Clearwater Romance by Marissa Dobson Read Free Book Online Page B

Marines he could and he wouldn’t stand for them to give less than one hundred and ten percent.
    “Why are you in your dress blues?”
    “I just left John’s wedding, they pushed it up so they could be married before he ships out. It was a nice ceremony by the lake.”
    She heard him but it was as if his words came through a haze, distant and she couldn’t focus. Her legs felt heavy, and her head swam.
     “What’s wrong Tessa? Are you feeling okay?” He cupped a hand under her arm and guided her over to a bench.
    “I’m fine…I just need to go home.” God help her it was good to see him. He was like a port for a ship lost at sea but she needed to wrap her mind around what she was going to do—and how could she tell him? She didn’t think she could bear his disappointment.
    “Come on, I’ll take you home.” Arm around her waist, he pivoted neatly and guided her toward the street.
    “I’m fine. My apartment isn’t that far, I can walk. I’m sure you have other things you need to do before you have to go.” Even to her, the words sounded flat and they wouldn’t convince him, but it was all she had left.
    “You’re all that matters today. I was coming over once you got off work.”
    Even if he didn’t believe her, he didn’t force the subject. Maybe all the years they had known each other had enlightened him to the fact that if he pushed she’d only shut down more. What am I going to tell him? She tried to think of something, anything as he led her towards his car. They only had a few days left together before his upcoming deployment. She didn’t want to ruin the time she had left with him by bringing up her mistakes.
    Just the thought of another deployment was enough to send her into panic mode. Yes, he was career military and that was part of his job, but it scared the hell out of her every, single time. In truth, he married the Marines from the day he enlisted. He wouldn’t be there for their weekly movie date, or nightly chats. Selfish? Yes, but he was such a large part of her life, she didn’t know how to give it up—even for only a short time—without her heart breaking.
    If she were honest with herself, she’d admit she was in love with him, and had been since they were sixteen. Fifteen years later nothing had changed, at least not for her. For Cameron, he’d chosen the Marines, and that loyalty was absolute. He left no part of himself free for a girlfriend, let alone a wife. No matter how much she’d always wished otherwise, Tessa had accepted they would never be anything more than friends. Cameron wouldn’t allow anything more. He said something else, but she didn’t really understand it, the world around her tilted and she swayed. Blackness swamped her vision and everything faded.
    * * *
    Awareness returned with a jerk and she recognized the sterile surroundings, and bleach-like odors. Why am I at a hospital?
    Her gaze fell on Cameron, sitting in one of the hardback hospital chairs. Even with the slight disheveled state of his uniform, he still managed to look powerful and authoritative. They’d been walking to his car when she…she what ?
    Oh, I fainted . Embarrassment flooded under her confusion. How long have I been out?
    “Hey beautiful, you’re awake. You gave me quite a shock.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. The closest they had come since he joined the Marines. Oh before the Marines, things were different. They were young and in love, but the day he gave his commitment to the Marines everything changed.
    Even in her present condition the memory of the day he joined the Marines came flooding back. They’d grabbed a bite at Pete’s Burgers when he turned to her all serious. “I joined the Marines…”
    Unsure what she was supposed to have said, she’d sat there in silence, her burger held mid motion and just stared across the booth at him. The icy chill of fear had raced through her.
    “I leave for boot camp in two weeks…Tessa I want you to find someone else.