Page 2 of Wild Mistake
My body stiffens.
Aiden shoves him away with a laugh. “Get a life.”
I drop my gaze to the ground, embarrassed though I haven’t done anything. Everyone probably assumes Aiden and I are sleeping together. I don’t blame them. I don’t correct any of Aiden’s friends when they make jokes about us hooking up. It’s not that I don’t want to sleep with my boyfriend. I do. We’ve been together for almost two years and he’s a saint for respecting my boundaries. I’m not waiting for marriage, but I am scared to get pregnant.
To end up like my mom.
Not that Aiden would abandon me if I were, it’s just my mom has never shied away from sharing how hard it was raising me on her own at such a young age. The truth is, I can’t even imagine trying to survive what she did. She’s my hero. She didn’t meet my stepdad until I was almost five, but before that she did everything alone, with no help from her parents. While I can’t imagine she would ever kick me out the way her parents did her, I know I would be the biggest disappointment to her if I ended up pregnant in high school. So, I’m waiting, and thankfully, Aiden understands. Mostly.
I shake my thoughts away and realize we’ve stopped walking. Aiden’s unusually quiet as he stares out at the water. The reflection of the moonlight casts shadows across his perfect face. Only he’s not smiling the way he should be.
Worry gathers in my gut. Maybe he’s tired of dating the only girl in town who refuses to sleep with him. As much as I’d like to pretend everything is fine, I can’t stand not knowing what’s got his forehead pinched with a frown.
“Hey,” I squeeze his hand. “Everything okay?”
He meets my gaze and presses his lips together. “There’s something I need to tell you.”
“Oh?” My stomach dips and dives, anxiety squeezing my lungs so it’s difficult to breathe.Oh, God. He isn’t going to break up with me, is he?
“Sarah.” His face is so serious and pale in the moonlight. He’s scaring me.
“What is it?”
“I love you.” He brushes my cheek with his palm.
The invisible band around my chest loosens enough that I can speak. “I love you, too.”
“I did something today.”
My worry comes back full force. “Okay?”
“I’m not sure you’re going to like it, and I’m sorry, but before I tell you what it is, I just need you to know that I did it because I love you. I did it because it’s something I have to do. For myself. For us.”
If he did it for us, then it can’t be that bad. “Tell me.”
“I enlisted.”
“What?”
“Sarah, I joined the Army. I leave for boot camp in three weeks.”
He joined the Army.
He’s leaving.
No.
I shake my head. “You?” I can’t even form a proper sentence. “What?”
“I want a future with you. I want to marry you. Soon. I want to watch your belly grow with our child inside. Someday. When you’re ready. And I want us to raise that child, and eventually give that child a sibling or two, and give them all the love in the world. However many you want. I want you. I want to make you happy. I want to make a life together.”
“So, you’re leaving?” I don’t even try to mask the hurt from my voice. Of course I want all those things, too, but I don’t understand. We had a plan. “Why do you have to leave?”
He sighs. “I can’t give you the life you deserve. Not here. When my dad retires, the ranch will go to Tim, or Ryan. If I’m lucky they’ll let me work for them, but Sarah, there’s no money in that.”
“I don’t need money. I just need you.”And you’re going to leave me. Tears prick my eyes.
“You have me, baby. I promise. You will have me forever and a lifetime. I just need a few years. Sarah. You wouldn’t believe the signing bonus they gave me. And the money I’ll make! It’s enough to buy our own place and I’ll be able to get a loan. Free college too.”
