“Heard from Devon lately?”
“Yeah,” she admits. “He writes me back. I got a letter this morning.”
“When are you going to tell him that it’s you who has been writing him all this time?”
I can picture her chewing on her bottom lip as silence stretches between us.
“I’ll tell you what,” she says finally. “You take the leap with your man, and I’ll write to Devon and tell him it’s me who’s been his pen pal all these years.”
It’s hard to say no to that offer. Suri has been in love with Devon since we were kids, but he never seemed to notice her. He never seemed to notice anyone. When he joined the military, Suri started writing to him, but she never once told him her name. He’s been asking her for it since the beginning, but she was too chicken to make a move. This could be my way to get her to do it.
Devon and Suri would be perfect together. She’s never looked at another man, and I know from our social media stalking that he’s always been single. I think they’re both in love with each other, but they’ll never get together if Suri doesn’t confess that she’s the one writing the letters.
Can I do this?
I would do anything for Suri, anything to make her happy. That’s all I want for her.
I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ll think about it.”
“Good.”
The music in the background starts again as my roommates finish their sexcapades in the room next door.
I groan. “I’ve got to go study.”
“Yeah, I’ll talk to you later. Night.”
“Night, Suri. Love you.”
“Love you more.”
We hang up, and I toss my phone aside. I can hear Cathy and Terry moving around in the kitchen, and when she giggles, I grab my headphones and hit play on my phone. Calmingmusic fills my ears, and I force myself to read the chapter for tomorrow’s test.
I only last twenty minutes before thoughts of Grant replace the medical terms. I groan and close my eyes to recenter myself so I can focus on studying.
It doesn’t work.
FIVE
Grant
I’m parkedoutside of Rowan’s apartment before the sun has even risen the next morning. I didn’t think to ask when her class was and didn’t want to risk missing her. I don’t like the area she lives in, and I hate the thought of her standing alone in the dark at the bus stop, waiting for her ride.
Sipping my coffee, I scan the street and peek up at her building. The lights are off except for one room, and I know in my gut it’s her bedroom. A shadow passes in front of the window, and my heart beats harder in my chest.
The sun rises, but I don’t bother taking in the view. All I care about is seeing my girl again. I’ve been walking around in a daze since I dropped her off last night. It’s like I’m not whole if I’m not near her.
This is crazy. I know the chances of Rowan marrying me are slim to none. I mean, she’s a brilliant woman. Even if she did feel this thing between us like I do, she seems too rational to act spontaneously.
Which is why I stayed up all night making a new plan. My goal now is to get her to go out with me. I’ll win her over, and maybe we’ll be solid before I’m cleared for active duty.
The front door of her apartment bursts open, and my girl comes rushing out in a hurry, her backpack slipping off her shoulder as she bounds down the stairs.
“No, no, no!” she shouts.
I follow her gaze to see the bus pulling away from the curb.
“Dammit,” she growls.
