Page 3 of Wild Mistake
“I don’t care about any of that.” I sniffle back a sob. “You can’t leave.”
His smile falters. “I have to. I already signed the paperwork. It’s a done deal. There’s no backing out.”
A rollercoaster of emotions run through my mind.
Anger. That he made such a huge decision without including me.
Helplessness. That this is really happening and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.
Betrayal. That he secretly planned all of this and never once mentioned it.
Fear. That he’ll get hurt, or worse, doesn’t come back alive. My eyes sting.What if he leaves and finds someone else? What if he can’t handle the distance and breaks my heart?I squeeze my eyes shut to keep from crying, but it’s no use.
“Baby, please. Don’t cry.” He tugs me forward and holds me tight.
I bury my face in his chest and inhale the scent that is uniquely his.
“I promise this will be worth it in the long run. We’ll call and write and you can come visit me after boot camp. It’s only three years. Three years, Sarah. We can do that. It’ll fly by. One day we’ll look back on this moment and laugh. I promise everything is going to be fine.”
There’s an excitement in his voice I can’t relate to. It’s also something I instantly resent.
He wants to go.
“No, Aiden. Three years is a long time.” I was worried about not seeing him every day next year. How stupid and silly was that? Fuck. This is too much. I’m going to lose him. I know I am. “What if you leave and decide you don’t want to come back?” What if you decide you want someone else? I can’t expect him to stay loyal and faithful for three years, can I? Not when we aren’t even sleeping together.
“I will always come back to you.”
“How do you know that?”
He steps back and reaches into his front pocket. He retrieves a small square jewelry box.
My breath catches in my throat.Is he—?
“Wait for me?” He opens the box and the ring inside catches the moonlight. It’s simple and small and so fucking perfect I want to cry, but this time from happiness. “I love you, Sarah Baker. And at the end of these three years I’ll get you a real ring, with a diamond, the kind you deserve. But for now I want you to know I am serious about us, and I am doing this so I can provide us a future.” He slides the band of silver around my ring finger. “Promise me you’ll wait?”
“Yes.” I nod, tears sliding down my cheeks. “I promise.” Sure, we are young, but if there’s one thing I can guarantee, it’s that I’ll never stop loving this man. “I will always wait for you.”
SARAH
TWENTY-ONE YEARS LATER – PRESENT DAY
“Why can’twe go to Dad’s for the entire break?” Gabe sinks into his chair. “This place sucks.”
“I miss my friends.” Parker sighs. He doesn’t complain as much as his older brother, but I know this move has been hard on him.
“I know you do. I’m sorry.”
How do you tell your children the man they’ve spent their lives idolizing is nothing more than a lying, selfish piece of shit? Maybe I should spill the sordid details. Maybe they deserve to know the kind of man their father is. Maybe then they’d quit begging to go back to him.
But why should I have to face the consequences of my ex’s actions? He should be the one to tell them. Besides, a crazy part of me can’t bear the thought of turning my boys against their own father, even if he deserves it. Maybe it’s stupid of me, but I can’t bring myself to tell them the real reason we split.
“There’s nothing to do here.” Gabe’s jaw is hard as he glances around the trailer. “This is literally the most boring town on the entire planet.”
“If you’re bored, I can give you something to do,” I remind him.
“Whatever.” He rolls his eyes.
I let it go and turn back to the mirror I’ve set on the counter to finish my makeup.
