Page 118 of Forever Fascinating

Reaching across the table to take his other hand, she felt like she needed to explain her reasoning. He was making friends in Ghazni, and she was urging him to start over somewhere else – again.

“If you select Ghazni, then we must exist like we are now… traveling to see each other while you are still in a dangerous part of the world. I need you safe, Matthew,” she urged firmly, squeezing his hands gently.

“We can deal with the change in pay and the long wait for base housing. I can look at getting a license in another state or find a job doing something else… or we can even rent a place in the meantime. Wherever we go, we can figure it out together, okay?”

“Are you sure?” he asked quietly, looking at her. “I would never demand that you give up…”

“I know you wouldn’t, but we are a team,” she smiled tearfully. “It’s you and me, mister. For better or worse, it’s us, together – and I really need that ‘together’part a lot more than hanging onto four walls and a memory. I need my husband, my soulmate.”

He pulled his hands away from her at hearing her words, and put his face down in his hands, completely silent, just sitting there, his shoulders slumped, looking completely defeated and lost.

Jana got up and moved to his side where he was sitting, urging him to turn towards her, before she realized that he was truly shaken as he buried his head against her middle, hugging her.

“Did you really think I would not choose you?” she whispered, stunned, as she ran her fingers through his hair. “I love you and would choose you every single time.”

“I don’t think I will ever deserve you,” he breathed openly, his voice muffled against her… only to feel his hand suddenly on the back of her leg, under her dress. She burst out laughing – seeing him look up at her, smiling tearfully in relief.

“Have I mentioned that I’m a weak and horrible man?” he uttered softly. “I would choose you every time too, because I can’t live without your smile much longer. I felt like a part of me was gone, the moment your plane left in Iceland… and I’m so tired of saying goodbye, when all I really want to do is sayhelloproperly to my wife.”

His hand slid slowly upwards suggestively, tickling the back of her leg just above her knee.

“Well,” she whispered emphatically, rolling her eyes playfully. “Now that we’ve got all the stress and drama out of the way – what do you say that we go have some fun? Have I mentioned that I love my husband…”

“You might have mentioned it,” he teased, rising to his feet before her. “But he’s a hard-headed, insecure fool who needs it reinforced often.”

“Oh really?”

“Yep. In fact, I think you should send me to my room… cause I’m having all sorts of inappropriate thoughts about you right now,” he smiled flirtatiously, before leaning in to kiss her tenderly, hesitating just above her lips. “Yeah, you should definitely send me to my room, my love.”

“Go to your...” she began, only to start laughing as he picked her up, wrapping her legs around his waist, frantically carrying her down the hallway like a panicked man being chased, causing her to be jostled. His footsteps sounded like a herd of elephants, echoing in the house… just before he put her down on the bed.

“I love you,” he said tenderly, gazing at her.

“Welcome home, Vapor…”

EPILOGUE

JANA

Three years later…

* * *

Hey X-Ray,

I don’t know how you did it – but thank you for coming through for me again, my friend. You have excellent timing! I appreciate the gift so much, and it’s perfect for our trip. We just got in town, and if I know my brother? He’s going to insist on opening gifts tonight. I’ll take plenty of photos so you can see.

What did Emily say? I appreciate you both listening when I called, because I was panicking and needed to talk to someone who could talk me down off the ledge, you know?

You two are really the best – and we adore you both so much.

Come visit, you are always welcome, my friend.

Love,

Jana and Vapor

* * *

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