Page 179 of Sloane

“Travis turned the dining room at the beach house into a physical therapy room-slash-gym.”

“We do use our dining room. We’re actually eating in there tonight.”

“Thank you again for the invitation.”

“My pleasure. I’m glad to see you and Sloane spending time together again. He really loves Millie—and you.”

I smiled when I wistfully replied, “We love him, too.”

“And you’ve worked at the VA, so you have an idea of what it’s like to be in a relationship with someone in the military.”

“That’s not really the same.”

“Well, I’m sure you guys will figure it out. Hopefully, he’ll be able to stay stateside, at least for a while.”

“I wish he’d take the medical retirement.”

She cocked her head.

“I didn’t know that was an option for him.”

Oh shit.

“I—I thought you knew. I didn’t mean to talk out of turn. Please don’t tell him I told you that. That’s not my story to share. I never would have said anything if I thought you didn’t know.”

“My lips are sealed.”

God, I hoped I could trust her. I didn’t want to upset Sloane already; we were barely three hours into our truce.

****

Sloane

My friends waited until Ashley was done feeding Millie before preparing the food for the table.

“What can I do to help?” she asked after putting our baby girl who was in a milk-induced coma back into her car seat.

“Absolutely nothing,” Grace said as she filled two serving bowls with mashed potatoes.

“I feel like a free loader. I didn’t even bring anything.”

“You brought Millie,” Ryan chimed in.

“I brought a dessert and rolls, babe,” I murmured in her ear. “I got us covered.”

“They were store bought, weren’t they?”

I knew she was trying to shame me for that, but it wasn’t going to work.

“Of course,” I replied with a proud grin.

“Honestly,” Maddie said as she backed out of the kitchen with two bowls in her hand. “We prefer he bring things store-bought.”

Ashley called out to Maddie, “I promise next time, I’ll bring something homemade.”

I liked that she was planning on there being a next time.

We were in good spirits as we sat down, and Grace suggested we go around and say what we were thankful for.

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