Page 98 of Wild Hearts

"This is where Dakota grew up and lived with her mother?"

I nodded miserably.

Her forehead wrinkled. "So you're worried that they'll…what? Move there?"

I swallowed hard. "Yes."

"Is that a realistic possibility?"

"I think so. He'll do anything to make his daughter happy. If she wants to move, then I have no doubt he would. He left me when he enlisted. This feels eerily similar to that. Except I didn't see the signs then."

"Are you sure it's not your past history with him that's guiding these thoughts?"

I'd been busy with my sister, but Walker and I usually texted more often. "What if he's changed his mind, and doesn't know how to tell me? He's waiting until he gets home to give me the bad news."

"Why don't you ask him?"

"I think they're on a plane now." I'd definitely thought about it, but every time my fingers touched my phone, I felt like someone who was out of control.

"You'll have to wait until they come home to ask him what's going on."

"You act like it's not a big deal."

Crystal shrugged. "If he wants to move, he'll let you know. He told you last time when he wanted to enlist. It's not like you were left in the dark and had to figure it out."

"Why are you being so pragmatic about this?"

"I only go with what I can see and what I know. Right now, you don't have all the information, so there's no point in speculating and getting upset."

"When did you get so black-and-white about relationships?" She was passionate about her job and her friends. When had I missed her approach with men?

She shrugged. "I refuse to get caught up in the relationship drama. If someone wants to be with me, he'll tell me. If not, then I'm happy with my life."

Could I be that detached? "I think that's hard to do when your heart is involved."

Crystal wagged a finger at me. "You can't let your heart get involved. That's how you get hurt."

"Then you'll never fall in love."

Crystal shrugged for a second time. "I'm happy with my life."

She was younger than me, but something about this conversation bothered me. "You're not interested in a relationship ever?"

"I don't want to get involved in anything that would distract me from what's important: work and friends. I live a full, happy life."

"Yikes. Who hurt you?" I joked, not really expecting an answer, but pain crossed over her face. Something had to have happend for her to have this closed-off view of relationships.

"If he wants to move his daughter to Virginia, couldn't you go with him? You could work your job anywhere."

"That's true, but I stayed here to be close to Mom and Dad."

"I live close. In the same state at least."

I gave her a look. "You're not exactly reliable."

"I could be if I had to be. You're the big sister. The responsible one. The one who always steps in."

Was that sarcasm? Did she not like the role I played in the family? "You would check in on Mom and Dad, call from time to time, and even visit?"

---