Griffin tossed a sock at me, bringing me out of my memories. “Skye?”
I looked up from the letter. “How’d you guess?” I was surprised he didn’t think it was Ryleigh, who’d promised to write. We were six months into our AIT, Advanced Individual Training, and Skye had been more accepting of my absence now that she was a year older.
“You’re a certain way around that busybody. She makes you smile differently.” He shrugged.
I frowned, wondering how he’d come up with that. “She’s funny for a seven-year-old. Apparently, her friends think I’m hot and it makes her gag. Little shit.”
Shaking his head, he went back to attending his laundry and I continued reading.
Anyhoo, mom said I could write. It’s so cool writing letters like we’re pen pals instead of texting. So, do they like make you shoot guns and stuff? Have you killed anyone yet? I bet it was all bloody and gross. Mom asked if you’re eating enough. I told her you’re probably eating your nails if they aren’t. She says you’ll get over that dirty habit one day, maybe when you marry Ryleigh. Who’s this girl? Why didn’t we meet her yet. I told Mom nuh-huh, you love the taste of them, more than Ryleigh.
You’re not going to marry her, are you, Shay? I mean I might like her and all, but you’re supposed to have only one love in your life, and you said it was me, right?
I smiled, pretty sure she’d pouted while writing that. Skye liked my girlfriends. Usually. Until they pulled too much of my attention and she’d do silly things to sabotage my dates. One time, going so far as to cut a girl’s hair while she slept in my bed. Eventually I stopped bringing girls home just to pacify Skye. Ryleigh was someone, who although I’d dated in high school, we hadn’t made it a permanent thing which suited us both, for now. Mom met Ryleigh once while we were out grocery shopping, and she was curious why I hadn’t brought her home yet.
Mentally debating my reason, I continued reading.
I gotta go now. Freaking violin lessons. Dumb. I mean who even listens to that? Mom says its beautiful music and Dad agrees with her. I’m all alone in this sad world, I tell you. #crymeariver.
Grinning, I remembered the first time I used those words on her. She’d refused to start violin lessons a year ago and I was off to a football game. Annoyed that she wanted out and began crying, I’d called her a little whiner and said, ‘Don’t cry me a river, Skye. Put on your big-girl panties and do what Mom tells you too.’ She’d huffed and walked off, stomping her feet through the house for effect.
But I won’t cry. It doesn’t make me as sad because now I’m more afraid you might be hurt there. But Daddy says I must be positive because you’re strong and you’ll kick ass...oops I said a bad word but it’s okay, right?
I laughed.
You’re my hero, Shay. I miss you.
Aunt Sarah brought me my rose that you asked her to. Thank you for remembering.
Because of training, I missed Skye’s birthday this year and asked Aunt Sarah if she could fetch it for me.The farm where I got them, always kept one for me every year.
And if tomorrow never comes, remember, I love you lots.
Your only love...LOL
Blue
I traced a finger over the azure flowers she’d drawn below her name, her last few words making me miss her a whole lot more. With a deep inhale, I folded the letter and slid it back into the envelope.
“Can’t be that bad, bro?” I glanced up from the letter to find Griffin eyeing me with curious smile. “She’s not old enough to elope yet.” He grinned. “And if I know her well, she’ll wait for you to get home before she does just to give you more gray hairs.”
I chuckled, dropping back onto the mattress and looked out the window near my bed, Skye’s words ringing in my ears. “What if tomorrow never comes, Griff?” He walked over to my side, blocking the vision of the window and gaped down at me, his face contorted in a ‘what the fuck’ look. “What if we never wake in the morning? Or we’re injured during training?” I continued. It wasn’t an impossibility. Advanced training was tough and while care was taken, there was no guarantee our fitness level was up for the knock. Strength tests were just that, no solid confirmation. “Do you think Skye will know how much she meant to me. That I tried every day to show her just how important she was before I left.”
“You’re being a fucking ass.” He rolled his eyes. “Firstly, there’s definitely a fucking tomorrow because I got plenty shit to do when I get out of here. Hell, I haven’t even fucked a woman in the ass yet. Secondly, you’ve always put her first and I pity the fucking woman you marry. She’s going to have a hard time accepting second place to Skye.”
“You’re being melodramatic,” I scoffed.
“Am I?” he taunted. “Dude, you’ve given that girl more love than any real brother could.”
I pushed up onto an elbow. “At first it was because of a promise I made to Julie the day Skye was born. But then with each day since, it’s like I have this internal promise to myself to always be there for her.”
He frowned, lowering his butt to his bed, opposite mine. “What?”
“When Julie came into my life, I hadn’t known a mother’s love, Griff. She became everything I dreamed a mother would be.”
“Well, duh, I was there, remember,” he snorted, reminding me of the first time he met Julie. He’d called her beautiful to my annoyance which he felt in droves when I pushed him against the wall and warned him to quit looking at her.
I grinned. “Sorry, man.” He shrugged and I continued, “then I found out she was pregnant, and I wasn’t excited about the prospect of another child taking her attention. But Julie quashed every bit of hesitation I had. When Skye was born, I promised Julie I’d take care of her and I also promised to never let her find out the truth.”
