Corpsman and the Nerd by D.R. Grady Read Free Book Online Page B

his things from the
boxes into his dresser. Since she’d been doing this since he was a
week old, placing his clothing in his dresser and the closet went
fast.
    Next, she unpacked his books and
placed them in the proper order on his bookshelves. Ryan came over
to investigate, but eventually wandered back to help Max place the
box spring and mattress on the bed frame. Not that she figured Max
particularly needed the help, but it seemed to please Ryan to
assist.
    She was amazed by how patient Max was
with her son. “He’s had a lot of practice”, a voice reminded her
and she realized that while this was true, now he would have a kid
full time for an eight month minimum. He couldn’t give Ryan back
after a few days.
    Biting her lip as she emptied the toy
boxes into Ryan’s bedroom toy chest, she thought about that. She
had ample faith Max didn’t mind in the least. Turning, she watched
the pair make Ryan’s bed, and decided that contrary to her negative
thinking, they were going to have a blast. With a little smile, she
wondered if she might have to kidnap her son to get him back when
she returned.
    She hoped Ryan wouldn’t have too much
difficulty leaving Max. Sighing, she returned to the waiting boxes.
Max had already thought of that, because he planned for her to move
back in with them once she returned. And she could remain here
until she found a new home. This was a comfort.
    Not that it surprised her. Max tended
to think of everything.
    *****
    Max watched KC linger over Ryan’s
unpacking and he saw her stroke a shirt there, or fluff a stuffed
animal here. Like she tried to memorize everything she touched. He
saw her run a hand over Ryan’s pillow and give his pants an extra
little pat. He suspected he saw tears in her eyes when she unpacked
some picture frames and gazed at them, her finger tracing the
images.
    Eventually he and Ryan left the room
for a romp outside. When they returned, with Ryan tired enough to
take a nap, KC was in her own room.
    After he watched Ryan fall asleep, Max
hovered in her open doorway. She hung clothes in the closet and he
noticed the slump of her shoulders in addition to the sheen in her
eyes. She sniffed and rubbed a hand over her face and his heart
dropped.
    “ KC?” he whispered and she
stiffened before turning beseeching eyes on him.
    “ I’m going to miss him so
much.” The ache in her voice clenched his heart. He opened his
arms. She dropped the garment and walked into them. He felt her
arms curl around his waist and wished she clung for another reason,
but he would take what he could get.
    “ I know.”
    “ I’m going to miss you too,”
she admitted and his heart swelled. That’s all he wanted. For her
to miss him, just a little. Maybe he also wanted her to realize she
didn’t have only lukewarm friendship feelings for him, either, but
he’d take whatever he could get. And lap it up like Spuds lapped up
all the petting and attention bestowed upon him.
    “ I’m going to miss you too,
KC. I can’t even tell you how much.” He longed to tell her how he
felt, but ruining what they shared would devastate him beyond
repair.
    “ I need you guys to have a
good time.”
    He tugged her closer, needing to savor
these moments with her in his arms. “We will,” he promised, sure in
this one promise at least.
    She nodded and her hair tickled his
chin. Max swallowed, wanting so much more. Having her in his arms
was ecstasy and agony. Soon she would be gone, across the ocean in
a foreign land, so far away from him he didn’t even want to
contemplate.
    Lainy and Mitch hadn’t known each
other when they endured their separation. They hadn’t even met in
person until Mitch came home. But he and KC had been working
together for a year, and he’d been in love with her for easily that
long. And now he needed to be a man and let her leave for some God
forsaken desert where she might die.
    Max cut his perilous thoughts off. He
would go insane if he kept this up, and he wasn’t