Page 164 of Sloane
“Why?”
“It’s structured and reinforces the Marine mindset. Being part of the regiment will get me ready to serve again faster.”
“When did you decide this?”
“This afternoon.”
This afternoon.
How convenient.
I wanted to yell at him. Don’t you think we should have talked about this? Things aren’t just about you anymore! You have a daughter to consider now! Stop being such a fucking baby. So, I called Jeff before you, it wasn’t personal—I was being practical.
But instead, I simply said, “I see,” but he could tell I was fuming by my glare.
And he didn’t seem to care.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Sloane
As I emptied my dresser drawers into a suitcase that night, I thought about pulling out the box Colonel Swartz had delivered to me in San Antonio. The one with her letters.
I wanted to see if I could still smell her perfume.
Just as I was about to take it out of the closet, my phone dinged with an incoming text.
Ashley: Do you have a minute?
I glanced at the time. This normally would have been when she came downstairs to slip into my room and onto my cock. Was that what she wanted? One last bang?
I mean, it wasn’t like I’d say no.
Me: Of course.
I thought about making a hip flexor joke, but decided to wait and see what her demeanor was like when she came downstairs. She’d been pretty pissed at dinner.
I didn’t have to wait long until there was a light knock on my door. I softly called, “Come in,” then sent up a silent prayer that she was in her short black silk robe when she came through the door.
No such luck. She had on a pair of grey gym shorts and an oversized teal t-shirt that said in bold black letters, “If at first you don’t succeed… try doing what your physical therapist told you to do the first time”.
Her hair was pulled away from her face with a headband, and she had no makeup on, like she’d just washed her face.
I looked at her with furrowed brows.
“I thought you had your birthmark removed?”
“No. That’s just makeup,” she pointed to her face. “Obviously. Funny story. That’s how I found out I was pregnant; they had me take a test when I went to my consultation appointment.”
So, she hadn’t gone through with it. Seeing her with her birthmark on display took me back to when I’d first laid eyes on her and knew I was in love.
“I’m sorry again about not responding to your letter telling me about Millie.”
“It’s water under the bridge. I’ve already forgiven you for that. But what I need to know right now is what your intentions are going forward.”
“What do you mean?”
“About your daughter. Do you even want to see her? Be a part of her life?”
