Soldier On by Sydney Logan Read Free Book Online

friendly fire when his helicopter was shot down over Khafji , so no, I don’t feel honored. I feel robbed. I grew up without a father, and my mom was a widow at the age of twenty. Twenty . So you’ll have to forgive me if I don’t feel honored.”
    I take a deep breath and try to calm down. The last thing I want to do is cry in front of him.
    “You really feel this way? You really hate the military that much?”
    “I really do.”
    He looks at me as if he’s seeing me for the first time. He nods once and rises to his feet.
    “I should go,” he whispers.
    What?
    “You don’t have to,” I tell him, but he’s already reaching for the door.
    “I have to get up at five, Steph. I’ll talk to you later.”
    I watch him go. I have no idea what happened in the past five minutes. No idea why he’s reacting this way. Clearly, I’ve insulted him. I just wish I knew why.
    So much for our first date.
     

CHAPTER SIX
    Brandon

     
    Sweat rolls down my face as I groan loudly, giving the bag one last quick kick. I haven’t kickboxed in months. Now I remember why. Everything burns. Everything hurts. And the pain is welcome. It reminds of what a dumbass I am.
    With a tired grunt, I collapse against the mat.
    I’m so pissed at myself. And at her. But most of all, I’m pissed at my stupid heart because it was leading me down a path I have no business going down, and it was this close to convincing me to make the biggest mistake of my life.
    What was I thinking? It’s not as if I have time for a girlfriend. Hell, I barely have time to sleep. And in four months, I’ll have even less time. I’ll be training all summer. After that, only God knows where I’ll be.
    Not that it matters.
    And maybe that’s the part that pisses me off the most, because it never mattered. From the very beginning, I had zero chance.
    Zero.
    I close my eyes and think back to the few conversations we’ve had.
    Did she really have no idea?
    “Dude, you just beat the shit out of that bag.”
    The voice is vaguely familiar, but I don’t care enough to actually open my eyes.
    “Isn’t that what it’s for?”
    “Well, yeah, but I’m not sure how I feel about Steph dating somebody with so much rage. She’s a sweet girl and—”
    My eyes snap open at the sound of her name. I look up to find Xavier standing over me. He’s sweating like a pig, too. Probably just came from practice.
    “Brandon, man, you look like hell.”
    “Well, that’s exactly how I feel, so . . .”
    He offers me a hand, and I take it, because my legs are jelly. Standing hurts, but again, that’s okay. I need the constant reminder that I’m an idiot.
    “Thanks. You’d never know I run two miles a day.”
    Xavier hands me a clean towel. “Running and kicking are two entirely different things. Different muscles. Different techniques.”
    I don’t really care, but I don’t want to be rude. “Yeah. Well, thanks for the towel. I’m just gonna hit the shower.”
    I’ve just turned to go when I feel his hand on my shoulder.
    “Seriously, man. Steph is a sweet girl and one of my best friends. I need to know.”
    I sigh and turn back around. “Need to know what?”
    “Are you always this pissed off or are you just having a bad day?”
    Xavier’s a good guy, but it’s not like I can really talk to him. Anything I say will be told to Tessa, who in turn will tell Steph.
    It’s like I’m in high school all over again.
    “Just a bad day, Xavier. That’s all it is.”
    “Good.”
    We make plans to play basketball sometime before I head to the shower. The hot water does very little to ease the soreness in my muscles, but I don’t mind the pain. It’ll remind me to keep my mind on my obligations and off the pretty girl who is destined to hate me.
    Just because I’m a soldier in the U.S. Army.

    “What’s wrong?” Christian asks.
    I thank Ms. Linda for the muffin before heading for a secluded booth in the back of the Grind.
    “Can’t a brother call his sister twice