Page 52 of Taking a King

I shrug. “The fact remains.”

I can hear the laughter in Matthew’s voice as he says goodbye.

After the call ends, I stand there for a few minutes, trying to figure out what I’m going to say to my CO. No matter how I word it, he’s going to be pissed. But this is what I want. Hell, this is what I need. I take a deep breath and prepare to dial the number.

Chapter Twenty-eight

Claire

I’m nervous as I climb the stairs to my apartment. I’d rehearsed the words in my head over and over on the drive here. I know exactly what I’ll say to Garrett. And I’m prepared for whatever response he gives me. If he tells me this thing is over in a couple of weeks when his leave is over, I can handle it. It’ll hurt. But I can handle it.

If he says he wants to continue long distance, I’m prepared to give it my best shot. I love him. I don’t want to hold him back from his career. I unlock the door, expecting to see Garrett. His rental car is parked out front, so I know he’s here. But he’s not in the living room or the kitchen. I drop my bag onto the couch and kick off my shoes, making my way down the hallway. I hear Garrett’s voice. If he’s on the phone, I don’t want to disturb him. I’ll just poke my head in so he sees I’m home then retreat to the kitchen until he finishes his call.

I see him sitting on my bed, facing away from me. I raise my hand to tap lightly on the door, but his next words make me pause.

“Soon. I have to figure out the best way. I’m not sure how happy she’ll be to hear I’m moving across the country again. I know this hasn’t been easy for her.”

I freeze, hand still in the air. Is he talking about me? I tell myself not to eavesdrop. I tell myself to walk away. But instead, I stand there while Garrett listens to someone on the other end of the call. Then he sighs and nods.

“I hope so.” Garrett looks at his watch before speaking again. “Listen, I need to call my CO before Claire gets home. Make it official. I’ll give you a call tomorrow?”

My heart pounds in my chest. Make it official. He’s made up his mind then. He’s reenlisting. Why else would he need to call his CO? I don’t know why the knowledge comes as such a shock. It makes sense that he would reenlist. He’s a Marine. He’s been one for nearly a decade. It might not be safe or easy, but it’s familiar. I’d assumed he would talk to me about it, but now I’m not sure why I’d thought that. It’s clear that he’s made up his mind. I back away from the doorway before he can turn and see me standing there.

I make my way quietly back to the kitchen, trying to think of what to do next. My future is here in Oak Hill. That much, I know with certainty. I finally have the job I’ve wanted for so long. I can’t give it up to follow Garrett and the military. Even if I would, he hasn’t asked. He’s made his decision without discussing it with me, which means that what we have isn’t as important as I’d thought. That knowledge hurts, but I force back the pain. I can cry later. I know what I need to do now.

When I hear Garrett heading toward the kitchen, I turn my back to him and open the refrigerator. I stand there for several seconds, trying to pull myself together enough to face him.

“Hey,” he says from behind me. “You’re home early.”

I feel Garrett’s hands on my hips as he comes up behind me and kisses my neck. It’s all I can do not to melt against him. Instead, I hold myself still until he releases me. I close the refrigerator without taking anything out and turn around. Garrett stands there, a smile on his face.

“How was your day?” he asks. It sounds so natural, as though I’ve come home to him a thousand times instead of just a dozen.

“Good,” I say, attempting a smile.

“Did you finish your commission?”

It takes me a second to realize he’s talking about the painting. So much has changed in one short afternoon that it feels ridiculous to be discussing something as mundane as a painting. I don’t say any of that, though. I just nod.

Garrett smiles. “Good. Listen, I have some news.”

I hold up a hand to stop him. I know what he’s going to say and I want to stop him before he can.

“We need to talk,” I say, hating myself as the words leave my mouth. I can already feel the burning behind my eyes signifying the tears to come. Garrett looks concerned, but not overly.

“Sure,” he says, still smiling. “Is everything okay?”

I force a small smile and nod. “Yeah,” I say. “I’ve just been thinking. About this. Us.” I gesture back and forth between us. I smile again, not meeting his eyes. “And it’s been great. Really great.”

Garrett’s smile fades and he seems to be studying me more intently. “Yeah,” he says with a nod. “It has been.”

I clear my throat and force myself to say the words. “But I think we need to face reality.”

“What does that mean?” His voice has grown harder, but I ignore it and keep going. I need to get this out before I can’t.

“It means, I think it’s run its course,” I say, feeling a stab of pain as I do. “I’ve had an amazing time with you, but you have to leave soon. And I live here. I don’t see a way to make that work.”

Garrett’s expression shifts to surprised confusion. He opens his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. I know he’s going to find some way to convince me not to end things, to wait or to go back to long-distance.