Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83992 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 420(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Standing behind Betty Lou now, Sean winked at me. I forced myself to smile.
“See you later at my folks’ place.”
I lifted my hand and fought not to give him the middle finger. “See ya later.” Inside, I was calling Sean Gallagher every dirty name I could think of as Betty Lou turned back to me, her hands on her heart and a goofy smile on her face.
“I just love love!”
Tina stared at me like I had grown two heads.
“Don’t look at me like that.”
“You sold your soul to the devil for season tickets to the Giants?”
I dropped back onto her bed and groaned. “I know! I let my love of football go to my head.”
“Harp, what were you thinking? He dumped you in the cruelest of ways.”
I covered my face.
“Look, I get that you like the Giants, but you just gave up nearly two more months of your life for…for…Sean!”
Dropping my hands, I dragged myself up into a sitting position. “I felt bad for him.”
Her mouth fell open. “You felt bad for him? For the guy who broke up with you because he didn’t see a future with you? The guy who fell for another girl while you were dating? That guy? You felt sorry for that guy?”
“To be fair, I didn’t see a future with him, either.”
“That doesn’t matter!”
I laughed. “It kind of does.”
She waved me off. “Does this mean I have to be nice to him?”
“Only if his mother is around. Otherwise, you can ignore him. By the way, he thinks you put a curse on him and I’m starting to wonder if you did.”
An evil smile spread across her face.
My two younger sisters were always interested in witchcraft after seeing Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in Practical Magic. They were convinced they had “the gift” like the two actresses’ characters in the movie. It didn’t help that my mother and father thought it was cute and egged them on.
“Tina,” I warned.
“What? It’s just a little bit of fun. You don’t really think I’m a witch, do you?”
When I didn’t answer, she laughed.
I stood up and hugged her. “I’ve got to go. I wanted to tell you and Amanda first, before you heard it from Betty Lou. She walked into the flower shop while Sean was there, and he planted a kiss on me.”
“Gross. Did you tell Mom and Dad?”
The memory of both my parents laughing still left me feeling bitter. “Yes, and they thought it was funny.”
“Your bleeding heart gets you into these situations. I know you, Harp. You only agreed to do it because you feel bad that he likes a girl who doesn’t like him back.”
“No, I did it because I’m getting season tickets for the Giants. Good seats, I might add.”
She rolled her eyes and folded another shirt from her laundry basket. Tina wasn’t married or currently dating, and she didn’t have any kids. She lived in the apartment above the Timeless Cup Coffee shop, where she works, and was perfectly happy with her life. One of these days, though, the love bug would bite, and she’d be in for a ride.
“I thought you had to leave?” she said, when I made no move toward the door.
Shoving her gently on the shoulder, I said, “I’m leaving, I’m leaving. Will you be at dinner on Sunday?”
“It’s Mother’s Day; of course, I’ll be there.”
“Just double checking,” I argued, as I headed toward the door of her bedroom.
“If Sean is planning on being there, I’m dressing in all black!”
I laughed as I headed out of her apartment.
Declan
Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Six Months Earlier
I glanced around the large reception room someone had booked for the party that was being thrown in my honor, taking everything in. It would all be left behind soon, and I wasn’t sure how to handle it. I’d been in the Marines since I was eighteen years old. Now, at thirty-five, I felt like I was about to start my life over again.
Someone came up behind me and slapped my back. “You ready to leave all of this behind?”
It was my best friend, Ron. We’d met in MARSOC and became instant friends.
“You mean no longer getting shot at all the time? Yeah, I’m ready to leave it behind.”
Ron raised a single brow. “Why don’t I believe you?”
I smiled. “Because I’m lying. I’m going to miss it, and miss everyone here.”
He handed me a beer and sighed as he also looked around the room. “Hard to believe you won’t be on the team anymore.”
After taking a long drink from my beer, I replied, “It’s time for me to take the next step in life, and that means leaving the Marines.”
“You’re sure this is what you want to do?”
I nodded. It had been a difficult decision, but it was time to move on. As much as I hated the idea of leaving the Marines, I needed to listen to my heart…and my gut.