Page 2 of Healing Bonds

And, boy, were you willing to fight for me.

I cried enough tears after the sudden break-up from my high school boyfriend to know that I was ready for a fresh start, and the gloom that surrounded my move to Florida from Tennessee faded away with each passing day.

You see, what I’ve never told you is why I stopped believing in love when Lucas, my boyfriend of three years, broke up with me the day of senior graduation. We had spoken about that day for months, posed for cheesy pictures with my twin, Alissa, and all our friends. We sat apart for the ceremony and met up instantly for akiss of congratulations when suddenly, his lips were stiff against mine.

He couldn’t look at me, eyes darting all over the room, hand scratching the back of his neck. With a common story of long-distance being out of the question, our three-year relationship and the dreams of visiting each other every month at college, disappeared in a moment.

Three months later, with a heavy heart, I left my sisters and parents behind to start my journey of adulthood in a new town, a new state, completely surrounded by strangers.

Billiards University was a small, private college nestled in a quiet beach town where I had hoped to make my home with Lucas. Most of the students were international, their fancy accents enviable, and the stories of their lives abroad were unimaginable. I found that I didn’t fit in with any of them. Definitely not my tall, tanned, blonde roommate from the Netherlands; we didn’t get along from the first hour in our cramped room.

A girl from the deep south with a southern accent and flaming red hair wasn’t exactly easy to accept, but two years of searching led me to Celine, and she led me to you.

Our journey didn’t start out easy. If I remember correctly, there was a lot of childish bantering and secret meetings in your room while Celine was asleep. Do youremember our first kiss? I remember it like yesterday, the chill in the darkness of the night, your guilt about Ace, our hushed conversations of concern over Celine. I expected you to kiss me so many times, but you never did, always going in for that stupid hug.

Oh, how my skin tingled and my heart leaped when you wrapped your arms around me that night. Without much thought, I leaned in and claimed your lips. I knew you never would, too afraid to upset Celine, but I wanted you, and I didn’t care what Celine would do because you made my heart fly.

Ryan, you set my skin ablaze when you took control, no longer listening to your mind, your full lips nibbling mine, your tongue tracing my swollen bottom lip, your hands holding me together when I was so close to falling apart. Nothing but primal need fueled your advances.

I was already so in love with you. I had fallen for the compassionate man who couldn’t sleep at night, worried about his little sister’s broken heart. I had fallen in love with the person who understood me better than my own twin, who in the darkness of the night could hold my hand, and we could sit in utter silence but still understand each other.

That night, when I snuck out, everything was different. My lips still tingled the next morning overbreakfast, especially when you looked at me from across the table, blue eyes dark with desire for me.

I had seen that hungry look before from other men, and every time, it repulsed me. But you were different. You’ve always been fucking different, Ryan.

I’ve never told you this, but you claimed my heart that day, and it still belongs to you five years later.

Who would’ve thought I would fall for my best friend’s brother?

I can’t wait to hear from you, so please write soon. I hate this once-a-month rule. I hate the suspense mostly. You know I am not a patient woman—never have been, and I never will. There’s no changing me.

I’m going to drop this package off now on my way out to spend the day with Celine at the beach. She’s been wanting to go for months, but it’s been too cold for her. She would never survive a real winter. You Floridians are a bit weak, babe—just saying. Ace and I tease her nonstop; it’s just hard not to.

Anyway, you will be missed, as always. Just imagine me sunbathing in your favorite red bikini when you read this.

With love, always and forever,

Yours only,

Amber

Prologue Two

AMBER

To my beautiful girl,

I feel privileged to call you mine. Most nights, I stare at the pictures of us on my phone and fall asleep with your beautiful, shining, green eyes in my mind and that perfect smile on your face that I love so much.

To answer your questions—I’m well. Better than I have been in a while. There’s a lot of happiness in the air at base since a lot of us are going home in a month. Mike has been teasing me since I received your last letter, always looking over my shoulder to see what gossip you have to tell us from home. We’re all beyond ready to be back home with our families.

I’m more than ready to be back home with you.

Mike’s girl hasn’t had the baby yet. The poor man sits on the edge of his seat every day when we get mail, but there’s still no news. His excitement brings us allpeace of mind, though—a constant reminder of what we’re fighting for, that beyond the borders of this chaos, there is peace.

And we desperately need peace.

Only thirty more days, and then I will never leave you again—I promise. I’ve missed enough time with you that I can never get back, and I don’t want to be like Mike, waiting for news about the birth of his daughter. Shit, even that’s hard to watch. I couldn’t imagine being in his position.