Worth The Wait (A Military Romance Book 2)

by Phoebe Winters

  As if being chastised by her master, Jessica straightened her shoulders and nodded swiftly then her and her clique walked away. Amy tried to control the suffocating feeling she had but it was no use. Her throat had clogged, and her stomach tightened.

  “Wow, that was really interesting,” she said.

  “I had no idea she would be here.”

  “Neither did I,” Caleb said for clarification.

  Amy’s throat was still tight. “Does that matter,” she said to Luke holding her voice steady. Amy didn’t want to get loud or cause a scene in the pizzeria, but she was steaming.

  “So that’s who you’ve been talking to?”

  Luke sighed. “Sweetheart.”

  “Answer my question Luke.” Her tone was no-nonsense.

  “Yes,” he stated.

  Amy nodded. “Okay.” She looked over at Erin then to Caleb then back to Erin who both held empathy in their eyes. “I guess that’s that. If you’ll excuse me, I’ve just lost my appetite.”

  Amy rose to her feet and Luke’s heart tugged in his chest.

  “Please don’t leave,” he said standing up right behind her.

  “Amy,” Erin said also trying to stop her.

  Without another word, Amy tucked her purse under her arm and turned around then left the restaurant.

  The doorbell jingled when she stepped out and only stillness lingered in the night air. With her exit she inhaled a deep breath needing to steady herself since her nerves were on edge. She took a few steps and leaned against the brick building just as the doorbell jingled beside her.

  Luke sailed out, a man on a mission; his brawny arms and muscular physique unhidden behind the Ralph Lauren shirt he wore. Quickly, he glanced to the side and saw Amy then strolled over to block her view of the street.

  “Let’s talk about it,” he said.

  “What is there to talk about, Luke? I mean, I honestly have nothing to say.”

  “Please don’t do this.”

  “Don’t do this? Me?” she pointed to herself. “What about you, Luke? Did you ever think one time that what you’ve done could hurt me?”

  “It’s not like I cheated on you with her.”

  Amy stared at him for a long stretch of a moment. “You did,” she said.

  “Don’t be so dramatic.”

  Amy had to laugh to keep from crying. “Don’t be so dramatic he says.” She licked her lips and swept a strand of hair out of her face that had fallen from her makeshift ponytail. “You know what, you’re right. That’s why I left. Didn’t want to be a drama queen. So, why are you out here? I’m trying to clear my head.”

  “Look, I’m sorry this happened. I’ve apologized over and over. I thought you forgave me.”

  “Get out of my face, Luke.”

  Luke’s eyes widened. “What?”

  “Get out of my face before I scream bloody murder because you know damn well if I had known you were talking to Jessica James, this conversation would’ve gone differently. Now get out of my face!”

  Luke shut his mouth and gritted his teeth. He let out a frustrated breath.

  “I’m not leaving you out here on the sidewalk.”

  “Why? I’ve been taking care of myself for six years, while Jessica James has ‘been there for you when you needed her,’” Amy rolled her eyes, “give me a fucking break.”

  “What do I need to do to make this right?” He stepped closer to her. “Amy.”

  “Don’t,” she said holding her hands up. “Don’t touch me.”

  “Amy…”

  “You know, I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. If I had of known you needed me, I would’ve been, but now I have the pleasure of having one of the town’s most bitchiest bitches flaunt in my face that she was there for my man when I wasn’t.” Amy shook her head. “How could you? Huh? Better yet, put yourself in my shoes—”

  “I already have okay!” Luke tossed his arms up and his outburst took Amy by surprise. She rolled her eyes again as anger seeped into her bones.

  “I know I fucked up, but Amy, you gotta tell me what I can do to fix this.”

  “Honestly, Luke, I don’t know if there is anything you can do.”

  “Then how do we move past it?”

  “Maybe we don’t.”

  They both quieted down and the silence around them grew larger.

  “You can’t be saying what I think you’re saying.”

  “That really depends on what you think I’m saying. So instead of guessing I’ll just say it. We shouldn’t be together.”

  Silence engulfed them again and Luke’s eyes widened.

  “Don’t do this.”

  “I didn’t do anything, Luke. You did. I loved you. I trusted you, and you betrayed me. I don’t know if I can get over it. I don’t know if I could ever trust you again. Who’s to say now that you’re back in town you won’t sleep with her.”

  “Amy you know me better than that. I can’t even believe you’re bringing this up.”

  “You can’t?”

  “Well I couldn’t believe you were having an affair behind my back.”

  “This hardly constitutes as an affair. Jesus, Amy.”

  “What, just because it wasn’t physical means it’s not an affair? Newsflash Luke, people have emotional affairs all the time. You think I didn’t see the way she calmed down and melted instantly when you called her name. She was quick to obey you and why?” Amy held her hand up to stop Luke from responding. “That was rhetorical, I already know why, because she’s actually in love with you.” Amy shook her head in disgust. “What’s worse, you’re going to sit up here and act like you don’t know it.”

  “I’m in love with you,” he said.

  It made her go silent and drop her face to the ground. Her body shook with sorrow and a tear slipped from her eye. “Damnit to hell,” she murmured upset that she’d shown her vulnerability. “You say you love me but—”

  “I fucked up! I know it, but please, baby…” Luke sank down to the ground, his knees hitting the payment with a thud. He didn’t even flinch. “Don’t do this to us. We can work through this. If we were married, you wouldn’t be able to give up this easy. We would have to figure out a way to get past our problems.” He grabbed her hands and linked their fingers. “Together.”

  Amy stared down at his pleading gaze; her heart ricocheted against her breastbone. “But we’re not married, and since you’ve shown you can’t be faithful, marriage is not an option for us.”

  It was a stab in his chest with the sharpest knife she could muster.

  “I’m leaving now, please don’t follow me.”

  Amy sidestepped him and went back inside the pizzeria. Feeling lost, Luke tried to figure out what had just happened. They’d made up and been in a good place, then in walks Jessica, again, for the second day in a row. He never imagined she would be a thorn in his side and he regretted every phone call he’d made to her. But there was something else that bugged him. Amy didn’t understand his plight. She wasn’t there and didn’t know the things he’d witnessed and been privy to. If it were not for Jessica, on those rare occasions, he could’ve possibly lost his mind.

  Being linked to someone outside his setting was calming for his spirit, but Amy didn’t know, and he didn’t feel he could tell her that. It wouldn’t make things better but only hurt her more. Now, he was trying to figure out if there were a way out of this. He couldn’t lose her. He wouldn’t. Rising to his feet, Luke marched back to the door when it opened, and Jessica walked out bumping into him.

  “There you are,” she said, an easy smile growing on her face.

  Annoyed he lashed out. “Don’t you have something else to do than stalk me?”

  Jessica jerked backward. “Excuse me,” she said incredulously.

  “I think you heard me.”

  “Oh, I get it. Now that you’re back home, you don’t need me anymore. It was okay while you were overseas, but now, I’m stalking you?”

  Luke couldn’t seem to catch a b
reak.

  “Jessica, you knew from the beginning we were only friends. I have no desire to be with you. I’m with Amy. I don’t understand the confusion.”

  Even though it hurt her feelings, Jessica didn’t show it. Besides, she could have any man she wanted, even Erin’s man although Erin thought Caleb was safe.

  “Okay, I never said otherwise, but here I am the one to lash out on when all I’ve done is be there for you.”

  “You’re right and I appreciated you, but you should’ve given me the chance to contact you. Showing up the way you did at the airport was an ambush and I have the feeling you showing up here was no coincidence. I don’t know what you’re doing, or what kind of games you’re playing, but consider me a disengaged player. I don’t need your friendship anymore.”

  Luke gritted his teeth and retracted. “I didn’t mean for that to come out so cruel, but Jessica, cut me some slack. I can’t be your friend anymore. I was wrong for befriending you in the first place. I’m sorry. I know you may feel like I used you, but I want you to know that I didn’t. I genuinely cared about our friendship, but some things aren’t meant to go past a season, and ours has ended.”

  Jessica folded her arms and leaned into her hip just as the door chimed again. Erin, Amy, and Caleb walked out. They all glanced over at Luke and Jessica.

  “Luke I’m going to take Amy home,” Erin said still uncertain about whatever was going on between Luke and Jessica.

  Luke reached out to Amy, but she moved out of his reach and continued across the street to the parking lot. Erin followed her, but Caleb lagged watching Luke observe Amy’s disappearing form.

  “You good brother?” Caleb asked.

  Luke wished he could say he was, but truth be told, he wasn’t. Not even close.

  9

  Three days later

  Whoever was knocking on Amy’s door would not go away, but she couldn’t be deterred. Her stance was clear; Amy didn’t want to be bothered and no one could force her to mingle with the outside world. But whomever it was on the other side of that barrier was not going away and Amy had a mind to call the police. Seconds turned into minutes, when the knocking finally stopped. In the bed with the covers over her head, Amy breathed out a sigh, surprised and content that the person had gone away. But when her doorknob turned, and someone entered she knew it was one of two people, her uncle Charley or Erin. They were the only two people with an emergency key.

  “Hello, Amy?”

  It was Erin, case solved, Amy thought. This was really a conversation she didn’t want to have. Erin crept through the house. It wasn’t in disarray but that was the problem. The condo didn’t look as if it had been lived in at all. However, there was a smell.

  “Amy?” Erin called again. She cleared the living area and stepped into Amy’s bedroom, that’s when the evidence became clear.

  The sheets on the queen size bed were crumpled and there was clearly someone hiding underneath them. At least Erin hoped she was hiding and not dead. The thought frightened Erin so bad she ran to the bed and pulled the sheets back.

  “Hey!” Amy shouted. “Go away! What are you doing?”

  Erin let out a harsh breath. “Amy! I’ve been calling you for days now. Why aren’t you answering your phone or your door for that matter?”

  “Because I don’t want to. I’m not obligated, leave me alone.”

  “I will not leave you alone!”

  Luke has been knocking on your door and he won’t stop knocking on ours, even slept on our couch last night because Caleb went to his room and found him passed out in a drunken stupor.” Erin sighed. “Look, you guys need to talk and sort this out.”

  “There’s nothing to sort out now please just leave.”

  Erin stared at her friend and with fierce rebellion in her eyes, Erin pivoted on her heels and stalked over to the blinds. There she twisted the knob and they opened allowing the sun to spill in.

  “Aaaaah!” Amy whined as if she were a vampire being melted upon contact with the sun’s rays. “Leave me alone, leave me alone,” she repeated.

  Erin ignored her. Erin pulled the drapes back so the sun would shine through the room.

  “What is that smell,” she asked, taking her nose to the air to sniff out the offending odor.

  “Get out of here. Don’t be sniffing around with your pregnant nose, you probably smell the garbage in the kitchen.”

  Erin wiggled her nose and went on an excursion to the kitchen. Surely enough, the garbage was piled high and smelled as if it had sat there for a week.

  “How long has this garbage been in here,” Erin shouted towards the back.

  “Get ooooooooout,” Amy whined again.

  Amy couldn’t see Erin when Erin humped her shoulders in defiance, but she tossed her head back and shouted.

  “No!”

  Erin trotted over to the receptacle and pulled the bag. She sat it on the marble tile then tied the strings together tightly. Erin glanced around the kitchen and took note of the few dishes in the sink and a dirty fork on the counter. She lifted the bag and took it to the front door and sat it out in the hallway deciding she would take it to the dumpster on her way down.

  Reentering the apartment, Erin moved back to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. It was empty and that worried her even more.

  “What have you been eating!?” Erin heard loud mumbling from the other room and it prompted her to go inside and face Amy again. “What was that? I didn’t hear you,” she said coming across Amy’s room a second time.

  “I said… get out.”

  “I don’t understand, why do you want me out so bad? I didn’t do anything to you?”

  “You’re talking, and I don’t want to talk. I don’t want to do anything, and you’re trying to force my hand, therefore, get out.”

  Erin crept closer to the bed and sat down on it. She leaned in and sniffed.

  “When was the last time you took a shower?”

  “Ugggh! Erin, you’re really invading my privacy right now!”

  “I’ll tell you what. I’m going to go to the bathroom and run you a bath. You can soak for about thirty minutes, then, when you come out, I’ll have a nice breakfast hot and ready for your consumption. What do you say?”

  It was as if Erin hadn’t heard a thing Amy said, but this time Amy didn’t ask her to leave because the bath and the food sounded good.

  “I’ll take your prolonged silence as consent. Don’t worry, I won’t undress you. You’ll have to do that yourself.”

  Erin slipped off the bed and disappeared into the bathroom. Amy rolled over and stuffed her face in her pillows. Did she want to get up? No. But she did want that bath and she did want that food. Erin stayed in the bathroom for another few minutes before she materialized back on the side of Amy’s bed. Erin poked Amy in the arm.

  “It’ all yours. Take your time, your food will still be warm.”

  With that, Erin turned and left the room for the kitchen, giving Amy enough time to talk herself into getting up. Erin didn’t blame her friend. She knew Amy was distraught, and for good reason.

  In the three days that Amy had been hidden in her condo, Erin had lit into Luke’s ass over and over.

  “Don’t stress yourself out baby, please,” Caleb ask imploring Erin. “At least for the sake of our child.”

  That made her feel bad, but she couldn’t help herself. Amy didn’t deserve to be played like that, but there she was wrapped up in her covers wallowing in sorrow because of Luke’s mistake.

  In the kitchen, Erin rambled through the freezer but all she could gather was frozen waffles, hamburger meat, and tater tots. She would have to call in and order takeout, but she didn’t want to leave Amy alone. Reaching for her phone, Erin dialed Caleb and he answered on the first ring.

  “Is everything okay,” he asked, aware that she’d gone on recon at Amy’s apartment.

  “I would say it is. She’s alive, and I think she’s well.”

  “You think? What is she doing
?” His voice was soft spoken but the timbre profound.

  “I made her take a bath, but she needs food. She had none, and I can tell she’s only been eating peanut butter and not off a spoon but a fork.” Erin’s gaze went back over to the lone utensil sitting on the counter and brown residue that was encrusted around its edges. Next to it a jar of peanut butter sat with the top lopsided as if Amy couldn’t be bothered with twisting the cap back on.

  “Do you mind making a run to the Waffle House. Just grab her an all-star breakfast and don’t bring Luke, please.”

  “He’s begging to see her,” Caleb said.

  “Well this is his fault, so he should have thought about that before he had a secret relationship behind her back.”

  “I won’t be able to hold him off much longer. He’s threatened to come up there and sit against the barrier of the door for however long it takes, and I believe him. Talk to her, Erin.”

  “Baby, that’s why I’m here and it’s all I can do. I can’t force her to listen to him or take him back.” Erin paused. “Maybe you should talk to Luke.”

  “I think you’ve covered the reasons you think he’s an asshat.”

  “The reasons I think? And you don’t think he’s an asshat?”

  “I understand Luke a little better than you.”

  The phone became quiet as Erin gawked.

  “What does that mean? Are you saying you take his side?”

  “Whoa,” Caleb began, “no one’s taking anyone’s side.”

  “Sure, sounded like it to me. How do you understand Luke better? Would you have done the same thing?” Her voice was rising, and Caleb felt the need to calm her quickly.

  “Erin, I don’t want us to argue about someone else’s problem. I understand Luke better than you because I served alongside him at times. I know the effects of war and what being alone can do to a person. Remember, I was the one that pushed everyone away when I thought you would be better off without me. PTSD is a heavy thing, depression holds just as much weight. Luke did the opposite of what I did. He searched for someone to cling to in his time of need. We all respond differently, but that is what I mean by I understand him a little better than you okay.”