Page 1 of The Downside of Love
Prologue
This isn’t a story about a love triangle. There is no triangle involved.
This isn’t a story about an accidental pregnancy. Although having a baby withher. . . I would.
This isn’t a story about lies and deception, even though at times I’ve lied to myself.
No, this is my story.
A story about sacrifice.
A story about a man who fell in love with the wrong girl.
A story I wish I never had to tell.
This is a story about the true meaning of the downside of love.
STRYDER
My feet sink into the wet grass, the dreary Colorado day fitting the mood of all gathered. Today we bury one of the best men I’ve ever known, and I want to be anywhere but here.But I’m here for another man.For the man who deserves more in life than he’s been given. For the man who achieved every one of his dreams.
I watch the sea of black and dress blues surrounding him, poised and ready to salute.
Three airmen stand alongside him offering silent support.That should have been me. A pilot.
Still his best friend.
A friend who mourns with him.
For his dad.
His stepdad’s cruelty.
For the loss of the woman he loved.
For Gramps.
As I watch the officer walk toward him, holding the folded flag in the shape of a triangle, I swallow the rising pain.God, the look on his face.He’s . . . a shell. He looks even more taciturn than when I met him. The flag is handed over; the officer salutes him and then marches away as guns fire.
One.
Two.
Three.
Three shots in unison into the air.
In the distance, the silence is broken as “Taps” adds to the sorrowful atmosphere.
And that’s the moment he looks up, scans the crowd, and finds me.
Fuck, I’ve been a gutless excuse of a man since graduation. I left him a pitiful note wishing him luck with flight school, and that was it. Had Hardie not called me yesterday, I probably wouldn’t have known about Gramps and come today to the funeral.He probably doesn’t want me here.
The rest of the ceremony goes by in a blur, and before I know what’s happening, he’s on his way over to me.Fuck. I need to talk to him, but I can’t do that now.
Not today.
Not here.
