He loved Will. As if he were his brother.
But then…Will quit! He fucking quit the Army! The day Will announced it, Tony turned and walked away without a word. How could Will just quit? He was the reason they chose to do it. He was the one who loved it. He was destined to become a great, high-ranking leader in the Army. He was that good at it. But he just up and quit.
After that, he moved to butt fuck nowhere, and now had a wife and kid. He worked a nine to five job, as a civilian. He was a hard-working family man that Tony never imagined he’d ever be. Will never even attempted to be that way for Gretchen, but did so for his second wife.
Tony had no opinion of her. Jessie Bains was merely a name to him of the woman his best friend married before he checked out of his life, and the Army. He never really heard or understood the entire story. There was more to it than Will told him. Maybe he just didn’t want to know. What mattered to him was that it made Will quit the service, abandoning the only life and calling he ever liked. And now, it was the lifestyle and career that Tony always wanted. But Will left, and Tony hadn’t answered any of his correspondence since that day.
He sure as fuck didn’t try to explain to Will what it felt like to have your arm blown off while tossing a football back and forth with half of your platoon. One moment he was laughing, watching the ball twirling towards him, his arms outstretched to catch it, the sun frying his eyeballs, and the next… everything was black.
He woke up in a hospital bed with his arm gone.
What did one say after that? Nothing.
He sometimes wished it happened in a nobler way. Maybe if he’d had a gun in his hand, instead of a football, and was fighting at the time, it might’ve felt different. Maybe even better.
He scoffed, yeah, right. As if anything could make the sensation of your flesh melting off your bones feel better.
Still, returning here, and trying to live amongst civilians wasn’t going very well. People ran around, worried about their Halloween costumes, what to buy for dinner, whether to go organic or not, or what color to paint their overpriced houses. It was all so stupid to him. He couldn’t get over how mundane they seemed. His own parents, and even his brother included. They were worried about mortgages on houses they didn’t need. They worried about traffic, or if it might rain tomorrow. What shit! It was nothing real and nothing that mattered. Nothing about his life here mattered.
Donny shoved the cart into the line for the cashier. He rarely scowled, glared or even ceased smiling except with Tony. “I invited her to dinner. With Mom. I thought Mom would like to see her. Don’t worry your sorry ass, since you most likely scared her away.”
He flinched. Gretchen. He really never wanted to see her again. Not with his empty sleeve hole, and his lopsided shirt. Fuck no.
Still… “What did she say?”
Donny started throwing groceries onto the conveyor belt, only stopping to glare at Tony. “She said yes. Yes, if it was okay with your sensitive, little-girl ass. So is it, Tony? Is it okay? Do you think you could let an old friend come over without letting the usual crass, bullshit spew from your mouth?”
Tony spun on his heel and stormed out of the store. Let Donny bag his own stupid groceries. That was beside the point; most of the groceries were for him. And his mother was buying them.
The Best Friend is to be release in 2014… Check my website for updates.
The Zenith Trilogy:
Zenith Falling, Book #1- Kindle Buy Link
The Zenith Trilogy: the fall, rise and ultimate success of the rock band Zenith.
Along the way, lives are destroyed in addiction, betrayal and rejection. Redemption and love is both lost and found, as the destiny of this band rules the lives of those who most believe in it…
Joelle married Rob Williams, lead singer of the rock band Zenith, before she was old enough to know better. She has spent years following Zenith around, while they struggle to become rock stars. Only now, alcoholism has replaced the talent that once was going to make Rob a legend… leaving Joelle’s life spiraling out of control. The problem is there isn’t a soul in the world that cares, including her husband.
Nick Lassiter is a powerful business magnate in Seattle, Washington and was acquainted with Joelle long ago, before she became Joelle Williams. Nick’s return to Joelle’s life gives her a link to a world outside of Zenith. A world that starts to become far more appealing than the crazy, alcohol-soaked one she lives in. Until the fateful night when her entire life implodes and Nick is the only person she has to run to. Joelle soon sees only one thing clearly: Nick Lassiter has become so much more than just a friend who can save her.
When Zenith disbands and Rob tries to get sober, Joelle begins to discover her own identity outside of Zenith, and the person she finds is nothing like the young, fragile girl who needed rescuing when Nick first met her. Who she discovers just might be a woman worth loving.
Zenith Rising, Book #2: Kindle Buy Link
Dr. Erica Heathersby is the last person Spencer Mattox, ex-band member of Zenith, should ever be attracted to. When Erica offers Spencer a job, he resents her for it, because she is successful in her career, her life, and as a person, in ways Spencer believes he can never be. But Erica soon finds her medical practice the target of political debate, and herself the target of someone's violent desires. Erica turns to Spencer for protection, which develops into a relationship that neither of them is prepared for. Erica knows that in order to keep Spencer from destroying what they have built together; she has to overcome the devastating past he tries to hide. But then again, none of it will matter, if Erica doesn't survive what is fast becoming someone's deadly intentions towards her.
Zenith Fulfilled, Book #3 Kindle Buy Link
Rob Williams used to be the lead singer of his band, Zenith, before his alcoholism destroyed his career, his marriage and his life. Now, writer, Rebecca Randall wants to chronicle his recovery and in the process, establish herself as a successful author. What this mother of three young girls doesn’t realize is how well the tattooed, former rocker, Rob fits into her small town, country life. That is until Rebecca’s estranged husband comes home and wants to rebuild their relationship. As Rob leaves and attempts to make his dreams of Zenith come true, Rebecca’s life falls into a depression that nothing, short of divorce, will end. But how can Rob, now lead singer of Zenith, ever return to Rebecca’s ordinary life?
The Seaclusion Series published through The Wild Rose Press
Poison, Book #1- Buy Link
On the run from her violent ex-husband, Cassie Reeves will do anything to keep her son safe, even if it means resorting to a man she betrayed a decade ago. John Tyler now hates her as much as he once loved her—but Cassie has no choice.
John's quiet life as a small town doctor in Seaclusion, Washington has no place for the woman he turned his back on ten years ago. But when Cassie and her son arrive on his doorstep, he can’t turn them away. The longer she stays though, the harder he finds remembering why he stopped loving her.
With her ex-husband closing in, Cassie soon realizes that only she can end what he has started. As John and Cassie's mutual attraction reignites, she vows to do anything to protect her son and the possibility for happiness that escaped her so long.
Notorious, Book #2- Buy Link
Available everywhere else and in print March 14, 2014
Luke Tyler wants peace from the grief that has filled his life in the three years since his wife's death. Instead, he is relegated to sharing a house with Kelly Reeves as they care for their nephew. Luke dislikes everything about Kelly until he begins to glimpse the true woman hiding beneath the notorious reputation that Kelly has carefully crafted.
Kelly expected her trip to the small town of Seaclusion, Washington to be nothing more than a forgettable two-week vacation. Then, after accidentally witnessing the extent of Luke's staggering grief, she suddenly reevaluates what is truly important. Soon, Luke becomes the only person she trusts. She allows only him beyond the
facade she has so skillfully erected.
Kelly believes their love can conquer all, but Luke isn't quite convinced. Kelly is forced back to her life of fame and fortune, and Luke must question which is riskier: letting her walk away from him or running after her?
Secrets, Book #3 - Release to be determined for 2014
When Sarah Langston catches teenager, Angie Peters, shoplifting a maternity top from her store, the last thing she expects is to get involved with Angie or her family. But something tugs at her heart, and she finds herself struggling to help Angie cope with the pregnancy she has tried to hide for months.
Scott Delano, Angie's uncle, has been taking care of Angie and her mother since his father died six years ago. Despite his efforts, he can’t seem to reach his niece and is very thankful when Sarah steps in.
Sarah soon becomes the victim of anonymous pranks that start out small, but quickly accelerate and grow more disturbing. A relationship with Scott develops when she turns to him for protection and support. But when Angie's baby is born and the true father is revealed, the police aim their eyes on Scott, as a stalker. That’s when Sarah realizes some secrets can change everything…
Seclusion, Book #4 Release to be determined for 2014
Angie Peters returns home to Seaclusion,Washington, the town she fled eight years ago after giving her daughter up for adoption. She, once again, has a secret she can tell no one, especially, Sean Langston, the boy with whom she had a child so many years before.
Sean Langston, meanwhile, earned a reputation as a loser directly as a result of what happened with Angie. For reasons he shares with no one, he attempts to restore a historical house that he plans to make into a bed and breakfast, named Seclusion. The old, decrepit house represents what Sean wants to be, and not who he was in the past. But with Angie back, suddenly, everything between them seems different.
Sean has never stopped loving Angie. Now together, after so many years, they start the relationship they were unable to pursue as teenagers. That is, until Sean learns the secret that really brought Angie home, which will, once again, rip apart their lives.
About the Author
I live in the rainy area of Western, Washington, and spend as much time as I can staying dry by traveling to destinations all across the state. My family and I enjoy lots of camping, boating, fishing, and horseback riding vacations. Many of the locations where we camp become the settings for my books, which are mostly fictional, but based on real places.
I earned my business degree from Western Washington University. I worked for several years in the construction management field before turning to writing and staying at home with my kids.
I love to hear from readers! Please contact me at: [email protected]
Or through one of my sites:
Website
Facebook Author Page
Facebook Page
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Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed The Good Sister.
The Good Sister (Sister Series, #2) Page 33