It Had to be You by Susan Andersen

Author:Susan Andersen
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780997441208
Publisher: Fat Cat Press
Published: 2017-09-04T18:30:00+00:00

22

SUSAN ANDERSEN

What can a girl expect from a palooka like you?

BOOKER

Shit. She’s not wrong. I could argue I was so damn young, so full of beans—as well as about a thousand conflicting emotions. That I was excited about my decision to join the Army and what I was convinced would be the glory of war. But the truth is, I didn’t do a single one of the things she just listed. Well, I tried to call, but when it didn’t work out I didn’t follow up. I also wrote my very first letter to her to tell her I loved her and let her know what I had done. But we both know how well those worked out between us. Other than that, I didn’t go out of my way.

Annnnd...I guess I owe it her to actually say some of this to her, face to face, instead of trying to justify my behavior to myself.

I meet her gaze head on. “I’m sorry.”

She blinks up at me. “What?”

I can’t help the small smile tugging up one corner of my mouth, because it is clearer than Seattle’s blue sky in summer she didn’t expect that. “I said I’m sorry. You’re right. I was livid with my father for dragging me to the U-dub like a ten-year-old schoolboy. And I was thrilled to be going off to war. I thought I was going to save the world from the Jerrys and have a big adventure while I was at it.” I shake my head at my long-lost innocence, but it was nothing short of the truth at the time. Briefly remembering the time when I still had those beliefs, makes my sudden laugh drier than dust. “Turns out, my view of what I assumed war would be was wildly romanticized and about as far off center as it gets.”

Looking at her, I realize I have a gut-deep need to win back Lena’s respect. Hell, who am I kidding, to win back her love. And what the hey, now seems like a good time to start.

But before I can say a word, I see Lena shiver and, with a silent sigh, I take her arm. “Look, let’s go inside and warm you up. I’ll tell you anything, everything, you want to know. We should have sat down and had a serious conversation a long time ago.”

“It’s too loud inside to carry on a conversation.”

I grimace. “Yeah. There is that. I’m sorry if I ruined your night to dance.”

She shrugs, and I have no clue if it means Don’t worry about it, not a problem, or Big problem, but what the hell can a girl expect from a palooka like you?

She wouldn’t be wrong about option two. I haven’t once tried to woo her. Haven’t taken her on a date or even shown her the smooth, savoir-faire I was known for in Paris, and have gained a reputation for here in Seattle as well, once I got the club up and running.

I look at Lena,

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