Page 1 of Coming for His Second Chance
Chapter 1
Kaitlyn
I'm not the head home to spend Christmas with my family type. Mostly because, my stepsister, Linda, is horrible; the kind to sleep with the guy you like just because she can type of horrible. And my stepmom is just as bad. I know that sounds like some princess fairytale, but it's true.
They make my dad happy, so that's all that counts. But me? I was on the first train out of Bonnetville, Kentucky the first chance I got, and that was the second I could move into my college dorm early.
Bonnetville is a tiny town just outside the Fort Knox Army base, and it's mostly military. So, knowing all this you might ask, why am I driving home for Christmas for the first time in seven years?
It's not for the hot military guys, even though, I wish it was. No. My best friend is getting married on Christmas Eve. It's such a small-town, and everyone knows I'm the maid of honor, so there was no escaping a family Christmas this year. My dad is over the moon, and it makes me feel just a tad bit guilty about avoiding coming home for the last seven years.
Don’t get me wrong, my dad comes and visits me. Once, he even did a family vacation in Savannah, Georgia near where I live now. It didn’t end well with my step sister almost getting arrested. Since then, he’s visited on his own.
When Lexi calls, I'm saved from the guilt. She's a good friend, and also, my boss at Oakside Military Rehab Home, where I’m a nurse. We help men and women who have been injured in the line of duty heal, and then transition to the civilian world.
"Whatcha doing?" Lexi singsongs, when I answer.
Lexi has a happy-go-lucky bubbly personality. Of course, I think anyone would with a husband like hers. Noah treats her like gold.
"Heading to see my dad at work and have lunch with him," I say.
"And avoid the step monster, tell the truth," Lexi says.
"That’s always the truth. Linda's kid cries constantly, and he’s either ignored or spoiled, and it's stressful. They’re the reason I rented the cabin on the river."
My stepsister still lives at home at the age of twenty-four, after getting knocked up and not knowing who the father is. She expects everyone around her to take care of the kid, and I don't want any part of that.
"So, your dad works on base?" Lexi asks.
"Yeah. He's a civilian contractor. He has been my whole life," I say.
"Then, you grew up around all those hunky Army men." Lexi sighs, and I know where she’s going with this.
"Oh, look at that. Here I am. Sorry, I’ve got to go," I say.
Lexi laughs, and we say our goodbyes. I stare up at the building that holds my dad's office. The same building he's worked at for the last twenty-five years.
I get out of my car and start making my way inside, when someone calls my name. Turning around, the only person I see is a guy that’s all muscles and tattoos. I'd say he's Army, but he's not in uniform. Maybe, he’s prior Army, but I don't recognize him.
"Yes?" I ask.
He smiles and walks towards me. He isn't in uniform, but this man striding to me is tall and built, so there’s no mistaking he'sArmy, just by the way he’s walking. Once he's in front of me, I get a better look at him.
Holy Shit.
There’s no way this is Grayson, only it is. He's the guy I had just started dating, when my stepsister slept with him. A week later, I was heading out of town early to go to school, and he left on deployment shortly after.
When he got back from deployment, he reached out to me on social media. I came to find out that Linda had lied to me. Because Grayson and his unit were on lockdown prior to his deployment, due to their top-secret mission, I was unable to find out the truth. Plus, with no visitors, there was no way for them to get together. But by then, I was in a relationship.
His words still haunt me to this day.
‘I never touched your sister. I've always only ever wanted you.’
Those words made me start doubting everything, including the relationship I was in. Though, I never reached back out to Grayson after that. I didn't think he'd still be here and was sure he'd have been shipped off to another base by now.
It's been seven years. How is he still here? So many questions run through my head, but he beats me to the punch.
"What are you doing here?" He asks, his green eyes sparkling with the smile that’s on his face.
