Rediscovering Peace (Military Love Book 1)

by Rogers, Steffy

  All of a sudden the lights in the stadium darkened and music came on. I didn’t immediately recognize the song but saw the spotlight and looked over to find Skye walking out from the locker rooms.

  I smiled at her. She looked so cute in her UGA jersey, cutoff jeans, flip flops and her hair in a messy bun. I loved that she didn’t constantly feel the need to get all dressed up. I loved her the way she was, with or without fancy clothes.

  The commentator handed her a microphone and she started talking.

  “Braden, I have loved you for as long as I can remember. I may have not always shown it but it has always been only you. This song describes perfectly how I feel about you.”

  And with that she started singing “Because You Loved Me” by Celine Dion. Holy shit! My girl was standing here in front of 100,000 fans singing and declaring her love for me. My heart was about to burst with happiness. This beautiful girl was all mine. Thankfully, I had the ring on me and planned to propose to her that night. I didn’t want to wait any longer. I wanted to make her my wife as soon as possible. I was getting out of the army within the next month and would go back to school. I listened to Skye as she sang the last verse of the song. All I wanted to do is scoop her up in my arms and drag her off the field.

  Applause erupted around us, my girl sure could sing, I had to give her that. She played with her hair again which told me she wasn’t done yet. What else could she possibly have planned?

  “You are my love, my hero, my everything. I can’t imagine my life without you in it. Our path hasn’t always been easy but you stuck with me even when I tried to push you away. You are everything I have ever dreamed of and more. My book boyfriends pale against you. We have grown so much as a couple and I know I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy. I want to carry your children and when we are old and gray I want to watch our grandchildren play in our yard. Before you came back in my life I was a mess. I was damaged and hurt, but you picked up the pieces and put them back together. I will forever be grateful for that. I promise I am done running. From now until forever it’s you and I against the world. Braden James Parker, will you marry me?”

  Wait! What? Did she just propose to me? Well hell... she sure knew how to surprise me. Instead of answering I closed the distance between us and got on one knee.

  “Skye Taylor, I can’t believe you beat me to it. I had this night all planned out and was going to ask you to be my wife tonight. Sweetheart, I will always fight for you and I will never let you run from me again. The eight years I was apart from you were hell and I missed you every day. But fate brought us back together. Everything you want, I want that as well. With you. So yes, yes I will marry you. But only if you take this ring from me. It belonged to my mom and I want you to have it.”

  Tears were running down her face as she looked at the single solitaire diamond ring. It was simple and elegant, just like Skye.

  “I love you so much, Braden!”

  The people in the stadium went crazy when I pulled Skye to me and kissed her with all the passion and love I felt for her.

  “Congratulations to Braden and Skye. May your life be filled with happiness,” the commentator announced and we returned to our seats.

  Faith was jumping up and down when we made it back.

  “OMG! I am so happy for you guys. Do you guys know when you want to get married?” she squealed.

  “Calm down. We have been engaged for not even five minutes and you’re already planning the wedding. I am sure Braden wants to wait a little while before we marry. There’s no need to rush this. I am thinking maybe sometime in the summer next year.” Skye laughed.

  “You are out of your mind if you think I will wait till next summer to marry you. You plan this wedding and you better plan it fast. The sooner you’re officially mine, the better.” She stared at me – shocked.

  “You want to get married right away?” she asked.

  “Well... If it was up to me I’d fly to Vegas and marry you tonight. But you deserve the wedding of your dreams. So yeah, the sooner the better.” She threw her arms around me and kissed me.

  “I promise I’ll plan it for as soon as possible. I can’t wait to be Mrs. Parker. Oh my God!!! I am getting married. I never thought this day would come. You make me the happiest woman alive, Braden!”

  “Ditto, my love. Now let’s watch the rest of the game soon-to-be-wife.” I kissed her softly and we sat back down.

  The bulldogs ended up beating the tigers. Yup. Best birthday ever.

  Chapter 14

  Skye

  A few weeks after our engagement, Braden and I closed on the house at the beach and were getting ready to move in. Between work and packing I was still seeing Dr. Ferguson two to three times a week but I was slowly getting better. The nightmares didn’t come as frequently anymore and when they did Braden was always right by my side to calm me down. He had attended one of my therapy sessions with me and finally told me all the details of the nightmare that was haunting him. He had been scared that I would judge him for his decisions but I assured him that none of it was his fault. He still didn’t fully believe it but we would get there in time. He was getting out of the army in less than a week and we were excited. He was currently clearing and getting all the paperwork for his ETS done. He was already enrolled in law school and would be starting about a month after he got out of the military. I was very proud of him for everything he was accomplishing.

  Not too long ago I had received the money Oliver had left me. I took every cent of it and donated it to several organizations that helped families of fallen soldiers and soldiers who suffered from PTSD. Keeping the money had felt wrong to me, so this was the best thing to do. At least I knew it would be put to good use.

  “Have you guys decided on a date for the wedding yet? I need to start planning your bachelorette party and stuff?” Faith asked me while helping me pack up the living room. She and Caige had found houses too that they would be moving to right after we moved. The moving company would be here in three days to pick up all our stuff.

  “We haven’t decided yet. Braden wants to get married before the end of the year. I would like to wait till spring so the weather is nicer and we can actually have a beach wedding. I have always wanted that. Plus we could have the reception in our backyard. I don’t want a big wedding, just our immediate family, Caige, you, Seth and Paisley.”

  “Didn’t you forget someone? Jordan and I are still together, you know.” She glared at me. I wasn’t going to tell her that I hoped he would be out of the picture by the time we got married. Not that I didn’t like him, but Faith wasn’t happy no matter how much she tried to convince me and herself.

  “Oh yeah. Of course he is invited too. Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.”

  “Actually, there’s something I wanted to tell you.”

  “Huh?”

  Faith was picking invisible lint of her jeans. She was nervous about something.

  “Faith, what is it?”

  “I asked Jordan to move in with me.” She finally blabbered out. Was she serious?

  “Are you sure about that? That’s a huge step.”

  “Yes I am sure. He treats me like a princess and though we might not have the crazy passionate love that Braden and you share, I am content. I do love him. In my own fucked up way.”

  “Faith Livingston, you shouldn’t just be content. You should be over the moon happy. Does it feel like you can’t breathe if you just think about him leaving?”

  “No.” Her focus was on the floor, she couldn’t even look me in the eyes.

  “Then you shouldn’t be with him. You should be out there letting the one find you. The one who takes your breath away just looking at him. The one that gives you butterflies. The one who will carry the world on his shoulders for you.” I was getting mad.

  “Life is not a fucking fairy tale, Skye. The one that gives me butterflies just at the thought of him is fucking married and not interested in me. Yeah, sure I was enough for a one nig
ht stand. But look around, he’s not here. He will never be. So what’s the point of putting myself out there if I know that there will never be anyone who I want as much as Seth? Jordan is safe. I like safe. After all the shit I have endured in my life I need it. Not everyone is as privileged as you to love and be loved in return. Jordan loves me and it feels good. Am I completely and utterly in love with him? No. But I will get there.”

  I was sad for her. She deserved the best and more. I didn’t want to see her stuck with a guy that she didn’t truly love. That wasn’t fair to her or him. I knew there was no arguing with her. She had made up her mind and there was no changing it. She would have to find out on her own.

  “Fine. If that’s what you want then I will support you. But just know I am not overly happy with your decision. I think it’s stupid but hey, it’s not my life.”

  “You’re right it’s mine.” She ended the conversation and walked to her room. I heard the door slam and I slumped to the ground. Faith and I rarely fought, but I had a feeling our friendship just got a little strained. Hopefully I was wrong. She was my best friend and I would do anything for her, but I wouldn’t pretend I agreed with her when I didn’t. The front door opened and Caige and Braden walked in. The sight of the two instantly lightened my mood.

  “Hey, baby. How was your day?” Braden leaned down to kiss me.

  “It was okay. I got a lot of packing done. Taking the next few days off was definitely a good decision.”

  “Where is Faith? I thought she was helping you?” Caige looked around the living room. Our life was packed up in boxes.

  “She was. She is in her room. We had a little disagreement and I think she is mad at me.”

  “Is it about Jordan moving in with her?” he asked.

  “You knew? Why didn’t you tell me?” I glared at him. If Caige would’ve told me I could’ve maybe talked her out of asking Jordan to move in.

  “Yes she told me. It wasn’t my place to tell you and I knew you would try to stop her. Skye, you need to let her make her own decisions whether you like them or not. I am not happy either but there’s nothing we can do. She will find out eventually. Jordan is not a bad guy. I just hate that he will get his heart broken sooner or later.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  The three of us spent the rest of the evening sharing a few bottles of wine and packing some more. We were almost finished and just had necessities left to pack. Our apartment was a sea of boxes. They were everywhere. I was so glad we hired a moving company. I really didn’t want to carry all this stuff.

  Braden and I decided to turn in for the night. We had a few long days ahead of us and I wanted to get some rest before the craziness began. After changing into a pair of shorts and one of Braden’s shirts, I settled in bed. Braden was right behind me and scooped me up in his arms.

  “Have you thought anymore about a wedding date?” he asked me.

  “Hmm... I was thinking a spring wedding.”

  “No way, Jose. I am not waiting till spring. That’s six months away. Sorry, love, but that’s not happening.”

  “But at least it will be warm and we can have the reception in our backyard. I don’t want to invite too many people so it would be perfect.”

  “Babe, we are in Savannah, it doesn’t get that cold in the winter. We can put up a gazebo in our backyard and have those heater things just in case. I was thinking we could do a Christmas wedding and then have our honeymoon over New Year’s.”

  “A Christmas wedding? I do kind of like that idea. Our families will already be spending it together anyways. I don’t know if I can get Paisley to fly here for Christmas though.”

  “Are we still doing the beach wedding?”

  “Yes. I always wanted to get married on the beach. It’s where I feel most at peace. But only if you’re okay with it.”

  “Sweetheart, I will marry you in our living room in our PJs if that’s what you want. You get to choose the location. But as I said, I am not waiting till spring. The sooner you are my wife the better. Three months, that’s all you get.” He kissed me on the forehead.

  “Well I guess I better start planning then. Have you decided on your best man?”

  “Yes, I am going to ask Caige to be my best man and I want Seth to be the other groomsman. You have Faith as your maid of honor and Paisley as your bridesmaid, right?”

  “Yes. I want to keep the wedding small. Only our family and closest friends. So it’ll only be our parents, Faith, Caige, Seth, Jordan and Paisley. Do we invite Seth’s wife?”

  “Uh... I guess we should but I doubt she will come. She doesn’t exactly like me.”

  “Okay, I will work on the invitations as soon as we are moved into our new house.”

  “Perfect. I can’t wait for you to be Skye Parker. That’s all I ever wanted from the moment I met you. You complete me. I love you.”

  “I love you too. Forever and always.”

  We spent the rest of the night making love and after Braden brought me to multiple orgasms my body gave in to the exhaustion and I fell asleep in his arms. There was no place on earth I’d rather be.

  Three days later, the movers were here and were loading our boxes up in trucks. Braden was delegating, Faith and I were cleaning the now empty apartment and Caige was helping the movers with the boxes. After we finished cleaning and getting the boxes loaded, Caige and Braden walked in with a six pack of beer.

  “I guess it is real now. A new era starts today,” Caige said as he handed all of us a beer. I declined. I didn’t feel like drinking since I had been fighting nausea all morning. He lifted his eyebrow at me but didn’t say anything. I chose a bottle of water instead and we all reminisced in the times we had spent in this apartment.

  “It’s crazy that our time here is over. We had a lot of fun here. Promise we will still all hang out regularly?” I looked at my friends. I was sad that I wouldn’t see them every day anymore. I had become so used to it. It would be hard to adjust to the new situation but our friendships were strong and we would manage just fine.

  “Of course, we will have to have a dinner date at least once a week. It sucks that we won’t all live together anymore. I will miss you guys!” Faith exclaimed as she wiped away a tear.

  We finished our drinks and hugged each other before we headed to our new houses to catch up with the movers. We all still had a long day ahead of us.

  Braden and I arrived at the same time and the moving truck was already there waiting for us as were our parents. Braden’s dad had been released from rehab about two weeks ago and he was doing great. We had found him a house close to ours and had moved all his stuff before he came back. We wanted him to have a fresh start. All of the stuff that had belonged to Olivia was in a storage building we had rented and when time came, Michael could sort through it and keep what he wanted. For now though, we thought it was best if he wasn’t reminded of his late wife. We had furnished the new house with completely new furniture and would let him decorate it. He was attending AA meetings three times a week and he seemed to be on the right track. He told us he was taking it one day at a time but so far he had no desire to go back to drinking. I was grateful that the rehab had been successful. We still would keep an eye on things but I was confident that he would make a full recovery.

  We unloaded the trucks and after a few hours all the boxes and our furniture were in our new home. I was exhausted but I wanted to start unpacking immediately. I had a wedding to plan and didn’t have time to spend days unpacking and decorating. Braden ordered pizzas and we sat around our new dining table with our parents enjoying each other’s company. Suddenly the nausea came back and I made it just in time to the bathroom to empty my stomach. What the hell? I hoped I wasn’t coming down with a stomach bug.

  “Are you okay, sweetheart?” Braden had come in and I heard him turning on the water of the sink. He handed me a wet towel and I wiped my face with it.

  “I am fine. I’ve been nauseous all day but I already feel better now. It�
�s probably just all the stress from moving.”

  “Okay. Our parents are about to leave. Do you want to come out and say goodbye or do you want to lie down?”

  “I will be out in a minute. Can you bring me my purse? I put my cosmetic bag in there.”

  He returned with my purse and left me to brush my teeth when realization hit me. I pulled out my calendar and did the math. Yup, my period was late. I realized then that I hadn’t taken my birth control after getting out of the hospital because I was off my cycle. Fuck. I wanted children with Braden but wasn’t this too soon?

  I walked out of the bathroom to find our family heading out the door.

  “Braden, I have to run to the store real quick. I will be back in a few.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay to go on your own? I can take you.”

  “No, it’s fine. I will be back in about thirty minutes. You can start unpacking if you don’t mind.”

  I grabbed my keys and headed to the closest pharmacy. I purchased three pregnancy tests just in case. I pulled up to the gas station and locked myself in the bathroom. I didn’t want to take a chance of Braden finding out.

  I peed on all three sticks and waited for what seemed like the longest two minutes of my life. When the time was up, I took a deep breath and slowly opened my eyes. Three positive tests were staring back at me. I was pregnant with Braden’s child. My earlier fear turned into excitement. I was having a baby. I couldn’t wait to tell him but first I wanted to make an appointment with my gynecologist to make sure everything was alright with the baby. I wrapped the tests and disposed of them in the trash.

  I walked out to my car and called my doctor. She was able to squeeze me in the next day and I could barely contain my giddiness. When I got back home, Braden was already busy unpacking and getting the house ready. I joined him and we were busy for the rest of the day. It was hard for me not to tell him about the pregnancy but I only had to wait one day. I could do it.