To him, there was no solution. There was only the canyon between them with no way across or around.
Distraction. He needed a distraction. Change the topic. “How did you say you found me again?”
She pointed to the southwest corner of the car park. “A man in blue work coveralls.”
Stephen shot Thomas a visual query. “Does any of the crew wear blue? I thought all the uniforms were green.”
“They are. I’ll check into it.” Thomas ducked into the car for his phone, dialing, walking off, leaving Stephen to face Corina alone.
Her yellow summer dress and pale orange clogs accented her olive-brown skin. She was lovely, and when the breeze laced a wisp of her dark hair across her eyes, he ached to touch her.
“You’re here,” he said from the depth of his soul, his voice low and intimate.
“I am.” She didn’t soften or step back. She held her ground with confidence. “Last time I was here at the stadium, you told me we were over. Why did Afghanistan mess you up so much, Stephen? Or was it me? Did you realize something you couldn’t love about me?”
No, no. She was entirely lovable. “I was rather jacked up after Afghanistan. It wasn’t you.”
“Isn’t that what they always say? ‘It’s not you, it’s me.’ Which is generally never true. It’s always theyouin that scenario.”
“They? Who is they?”
“You know, they? People.”
He patted his chest, laughing low. “Well not this people. Look, it was and is all about my last days in Torkham. Nothing to do with you.” Well, not in the manner of finding her unlovely or undesirable.
Until his ankle injury and Nathaniel bringing round that silly marriage certificate, Stephen knew who he was and where he was going. Now his world felt inside out and upside down. Nothing made sense. He craved things he’d checked off on his life’s list.
“Your flight? It went well?” He found casual conversation less painful.
“Yes, the new first-class seats are marvelous. Still, they couldn’t prevent the man sitting behind me, with the worst breath, from leaning around and breathing on me.”
“He was hitting on you.” Lucky bloke.
“No, I think he—”
“Please, Corina, darling, have you looked in a mirror lately?”
“Yes, and I see the same face I’ve always seen. I see Carlos’s eyes. We looked nothing alike of course except we had the same eyes.” She exhaled, folding her arms. “I want him back, you know.” She raised her gaze to his. “But he’s not coming back. I miss him.”
“I–I know you do.” Because Stephen missed him too. Along with Bird and the rest of the lads who died that day. “Corina, I’ll see what I can do.”
“That’s all I ask.” She smiled, and it was worth the price of his promise. He’d talk to Nathaniel. See what tidbit the Defense Ministry would allow him to tell.
“You’re at The Wellington then?”
“No, they lost my reservation.”
“Did you demand a room anyway? You are Corina Del Rey.”
“Ha, very funny. And yes, I actually tried that, but the clerk said they were all booked this weekend.”
“Then where are you?”
“At this little inn. The Manor. Tucked in between Gliden and Martings.”
“The Manor?”
“I’d never heard of it.”
