Her eyes, narrowed and studying under her furrowed brow, bored into mine, telegraphing her thoughts as clearly as if she had a megaphone. She didn’t know what I changed into, because we hadn’t been given the opportunity to learn each other as adults.
The truth was, I didn’t know her either. I’d seen glimpses of the old Kenna since I’d been home, but they’d been carved with new facets. These secret parts of her I’d never known but so desperately wanted to.
I wanted to cram ten years’ worth of knowledge and understanding and conversations and inside jokes into a few weeks. Twenty measly days. And half of those were already gone. Coming back here, I’d known I wouldn’t have enough time, but I’d done it anyway. Because I’d needed to see if there was something still between us.
For a while, I’d been wondering if the army was truly the place I belonged. I hadn’t voiced that aloud, hadn’t even really allowed myself to think it, but it was there, nonetheless, simmering under the surface.
At first, I’d loved being a soldier. I’d loved the thrill and the excitement… Loved the challenges I faced daily and the pride swelling my chest as I followed in my dad’s footsteps and served my country. As I became the man I knew I could be.
But lately, I’d been unsettled. Unsatisfied. And I knew that had little to do with my career and everything to do with the woman I’d left in Havenbrook.
So, I’d decided, whether subconsciously or not, to come home. And I’d done so knowing it would be the test to see if this was where I belonged.
The more time I spent with Kenna, the more I realized she was who I belonged with. Of course she was. It had always been her. The foundation of our friendship was still there, supporting this new thing we were exploring, and our chemistry had only seemed to blossom more in the time we’d spent apart. Everything was so easy with her, even when she was so obviously fighting it. We fit. We belonged together.
Now I just had to make her see it.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
MAC
It was exhilarating,being out here. Hiking new terrain. Challenging my body and pushing it to its limits. Of course, what was the limit for me was merely a speed bump for my counterpart on this excursion. Which Hudson proved as he carried on a conversation as if we were sitting on the couch watching TV and not climbing one of the most challenging terrains in the area.
“Tell me about your favorites.” He kicked a stray rock off the path and focused his attention on me.
“My what?” I managed between panting breaths.
“Your favorites,” he said. “I wanna see if they’ve changed since we were kids. I already know your favorite fruit is still peach, but what about everything else?”
“Specifics, Hud.” I inhaled deeply before blowing out a long breath. “I need specifics if you want answers.”
He shot me a grin. “All right. What’s your favorite candy,specifically?”
I rolled my eyes. “Starburst.”
“Still pink?”
I ignored the way my stomach fluttered at the fact that he remembered that insignificant detail. Honestly, I was hard upfor a good man if something so inconsequential was getting me fluttery. “Obviously. It’s the only one that counts.”
“Noted.” He nodded. “Let’s see… How about favorite animal?”
“Dog.” If I could keep these to single-word answers, I might have a chance of making it to our intended campsite without my lungs collapsing.
“Another that hasn’t changed.”
“Nope.” I skidded on some stray rocks, and he shot out his hand to grip my elbow, only letting me go once he’d made sure I was steady.
“Okay, this onehasto be something new: favorite song?”
I slid him a glance out of the corner of my eye, gripping the straps of my pack. Actually, it wasn’t. It was the same favorite he’d teased me about relentlessly when we’d been kids…and then teenagers. The fact that it was still my number one song of all time was embarrassing as hell. And he’d totally call me out on it.
“Um…can’t pick.”
He narrowed his eyes at me while I pointedly ignored him. “I don’t buy it. You’ve got one.”
“How do you know?”
“I might’ve been gone for a long time, but you still have the same tells.” He reached out and brushed a finger down the side of my hand as I spun my earring. “Might as well spill.”
