Rob had known this was going to be an uphill battle, but he had hoped she wouldn’t be so damn stubborn about talking to him.“Look, I know I hurt you.I fucked up.I’m trying to explain myself.Please meet me in the middle.If after you’ve heard me out, you still want me to leave, you’ll never see me again.But please, just give me a few minutes to explain.”
Chapter 32
June stood in silence a moment, debating with herself about giving Rob a chance to explain.She hated to admit she was curious about the reason for his disappearance, but at the same time, his reappearance was like tearing open an old wound.She still hadn’t fully recovered from his callous silence to her, and now he’d just popped in like no time had passed at all.
Though he did look a little worse for wear.His hair was in disarray, and he looked tired and haggard.
She knew what Casey and Karla would say.Don’t give him a chance to spill more lies just to get back into her good graces.Sue would tell her to hear him out.
What did she have to lose?
She could listen to his ‘explanation’ and send him packing.It’s not like there was any excuse for not talking to her for three weeks.
“We’ll go to your place.”It was further away, but that way it would be easier to walk away than try to kick him out of her house.She didn’t want him in her home right now either.The memory of the last time they were together there was still too fresh.
“Alright, I’ll meet you there.Thank you,” he added, looking relieved.
“I’m just listening to what you have to say.It doesn’t change anything between us.Things are over.”The words hurt to come out, but she had to make him know his explanation wouldn’t change anything.She couldn’t survive another heartbreak.
Rob nodded solemnly and stepped away from her car so she could get in it.“I’ll abide by whatever you decide.”
June didn’t say anything as she got in her car.Her mind was in turmoil as she drove to Rob’s house.Part of her was glad he was back, and another part felt angry and confused.She hoped his explanation gave her some sort of closure to their relationship.
Although June couldn’t let it sway her into giving him another chance.It didn’t matter that she still had feelings for him.He had shattered her heart and broken her trust.That wasn’t something she could easily forgive.
“Alright, what’s you’re reasoning for leaving me after we made love and not talking to me until now?”June asked without preamble once they were in the house.
“Do you want to sit down first?”Rob questioned from the doorway, just closing the front door.
“No, you said you were going to tell me the truth.I’m waiting.”June didn’t want to be here any longer than necessary.She also didn’t want herself getting too comfortable because she didn’t plan to stay long.It was the only way to protect her heart from further breaking.
Rob wrung his hands together as he walked further into the room.June had never seen him so nervous before.
“Rob?”For the first time since seeing him again, she felt hesitant.“Are you alright?It’s nothing bad, is it?”She hoped she wasn’t being a bitch when a family member was dying or something.
Rob shook his head.“It’s not bad, but I’ve never told anyone before, so I just don’t know how to begin.”
That wasn’t reassuring.“You don’t do anything illegal, do you?”That could be a reason she hadn’t considered until now why he was out of town.
Her brother would not be happy with her for dating a criminal.Nor did she want to date one.June had a hard time picturing Rob as a bad guy.
The corner of Rob’s lip twitched like he was trying not to laugh at the suggestion.“No, I don’t do anything illegal, but it is secret.”
She remembered his words in the parking lot.Top secret.Only military people used lingo like that.But he was out of the military, wasn’t he?
“You still work for the military, don’t you?”She didn’t understand how.He should be considered a disabled veteran.
Rob’s head whipped up, and he stared at her wide-eyed that she had guessed so easily, but it made sense.The secrets and avoidance of answers.It was just like her brother, but Rob couldn’t be a Delta, so what was he?
“You know I was in Special Forces before my accident.”
“Yeah…” A highly decorated one too by his shadow box on the wall at the entrance of the house.She had dumbed down how much she knew about his medals, but she understood what they all were.
“After the explosion, I was medically separated, and I lost my way for a bit.I had never planned on anything outside of a military life.”June could understand that.He had planned to make a career out of the military, but the explosion put a halt to that.
“I went to a place in Washington where a lot of veterans hang out for second chances.It’s a bar run by a veteran and employed by veterans.He even has cabins on his property for people who just need a place to hang their hats until they figure out their next move.While I was there, a man contacted me about an opportunity for a second chance at serving my country.I was skeptical at first, but met with him.He was forming a team of military veterans who still had a lot to give their country but could no longer serve as active duty.”
“Your friends, they are also part of this team.”
