Page 17 of Stone

With a sob, I flew into them. “I’m sorry.” I hiccoughed through my tears. “It’s just a lot.”

Her fingers rubbed my back soothingly. “I know. The same happened to me. Donny married me then enlisted, except he went to a warzone. At least it’s peacetime, and John won’t be in any danger.” She pulled back lightly and took my face in her hands. “Still, I know what you’re feeling because I felt it too, but these Stone men are so pigheaded, you have to let them go if you want to keep them. John would stay for you, Elise, but a part of him would probably resent you for it.”

“I know,” I whispered. “I’m being selfish.”

“No, you’re not,” Connie assured me. “If you were selfish, you’d be crying on John’s shoulder now instead of mine. You’re allowed to have feelings. You’re even allowed to hate what he’s doing underneath all the bravado. But to his face, you smile,because if John goes away worrying about you, he won’t be taking care of himself, and neither of us wants that.”

Sniffing back my tears, I pulled my shoulders back determinedly. “I know. I’m okay. Today was the first day it all became real.”

“If it’s any consolation, I don’t want him to go, either.” Connie smiled. “But you’re in a better position than I was, Elise, because you’ve got something I never had when Bandit enlisted, and that’s me and the club. John told me about your college plans, and I think you’re doing the right thing by studying. It’ll help the time pass, but never forget we’re here if you need us.”

My heart squeezed as awareness washed over me.

John’s mom was right. I was in a much better position than a lot of women whose men enlisted. I had the support of our families and our friends.

Hambleton was a place where everybody knew each other’s business. Granted, it could be annoying, but people also cared about each other, and I knew they’d rally. It was time to stop moping and start looking to the future. Three years seemed like a lifetime, but it wasn’t like I wouldn’t see John at all in that time. He’d be home on leave, and depending on where he was stationed, I may be able to visit him on weekends.

Connie studied my expression. “There, at last, you’re getting it. Let him go into the world and achieve what he needs; he’ll come back, and until he does, we’ve got you, Elise.”

For the first time that day, the nerves in my stomach settled.

I’d been looking at it all wrong. John leaving didn’t mean I’d lose him. Maybe it was the first step we needed to take to be together. Three years would drag, but it was just a moment in time, and I could use it to grow as a person.

The fact was, John felt he had to do this to become the man he needed to be. And, as the woman who loved him more thananything else in the world, I decided from then on I would want it for him, too.

Chapter Four

Stone

“Fuck me,” Abe muttered. He sat on the barrel next to me, looking across the room at Cue Ball, who was barking out the lyrics to ‘Light My Fire’ by the Doors. “It’s like listening to a goddamned catfight.”

I pointed the beer bottle toward the corner where two other brothers were squaring up to each other. “And it seems it’s not just the cats fightin’.”

Abe grimaced. “They better not start their shit. Iris is due to turn up any second. Bandit invited her over ‘cause your girl and Connie are here tonight for your birthday.”

I eyed another corner where one of the whores was on her knees, taking turns to suck two brothers off while the men gathered around cheering her on. “Elise will run the fuck outta here screamin’. Probably dump me soon after.”

Abe’s lips twitched. “They’ll start behavin’ when your ma walks in.”

I picked at the label on my beer bottle, brain ticking over in thought. “How did Iris cope with all this bullshit when you started bringing her around?”

“I made sure to explain’ everythin’ beforehand,” he stated. “Didn’t let my woman walk in blind. She was shocked at first and worried about me taking up with one of the girls when she wasn’t here, but I put her mind at rest. There’s no woman on this earth for me but her.” He gave me a gentle nudge. “You did tell Elise what to expect, right?”

Wincing slightly, I nodded. “Yeah, but I don’t think she got it entirely. I said things got sexual, but I didn’t go into detail.”

“Jesus, John. She’s as innocent as a fairy shitting rainbows. You should’ve laid it out for her.”

I scrubbed a hand down my face. “Yeah. I know, but she’s so shy and gets embarrassed really easily. I didn’t wanna scare her off.”

“Pretty sure she’ll be more embarrassed when she walks in on Mary Lou over there with two dicks down her damned throat,” Abe retorted. “You’re a good fella, John, but you gone fucked up this time.”

“Not sure Leesy even knows what a blow job is,” I muttered.

Abe barked a laugh. “Poor girl will be in for a night of discovery then, ‘cause Mary Lou can take two dicks in way more places than just her throat, and the bitch ain’t private about it.”

“Fuck!” I groaned.

“Yep,” Abe muttered, taking a swig of his beer. “That’s exactly right—”

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