Page 34 of Mending Me

“I didn’t think it was my place. He didn’t seem to want to talk about them so I just pretended not to notice. At least, I tried to pretend.”

“Do you think they’re from his time in the service?”

“I’m not sure. But Ophie, they were big and they felt…deep.” I couldn’t imagine what he had gone through to gain his scars. Just the thought of it made me sick to my stomach. The thought of anyone hurting a man like Hank so much to where they would leave marks like that made me so angry I could feel my insides getting hot.

“You like him.” She gave me a confident stare, dropping her chin and looking at me over the bridge of her nose.

“I—yeah, I do. He makes me feel safe and like I can trust him.” Before saying them, I hadn’t realized just how true my words felt.

“Then I think you should be honest with him, sweetie. Maybe, if you’re comfortable, if you share a piece of yourself with him, he’ll do the same. It sounds like you both have stories. Maybe if you share yours, he will be brave enough to share his.”

I looked at my friend who had never been one to share more than her physical self with a man in total shock. As her words sunk in, I knew she was probably right. Maybe if I shared more of my story with him, he would feel comfortable to do the same. I reached across the couch and pulled Ophelia into a hug.

“I think that’s a great idea, Ophie. Thanks for talking.”

“I am always here for you, B. Hank seems like a good guy and I love how happy he seems to make you.” She pulled away and placed both her hands on my shoulders, looking at me with a smile. “And just so you know, you can always find a stash of condoms in my bedside table in case you sneak the sexy soldier back into the condo late at night again. What’s mine is yours.”

I pushed her away from me and we both burst into a fit of laughter.

A few hoursand multiple job applications later, I was lying on the couch reading a new trashy romance novel I had swiped from Ophie’s bookshelf when my phone buzzed on the coffee table. I reached for it, reading the clock on the wall as I did. Without realizing it, it was already five thirty. I swiped my thumb across the screen and checked my messages.

1 New Message: Soldier

Hey blondie.

I smiled at his text, loving how he always called me that.

Hey soldier.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you today. I’m lucky my boss is also my best friend because after getting in late and then only doing about half of what I needed to do today, any other boss would have fired me.

The thought of him sitting at work thinking about me made my cheeks warm. If I was honest, I hadn’t really stopped thinking about him either.

The feeling is mutual.

I want to see you again. Would you make me a lucky man and let me take you to dinner this Saturday? I found somewhere new on the water that I think you’ll love.

How do you know I’ll love it?

Call it a feeling.

Someone’s feeling confident *wink emoji*

I would love to go to dinner on Saturday.

I’ll pick you up around five if that’s okay?

I’ll see you then.

I can’t wait.

20

HANK

“Hey, thanks again for hookin’ me up, Kolb. I wouldn’t be able to do what I have planned for Bailey if it weren’t for you since I can’t take my bike.” I slapped my best friend on the shoulder as I stood next to the all black Ford Bronco he was letting me borrow for the night.

“It’s no problem. But, just so you know, it’s a company car, so don’t have sex in it or anything please. We use this to transport high-security clients around the city when they don’t want to use the sedans.” He laughed as he said it and I rolled my eyes. I had no plans of having sex in the company car. He grabbed my chin and moved it back and forth as if I was a child. “I love seeing our little Hanky boy all mushy over a girl.”

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