“It went very well. I have my RCC’s full support.”
“RCC?”
“Recovery care coordinator. The Glenda I was talking about yesterday.”
“Why does the Army have to use acronyms for literally everything? It’s like a whole different language.”
I laughed. “’Cause they’re efficient?”
“Ha! I bet you couldn’t even say that with a straight face.”
“Nope, good thing you can’t see me holding back my laughter. The truth is that I have no fucking clue, but I’m used to it by now.”
“But I’m so glad she’s supportive.”
“Me too. Even if it’s just for a year, it’ll give me time to get my shit together.”
“I hope so, bro. I truly hope so.”
I frowned. He sounded…off. “You okay?”
“I’m fine.”
“Forest…”
“We were talking about you.”
“We can multitask. Talk to me.”
He let out the deepest sigh. “I need to move. I need a different job, a different environment.”
“Have things gotten that bad?”
“I feel like I can’t breathe, like I’m walking through a minefield I could set off within one misstep.”
“Summer break is in a few weeks, right? Come spend some time here so we can hang out. We’ll talk and figure things out.”
“Yeah…” Another long sigh. “Maybe I should. Anyway, sorry to ruin the?—”
“Shut up,” I said mildly. “We’ll talk soon, okay? Love you.”
“Oh my god, this is getting scary. What have you done to my grumpy brother?”
“Hanging up now.”
I heard him laugh as I ended the call.
Forest would be okay. I’d convince him to come here for a week or two, and we’d sort him out. Everything would be fine, with him and with me. For the first time since I’d lost my leg, I dared to look at the future and feel hope.
Maybe a year from now, I’d decide my time in the Army was over after all. Maybe I’d find a different job that appealed to me. Or maybe I’d be able to return to active duty.
But whatever the future might bring, I’d bought myself time, and right now, that mattered.
I needed time to heal, physically and mentally. I needed time to figure things out with Heath and me and with myself. I needed time to work through all my emotions and process everything that had happened. And once that was done, then I’d be able to step into the future. With Heath by my side.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
HEATH
