uniform for tonight. Her cousin’s, I think.”
“Wait. What?” I couldn’t move. Or breathe. “You’re joining the freaking Citadel? Since when? You hate soldier stuff!”
“I like
you
. Love you, I mean,” he blurted, as if determined to get the words out. “So I’m sticking around here for a while. If that’s okay.” Suddenly he was scarlet-faced, and as nervous as I’d ever seen him.
Head spinning.
Heart pounding.
Feet floating on air.
“You borrowed a cadet’s uniform from my stepmother?” was all I managed, still trying to process the rest.
Did h
e really say . . .
“She’s the one who got me in.” Ben shook his head, as if unable to believe it himself. “Whitney pulled a few strings so I could stay close to home. She kinda knows everyone in town, FYI.”
“Ben . . . I . . .”
I clamped my lips shut, cutting off the weak effort. Tried to gather myself. Finally, I noticed Hi and Shelton a stone’s throw away, grinning like crocodiles, pretending not to eavesdrop as they exchanged a fist bump. Kit and Whitney weren’t even doing that much, watching us openly with wide smiles.
Obviously th
e last to know
.
I grabbed Ben by the front of his jacket. “Ben Blue, you do NOT have to give up your life goals because of me. If you’re worried I’m going to bail because you’re moving out of state, don’t be.”
Gulp.
“I love you, too, okay? You don’t have to do this.”
“Hey, I
love
marching in formation. Rules. Orders. Yelling. Can’t wait.” Ben swept my hands up in his. “Whatever buys me another year with you is worth it.” Then he hugged me close and whispered, “Besides, it’s only
one
year. Then we can
both
get the heck out of town.”
We were nose to nose.
The music stopped.
Everyone was watching.
Don’t care
.
I pulled Ben in. Smashed my lips against his.
Applause rained down around us. Inside my head, Hi wisecracked that Ben and I had a lousy ship name. Shelton told him to shut it. But I was a thousand miles away.
Ben was staying. My Ben.
We wouldn’t have to be apart. Now, or maybe ever.
It was the best day of my life.
My eyes sparkled, as blue as the ocean.
Love you, B
en Blue.
I love you,
too.
Outside in the darkness, Cooper sat back and howled.
“Wait. What?” I couldn’t move. Or breathe. “You’re joining the freaking Citadel? Since when? You hate soldier stuff!”
“I like
you
. Love you, I mean,” he blurted, as if determined to get the words out. “So I’m sticking around here for a while. If that’s okay.” Suddenly he was scarlet-faced, and as nervous as I’d ever seen him.
Head spinning.
Heart pounding.
Feet floating on air.
“You borrowed a cadet’s uniform from my stepmother?” was all I managed, still trying to process the rest.
Did h
e really say . . .
“She’s the one who got me in.” Ben shook his head, as if unable to believe it himself. “Whitney pulled a few strings so I could stay close to home. She kinda knows everyone in town, FYI.”
“Ben . . . I . . .”
I clamped my lips shut, cutting off the weak effort. Tried to gather myself. Finally, I noticed Hi and Shelton a stone’s throw away, grinning like crocodiles, pretending not to eavesdrop as they exchanged a fist bump. Kit and Whitney weren’t even doing that much, watching us openly with wide smiles.
Obviously th
e last to know
.
I grabbed Ben by the front of his jacket. “Ben Blue, you do NOT have to give up your life goals because of me. If you’re worried I’m going to bail because you’re moving out of state, don’t be.”
Gulp.
“I love you, too, okay? You don’t have to do this.”
“Hey, I
love
marching in formation. Rules. Orders. Yelling. Can’t wait.” Ben swept my hands up in his. “Whatever buys me another year with you is worth it.” Then he hugged me close and whispered, “Besides, it’s only
one
year. Then we can
both
get the heck out of town.”
We were nose to nose.
The music stopped.
Everyone was watching.
Don’t care
.
I pulled Ben in. Smashed my lips against his.
Applause rained down around us. Inside my head, Hi wisecracked that Ben and I had a lousy ship name. Shelton told him to shut it. But I was a thousand miles away.
Ben was staying. My Ben.
We wouldn’t have to be apart. Now, or maybe ever.
It was the best day of my life.
My eyes sparkled, as blue as the ocean.
Love you, B
en Blue.
I love you,
too.
Outside in the darkness, Cooper sat back and howled.
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