fond of me crashing there. Normally I would’ve gone to my dad’s place, but he was out of town on business, and his wife wasn’t fond of me crashing there either.

    The cool Kentucky air swept over me. It felt good to be outside, just me and the night. I glanced up at the full moon high in the sky as I drove. A poem I’d heard as a kid popped into my head: I see the moon and the moon sees me. God bless the moon and God bless me.

    I laughed under my breath. God and I didn’t have much to do with each other anymore.

    At the apartment complex, the light in our unit was the only one on in the whole building. Lauren was a night owl, but this late was pushing it even for her. Me, I grabbed sleep when I could. In addition to working four ten-hour patrols a week, I took classes at the community college. Then there was Lauren; pretty high maintenance, she took up a lot of my time.

    I hesitated outside our apartment door. When you’d been kicked out of your place, should you knock? Just go right in? Either way, she would find a problem with it.

    I knocked.

    The door flew open. Why’d you knock? You live here too. Lauren’s eyes glittered brightly as she grabbed my hand, pulled me into the room, and nudged the door closed with her foot. She wrapped her arms around me and kissed me as if I’d been gone for days.

    I enjoyed kissing her, of course I did, but I had class in four hours and a long shift after that. I disentangled myself from her and plopped down onto the couch.

    I didn’t come back to mess around with you. A yawn escaped from my mouth. Let’s talk so I can go to sleep.

    She sat next to me on the couch, legs folded daintily beneath her as if to argue with my sprawl. I want you to move to Asheville. Why are you fighting me? Don’t you love me?

    Of course I love you. Another yawn. But moving to a new town is a big deal. I like it here.

    But there’s nothing for us here.

    Our families are here.

    Yeah, but I don’t like my family. And no offense, Andrew, but your family doesn’t really like you.

    My dad likes me. I frowned.

    That’s not the point. She sighed. This head nursing position is a really good thing for me, for us, for our future. I’m taking it whether you move with me or not, but I want you to come with.

    That woke me up. You’re accepting the job? You said you’d wait until we agreed on what we were going to do. You said we’d figure it out together.

    Well, when you told me how selfish I was and stormed out, I decided you were right. I am selfish. So I called the hospital and accepted the job. That means either you’re coming with me, or you’re staying here by yourself.

    You woke me up in the middle of the night to give me an ultimatum?

    I’ve been worrying myself sick about this since you stomped out. I’ve always tried to put you first, Andrew. I didn’t object when you wanted us to get this crappy apartment, or when you decided to go back to school, even though you wouldn’t have much time for me. Her lower lip quivered, just enough to be noticeable. Can’t you put me first for once, too?

    I stared at her. Nine months ago, when I’d gotten back from my latest deployment, I’d resumed my job at the police station. One weekend we’d had a basketball tournament against teams from the hospital and fire station. Lauren had been there. A mutual friend introduced us, we’d started talking, and we just clicked. A lot of people assumed it was just sex, but there was more to Lauren than her looks. She was smart, funny, and great with people. We’d been together for six months, and I liked her. A lot.

    I wasn’t sure if it was love, if she was The One, but I would never know if we ended things now. Fine. I’ll go.

    She lunged forward and tackled me with her small frame. I knew you’d say yes! She covered my face with kisses.

    The things I do for you.... I picked her up and carried her into the bedroom, but I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

    ***

    When I returned to the apartment the following night, tired from a long shift of routine patrols and endless paperwork, the door wouldn’t open. Lauren? I pounded for her attention. Everything okay?

    Just a minute, hon. She grunted as I heard something heavy slide across the floor.

    The door opened, barely wide enough for me to squeeze through. Half-filled boxes littered the living room and kitchen, and extended into the bedroom.

    Packing already?

    She didn’t look up from the cabinet she was emptying. Yeah. I guess I forgot to tell you I start in a week.

    A week? I sat down on the one empty kitchen chair. A week. How am I supposed to find a job in a week? And what about my classes?

    I’m sure they’ll transfer. And you’ll find something. Cops are always in demand.

    You said last night you always put me first.

    And you said last night you’d put me first, for a change.

    What about us? Can’t we decide this together?

    I thought we did.

    A week. I shook my head. Couldn’t you have given me some warning about this?

    She paused and stared at me, a stack of Tupperware bowls in her hands, her expression unreadable. If you don’t want to be with me, just say so.

    What a loaded comment. You know I want to be with you, baby. It’s just that I have to transfer units too. And the Guard’s not big on that. Tons of paperwork.

    So stay. She slammed the bowls in a box and reached up to empty the next shelf. It’s only a few hours to Asheville. You could come visit me on your days off.

    I don’t have any days off, not between work and class. You know that.

    Well, then, I guess either you move, or that’s it.

    I can’t believe how unconcerned you are about this. I stood and paced the small kitchen.

    Lauren walked over to me, leaned up and kissed my nose. You’re so sexy when you’re mad.

    Don’t try and change the subject.

    Fine. She leaned against the counter, arms folded across her chest. I care, really I do, and I want to be with you. It’s just that this is a really big career move for me. I feel that if I don’t take it, I—we—are going to be stuck in this shithole town forever. You understand that, right?

    I nodded. I’d grown up in a shithole town too, and I understood what it was like to be stuck there. I’d gotten out, but most of the people I’d grown up with were still there. Still stuck.

    And who knows, maybe this’ll be a great opportunity for you too. Don’t you wanna see the world?

    I’ve seen the world, and quite frankly, North Carolina doesn’t really count when I’ve been all over Europe and the Middle East.

    We could get a little cabin in the mountains. She came over and wrapped her arms around my neck, pressing her body close to mine. We’d be all alone, able to do whatever we want, whenever we want. Just the birds and the bees watching.

    Smiling in spite of myself, I leaned in and kissed her. Lauren had a way of defusing our fights, of winning me over to her opinion. Her body, warm and soft in my arms, fit comfortably, perfectly against mine.

    I kissed her again. I want to move with you, babe, really I do, but I just don’t think I can be ready in a week.

    I can’t postpone this. They need someone immediately.

    So what do we do?

    I’ll miss your kisses. She emphasized her words by hungrily pressing her lips to mine.

    You’re not helping. Not that I was either. Her sensuality was addictive.

    No, guess not. We can figure it out later.

    I couldn’t argue with that.

    ***

    After my last final of the semester, I headed back to the apartment one last time. All the stuff I’d kept for the two months that I’d spent here while Lauren started her new job in Asheville was securely stowed in the U-Haul trailer downstairs. Time to take the plunge, to follow my girl to a new town.

    Ready to go, Lucky?

    The cat eyed me from her carrier, the only thing left in the place. She wasn’t big on change either. Or Lauren. And Lauren wasn’t big on the cat. I’d taken Lucky with me the first few times I’d gone to visit her, but she’d put an end to that after the feline

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