Page 27 of Unsteady in Love

For the past few days,I’d done nothing but try to train Atticus and failed. I’d bought a couple of videos to help me train him, but with my concussion, I couldn’t watch them to learn what to do. Besides my failed attempt at dog training, I stared out the windows. I loved my view, but it did nothing to make me forget that Holden was out there fighting for our country, and there was a chance that he might not ever make it home to me.

Atticus was curled up against my side. He’d been dozing since our last round of ‘sit’ when my phone rang. Atticus’ head lifted and his ears perked up. I smiled when I saw Alex’s name flash across my screen.

“Hey,” I answered.

“Hey, Prue. How are you?”

“Better but bored out of my mind. I can’t even read.”

“Really? What kind of bullshit is that?” She laughed.

I couldn’t help but laugh with her. “Concussion bullshit. I doubt you’re doing much reading right now.”

She hummed. “You’re right. I don’t know how I’m ever going to leave here. Mason and I visit the beach almost every day, and I’m in love. Once we get married in August, how will I ever want to leave?”

“I’m sure Luke will convince you with a honeymoon. Do you know where you’re going yet?”

“No.” She laughed again. “He’s keeping it a secret. I think he’s enjoying me trying to get it out of him.”

“I’m sure.”

“Are you okay, hun? You sound kind of down,” she asked, concerned.

“I’m waiting to hear from Holden. It’s hard.” I sighed, tears building.

“I know it is, but eventually he’ll be home and with you.”

“I guess you sort of know what I’m going through.”

“Sort of. I mean, I couldn’t always talk to Luke whenever I wanted to, but I didn’t have worry for his safety either. It will make it all the more special when Holden finally gets home.”

I let out a deep sigh. “I feel like I just got him back, and at any moment, he could be taken from me. How is that fair? I can’t lose him again.”

“It’s not fair, but you know life’s not fair. If it were, Holden never would have left you. Sometimes we have to go through hell to get our happily ever afters.” Truer words had never been spoken.

“You’d know that better than anyone after what your ex put you through.” I shook my head. There were so many times I’d wanted to call the police on that asshole, but I knew that if I ever did, he’d make her life even more miserable.

One night, Alex had confided in me that she thought Luke had paid off Decker, her ex. One day, he just stopped being such a prick to her and seemed to try to be a better father to Mason. When I asked if she’d questioned Luke, she only shook her head.

“If all our lives were always easy, then we’d never know how good we had it when it was. Does that make sense?”

“It makes perfect sense. I just worry. Sometimes the tone in Holden’s letters and when we Skype—”

“I can’t imagine,” she interrupted as if she knew how hard it was for me to think about it. “It has to be hard for him to be over there. For all of them, and the things they see. He’ll probably have some form of post-traumatic stress when he’s done.”

“I think he already does. Sometimes his eyes look so haunted. It scares me. I’ve tried to get him to talk to me, but he refuses.”

“Probably because he doesn’t want you to worry.”

“Too late,” I laughed with a bite to it. “I already do. If I would have known where he was this whole time, all of my hair would be gray.”

“Before you know it, he’ll be home. You just wait and see.” I could hear the smile in her voice.

“What’s the best part of finally being able to be in the same place as Luke?” I was curious, but I also wanted to stop talking about my problems.

“Oh, that’s easy. The best part is getting to wake up and fall asleep with Luke every day. I made him promise me to always wake me up no matter the time, and he does. Even if it’s just to say goodnight. It’s priceless, and I know you’ll have that one day too.”

“I certainly hope so. Thank you for calling me and getting my mind offeverything. Atticus sleeps like twenty hours a day.”

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