She didn’t laugh.
“What’s wrong?”
“I saw on the news someone got hurt and I thought it was you.”
My stomach sank. “I was there when it happened, but it wasn’t me. I’m sorry to worry you.”
She chuckled without humor. “It’s okay, part of being your friend is worrying about you and I accept that. Just make sure you have your phone on you, okay?”
“Of course, I—”
I heard someone yelling from outside the tent and it sounded vaguely like my name.
Maybe it was the commander. Maybe Bennett was worse off than he thought.
“Sorry, I have to check on something. I’ll text you, okay? Promise.”
I heard what was definitely my name and hung up the phone before poking my head out of my tent.
Chapter Eighteen
Jasper
“Wren?” I called, feeling like an idiot as I wandered through a field of near-identical tents calling her name.
A blonde head poked out from a tent ahead of me. Something settled in my chest even as my heart rate increased. I picked my way across the dry field towards her.
“Jasper, what are you doing here?” Her face went blank. “Did Kara send you to check on me?”
I shook my head. “I wanted to see you.”
Her eyes widened.
I ran my eyes over her face. She looked tired. Her eyes didn’t have that sparkle they did when we first met.
“Can I come in?” I gestured towards her tent and the corner of her lip ticked up. She waved me in. I kicked my shoes off and crawled into her space.
“So you wanted to see me?” She crossed her legs and sat facingme.
I nodded and licked my lips. “I’ve avoided relationships because I didn’t want someone waiting on me or worrying about me. I know you feel the same.” I took a breath. “Today when I heard someone was hurt where you were working, I did wait and I did worry.”
Guilt flashed across her face and I quickly continued.
“If I’m going to wait and worry about you anyway, then why should we be apart?”
“Jasper…”
I raised my hand. “I know we only met once but I had fun fighting with you. I loved talking to you because you understand this life. And the night of the wedding by the creek…” I shook my head to avoid getting lost remembering. I reached out and took her hand, noting the dirt under her nails and the scratches on her skin. “I think we should try to be more to each other than a memory.”
“You heard someone was hurt and showed up here, yelling my name and trying to find me.” Her eyes looked sad as she held mine. “That’s why this doesn’t work. That’s why this has never worked.”
I nodded. “I knew that when I came here. I had to see you and talk to you about all this face to face. But if you agree that I’m yours and you’re mine, then things would be different.”
“How?” she sounded exasperated.
“I can’t promise that I won’t want to track you down from time to time. But I can promise I’d respect what you do enough to give you space to do it.”
Her face softened and my heart buoyed at the possibility that my half-baked plan may have worked.
