“Why didn’t you tell me about the Purple Heart that you received?”
He closed his eyes, and I felt like maybe he was going to shut me out, but he opened his lids, meeting my stare. I could see his throat work and knew he was going to share, but I wanted to tell him something first.
“I’m not upset.” My stomach flip-flopped a bit knowing the moment obviously wasn’t easy for him and I felt bad bringing it up, but… “I just want to know you. We used to share everything—the good, the bad, and even the ugly.”
Reaching my arm across Griffin, I extended my hand in Jett’s direction. It was his move now. A sigh of relief escaped my chest when he clasped palms with me, his eyes never leaving mine.
“It didn’t feel right receiving the medal when my friends lost their lives, and I couldn’t save them.”
His voice was thick and laced with so much sorrow that I couldn’t stand even the smallest amount of distance between us. I released his hand, crawled out of the fort and back around to his side, then curled up next to him, wrapping him in my arms.
He held on tight. “Dusty got one too, and my buddies' families have one in their names, but to me all I can feel and see is the loss when I look at or think about that medal.”
My heart broke for him but shattered even more when he decided that since he was sharing, he’d go on to tell me about the nightmare he had that changed, with me in the mix now. He was wounded and scared—not broken.
Jett was right there for Griffin and me; he was working on his past, and he was reaching for the future. Maybe the closure he spoke of before was key?
I tilted my head up and saw his eyes glistening with tears. Leaning closer, I kissed his chest above his heart.
“I’m sorry you lost your friends, and I am sorry you haveto deal with the fallout.” I patted his chest. “But I’m not sorry that you’re here because I don’t want to live without you. You are the best man I know.”
A tear leaked from his right eye and slipped down his cheek. I moved my hand to softly brush it away, just like he always did for me.
“I think maybe we should take that trip.”
His eyes widened, a bit alarmed at the thought. He knew exactly which trip I was referring to. “You sure you want to go with me?”
“Of course I do. I love you. I’d do anything for you.”
Jett pulled me in, hugging me to his chest like he was never going to let go. “Thank you,” he whispered. “I think it’s time I go, and you being with me makes it easier.”
He wasn’t shutting me out.
Chapter Thirty-Four
JETT
How was it that I already missed her?
I was pretty damn lucky to wake up next to Patience every morning, see Griffin before my day started, and work with the best guys on the planet. But I was also used to going straight home to them; that wouldn’t always be the case if a job took me somewhere or lasted later.
Since we hadn’t spent much time apart—even getting to see her throughout the day since we worked at the same place—I was hesitant about going out for a bite to eat and beers after work with the guys. Still, I could hardly say no.
Harland, the guy Braxton mentioned at the charity event, had flown in from California to check out the facility. They were hoping to bring him on, and after he’d checked everything out, it was looking promising.
He had a quick trip in and out, leaving the next day, but they wanted everyone to spend more time with him. With all the guys being older than me, some may have thought that I’d feel out of place, but nobody in our group treated me any differently.
I’d left at eighteen, only coming home a few times, andreturned at twenty-two. I felt older than my years and fit in great with the guys. Harland was chill and seemed like he’d fit right in too.
“I know that look,” Kace said, dragging my attention to where he sat across the table.
We’d headed over to a pub the guys all enjoyed and grabbed appetizers along with beers. Conversation flowed about the job, the area, and everyone’s families. I’d heard most of it, including how Harland grew up in California and that it was just his sister, her husband, and a niece there now. He hadn’t elaborated on family beyond that.
I wondered why he wanted to leave, but sometimes people just needed a change. That made me think of Dusty, and I couldn’t help but feel it was what she needed too. So, while I was listening, I found my mind drifting to my sweet wife who was at home.
And Kace just caught me.
Playing stupid, I asked, “What look?”
