types of promises, but I’ll see what I can do,” she laughed, bouncing back to her truck.
Without another word or another glance, she was gone. He’d seen Addie Jenko for the very last time and if he could carry the smile he had just seen upon her face with him forever he’d be satisfied. Or at least he’d force himself to be.
6 IN TIME
His resolve formed right there within his gut as he watched the pickup truck drive away. He had saved her life and while his head told him to be humble about it, his heart was screaming. In spite of how life had changed in the last twenty-four hours, he wanted to hold tightly to those good memories. They were all he had left; the only piece of Addie he had to hold on to.
He repeated over and over in his mind as his body stood statue still in the driveway that the knowledge of his love was all he needed. Repeated, repeated, and repeated. There was no lying to his heart, however. It sank with each moment that ticked by on time’s clo ck and he was heartbroken all over again.
He wasn’t the only one who had sacrificed. Max had given up so much. AJ hadn’t spoken a word to him since the night before. While he wanted to convince himself that it was because everything was too overwhelming, he knew the truth. He was angry at his friend. It hadn’t mattered that Max had done the right thing and had made the right choice for both of them. He had broken the bond between AJ and Addie and for that, AJ wasn’t sure if he could ever fully forgive his friend. He was sure he’d get past it someday, but he’d never forget.
He owed Max so much for his companionship over the years. The man had taught him everything and provided AJ a home when he needed one. These facts were always forefront in his mind, but much harder to remember in spite of the blinding anger for the life he’d lost.
AJ replayed the entire course of events he’d planned out in his mind just days before: dying for the woman – and the people – that he loved in Lee. He had been prepared for death, accepting of it even. He had braced for the outcome of the battle. What he hadn’t prepared for was losing her while he was still looking at her every day.
The tears stung his eyes. They were building, a dam ready to burst at a moment’s notice and likely to leave a complete path of destruction as they did. He wiped them gently with the back of his hand.
As his eyes rose to his next destination, he saw Max standing outside the screen door on the porch in front of him. Nearly everything inside of him told him to walk over to his friend, shake his hand, embrace him, and make him feel better. He knew he should tell Max that eventually things would be okay.
Except one small part that just couldn’t let go, at least not yet.
AJ turned and instead of walking to the house began walking towards the barn.
“AJ! Wait up!” Max yelled, bolting down the stairs and into the wet grass, still dewy from the early morning hour.
AJ ignored the call. Despite his Healer status, he’d always had one hell of a temper and he didn’t want to unleash it on Max.
“AJ, please, I’m begging you.”
“Max, not now.”
“Yes now.”
“N o!” AJ said loudly, turning abruptly to face his friend.
By the time Max had the ability to slow down, he was nearly nose-to-nose with his friend. AJ’s fists clenched, rising slightly from his chiseled sides before his fingers stretched out in desperation of keeping calm.
“AJ, you have to talk to me.”
“Max! Not now! You’ve made plenty of choices in the last couple days. In fact, you've made enough for both of us. And right now I get to make the choice, and I’m choosing to not speak to you. I know you understand it Max. I need my space.”
“AJ, please, talk to me.”
“Max, we will be okay. We will air this out at some point,” he responded, bringing his temper down a notch. “I will, Max. I just can’t right now. It’s too fresh and too hard. I need some
Without another word or another glance, she was gone. He’d seen Addie Jenko for the very last time and if he could carry the smile he had just seen upon her face with him forever he’d be satisfied. Or at least he’d force himself to be.
6 IN TIME
His resolve formed right there within his gut as he watched the pickup truck drive away. He had saved her life and while his head told him to be humble about it, his heart was screaming. In spite of how life had changed in the last twenty-four hours, he wanted to hold tightly to those good memories. They were all he had left; the only piece of Addie he had to hold on to.
He repeated over and over in his mind as his body stood statue still in the driveway that the knowledge of his love was all he needed. Repeated, repeated, and repeated. There was no lying to his heart, however. It sank with each moment that ticked by on time’s clo ck and he was heartbroken all over again.
He wasn’t the only one who had sacrificed. Max had given up so much. AJ hadn’t spoken a word to him since the night before. While he wanted to convince himself that it was because everything was too overwhelming, he knew the truth. He was angry at his friend. It hadn’t mattered that Max had done the right thing and had made the right choice for both of them. He had broken the bond between AJ and Addie and for that, AJ wasn’t sure if he could ever fully forgive his friend. He was sure he’d get past it someday, but he’d never forget.
He owed Max so much for his companionship over the years. The man had taught him everything and provided AJ a home when he needed one. These facts were always forefront in his mind, but much harder to remember in spite of the blinding anger for the life he’d lost.
AJ replayed the entire course of events he’d planned out in his mind just days before: dying for the woman – and the people – that he loved in Lee. He had been prepared for death, accepting of it even. He had braced for the outcome of the battle. What he hadn’t prepared for was losing her while he was still looking at her every day.
The tears stung his eyes. They were building, a dam ready to burst at a moment’s notice and likely to leave a complete path of destruction as they did. He wiped them gently with the back of his hand.
As his eyes rose to his next destination, he saw Max standing outside the screen door on the porch in front of him. Nearly everything inside of him told him to walk over to his friend, shake his hand, embrace him, and make him feel better. He knew he should tell Max that eventually things would be okay.
Except one small part that just couldn’t let go, at least not yet.
AJ turned and instead of walking to the house began walking towards the barn.
“AJ! Wait up!” Max yelled, bolting down the stairs and into the wet grass, still dewy from the early morning hour.
AJ ignored the call. Despite his Healer status, he’d always had one hell of a temper and he didn’t want to unleash it on Max.
“AJ, please, I’m begging you.”
“Max, not now.”
“Yes now.”
“N o!” AJ said loudly, turning abruptly to face his friend.
By the time Max had the ability to slow down, he was nearly nose-to-nose with his friend. AJ’s fists clenched, rising slightly from his chiseled sides before his fingers stretched out in desperation of keeping calm.
“AJ, you have to talk to me.”
“Max! Not now! You’ve made plenty of choices in the last couple days. In fact, you've made enough for both of us. And right now I get to make the choice, and I’m choosing to not speak to you. I know you understand it Max. I need my space.”
“AJ, please, talk to me.”
“Max, we will be okay. We will air this out at some point,” he responded, bringing his temper down a notch. “I will, Max. I just can’t right now. It’s too fresh and too hard. I need some
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