Chapter 3

3

CHLOE

Six years later…

"Cadet King, please step forward."

Chloe rose and slowly walked toward the podium. Everything was coming together, and she was so proud at this moment as she was recognized for her grades. Her family was there in the stands, and her mind was wandering to J.J. where he was stationed in Monterey, California. He picked orders to California in the hopes that she might be assigned to flight school there or stationed on a base nearby. They had actually talked about it last week to discuss their plans.

She swallowed silently, shaking the speaker's hand before moving on to take her seat once more. It was like nothing was clicking in her mind, but those whispered words in secret that they had shared on the phone .

"Chloe, I'm so proud of you…"

"I miss you and wish you could come to graduation."

"I wish I could get there."

"Do you know where your flight school is yet?"

"Mississippi."

"I see."

"Do you want to re-enlist for another two years to see where I get stationed?"

"No. I think I'm going to go home and wait for word from you."

"What if I get deployed to California?"

"What if you get deployed to Germany?" he countered. It wasn't done harshly or out of meanness, but rather stating a painful truth that both had been avoiding. Her father had once been stationed in Africa before going to Afghanistan. Sheer luck put him in Annapolis, Maryland, where Chloe grew up. In his short stint in the Army, J.J. had already been stationed in Georgia and California, narrowly missing orders to Iraq. She could get deployed to any number of locations – just like him.

"If I'm at home, then I can manage some way to come see you wherever you go, no matter where you get assigned. If I'm on active duty, then I only have a few chances to take leave to come see you."

"Mr. Murray?"

"He's my backup plan," J.J. chuckled easily. "Do you mind? I mean, it's not a glamorous job, but if you ever, um, well, if we made things serious between us someday, then I could provide for you."

"What are you saying, Mr. Post?" she teased breathlessly, knowing what he was implying as her heart swelled in her chest at his words.

"I'm saying it might be a heckuva first date since we' ve had to wait so long for it to actually happen, Miss King. I promise that after the first date if you can see fit to bless me with a second one – we are not waiting another six years for our chance at happiness."

"Do you promise?"

"I swear it with everything I am."

"Then go home, set up things, make your plans, and learn your trade… while I'll be crossing my fingers for orders to Juneau someday," she whispered tenderly.

"Don't make me wait forever."

"Would you though?"

"For you – I'll be waiting at the edge of eternity for as long as it takes."

Chloe stood with her classmates, staring sightlessly ahead as the sound of J.J.'s voice washed over her soul, comforting her like no other. These crowds made her nervous, and she felt like she blended in instead of standing out. She wanted to be seen, to be noticed, to feel like she mattered, and here she just disappeared among a bunch of uniforms, but in J.J.'s eyes – he saw her, the real version of that scared girl who wanted to be accepted and loved.

Tossing her cap up with everyone else, it was a bittersweet celebration.

An hour later, Chloe was heading back to her room to change before meeting with her family for dinner. As she walked into the building, traversing these hallways knowing that her time here was ending very soon, she moved quickly, spotting her doorway.

Opening it, she walked inside – and froze.

There, waiting on her pillow, was a sprig of mistletoe and a card with her name. Chloe yanked open the doorway to her room, darting out into the hallway, looking for J.J. in almost a panic. She wore the charm under her uniform every single day without fail, keeping it close to her heart. That little charm was her reminder that she had someone in this world for her… eventually .

And caught her breath as she spotted him.

His closely cropped blond hair and camouflage uniform were unmistakable in a sea of blue, white, and gold colors. He gingerly raised a hand and stepped backward out of sight as she came around the corner – nearly tackling him in a hug.

"You're here…" she sighed almost painfully, pressing her face against his shoulder and trying not to cry as she breathed in his familiar scent. It had been so long since she'd seen him other than an occasional photo texted secretly between them.

"Of course I am," he whispered, smoothing his hand over her back. "I couldn't let my favorite person in the universe graduate without celebrating her special moment, now could I?"

A sob tore from her throat as she cracked, reaching up to cradle him even closer to her. Her hand rubbed the back of his shorn head, causing her to laugh tearfully as she backed away to look up into his face. His eyes were shining brightly, gazing at her with so much unspoken emotion as they stared at each other. His thumb caressed her cheek as his jaw worked, swallowing before he spoke again.

"I'm so very proud of you, my little queen."

"How long are you here?"

"I fly out in an hour. The guy talking at the podium was awfully long-winded," he muttered, making her laugh tearfully at his words. "I thought he'd never hush. I mean, it was beautiful, but I was scared that I wouldn't get to see you."

"How are we supposed to have our first date if you leave in less than an hour?"

"I barely was able to come. I had to swap duty assignments with one of the other fellas just so I could catch this flight. We'll have to take yet another rain check," he smiled ruefully, caressing her cheek again. "But I needed to be here for your graduation. I couldn't miss this."

"I'm so happy you are."

"Chloe…"

"Hold me," she whispered, knowing that time was ticking away. Her parents were expecting her shortly, and he was going to have to catch his flight. "This isn't fair anymore. I'm tired of all the hiding and missing each other."

"I know – and I'm sorry."

"People would say we're a couple of fools…"

"I hope so," he chuckled, dropping a soft kiss against her temple as he drew her close, holding her in his arms. "I missed you so much."

"Same here," she admitted. "Things will change now, well, in a year from now. I'm going to try to get something on the West Coast or Alaska, so I can be closer to you."

"Just get assigned someplace safe – and I'll come to you."

"And we'll have our first date…"

"And a second one…"

"And a heckuva first kiss – unless you'd like to do that now?" she encouraged, looking up at him. "How would our first kiss even start? Maybe we should practice or…"

"Chloe," he began and then drew in a shuddering breath, closing his eyes for a moment before looking at her again. "You are so special to me, and I don't want to rush things or ruin it."

"A practice run," she whispered, lifting up on her toes and curling her arms around his neck. "We could practice each time we see each other and…"

Her breath faltered as she dropped a soft kiss on the corner of his lips, feeling him sigh as his stiff shoulders suddenly relaxed. His hand that was on her back was now cradling her face as her lips parted in anticipation of a kiss that was six years in the making.

"Oh, Chloe," he breathed, brushing his lips softly against hers before nipping on her lower one, teasing it. "Our kisses will never be rushed or quick… but long, slow, deliberate," he whispered to her, punctuating each word with a faint kiss that teased at what would be coming someday between them. "I want to taste you, savor you, and lose myself…"

– And both froze as they heard someone clear their throat nearby.

"Second Lieutenant King, you've got someone at the front desk asking for you."

Chloe felt J.J. stiffen slightly as he pulled back and glanced at his watch. The change in him was noticeable as he withdrew. She reached for him and saw a flash of pain in his eyes.

"J.J., it's my parents," she volunteered. "Why don't you come meet them? They'll be surprised to see you and…"

"Chloe, I can't distract you or ruin things for you – and I'm already creating a problem by being here."

"What do you mean?"

"You think getting caught kissing a soldier in the hallway is a good look for an officer? No, you need to tell them that I was leaving – and tell your parents the same. Or better yet, don't tell them I came here because I don't need your father making problems for me."

"He wouldn't."

"I've got to catch my flight."

"J.J.," she whispered painfully. "Just come and say ‘hello' – if we want to start laying the groundwork for our relationship, then it needs to start at some point. Say ‘hello,' and then you can head out for your flight, but don't leave or run away like you're my dirty secret. We've kept this quiet for years now, and I'm tired of hiding how I feel."

"Chloe…"

"I'm not going to choose between you and my family – so you'll both need to figure this out eventually."

His lips pressed together as he looked at her warily… and nodded. She clasped his hand in hers, nearly dragging him down the hallway toward the entrance of the building where she saw her parents standing – and saw her mother lay a hand on her father's shoulder the second they spotted J.J. behind her.

"J.J., how are you?" her mother began, looking at her curiously. "It's been a while, and you look wonderful."

"Mr. and Mrs. King, how are you both doing?" J.J. began politely, holding out a hand to her father – and Chloe swallowed nervously.

"Daddy, J.J. flew in to say congratulations on my graduation – and he's getting ready to head back to the base. Wasn't that sweet of him?"

"Very," her father said, moving to shake J.J.'s hand finally as he stared him down. "Very sweet – and noted. How are your parents, young man?"

"They're doing well, thank you."

"And your sister?"

"As annoying as ever," J.J. replied, chuckling as her mother smiled, winking at Chloe. "She's spoiled rotten and gets away with murder."

"As every young girl should be – including my own."

"I agree."

There was some sort of unspoken communication hidden in those words between her father and J.J. as they stared at each other for a moment before her dad nodded. Her friend, her boyfriend , turned to her and dropped a slight kiss on her cheek before nodding.

"I've got to head out. Will you text me later?" he asked openly, and she gave him a brilliant smile. No more hiding, no more secrets. He was telling her parents that they were talking and communicating despite the distance between them. He was claiming her – and she loved it.

"I promise. Be safe."

"Always," J.J. replied in that gentle way of his before turning to her parents once more. "Mr. and Mrs. King, it was wonderful to see you both again – maybe next time we can talk about it and plan for a little more time. I would be honored to have everyone for dinner if you ever head up to Alaska."

"Where are you stationed? Juneau?" her father asked, not missing a beat.

"My time is up in the Army, and I'm heading back home – but again, we can talk over dinner sometime in the future maybe whenever Chloe gets stationed somewhere or maybe in Annapolis. It would be my treat – and my honor."

Her father grunted simply, but he did hold out his hand again, shaking J.J.'s, and her mother gave him a quick yet awkward hug. They were trying to be understanding and accepting – and she knew it. Her eyes watered for soooo many reasons as J.J. looked at her again, giving her a faint half smile before he kissed her once more on the cheek, whispering ‘bye.'

Not a moment later, as he was walking out the door, she saw an Uber pull up outside of the building and his blond head disappeared inside. A shiver raced down her spine as she stood there, crossing her empty arms to keep from reaching after him, and swallowed painfully at the sudden sensation of loss washing over her once more.

"So it's like that between you two," her father said simply – and she turned to look at him, a tearful smile wavering on her face as she nodded.

"It's just like that , Daddy."

Her father held her gaze for a moment, looking at her curiously, before nodding. She almost thought he was going to say something or become upset regarding J.J. like in the past, but instead, he turned to her mother… and cracked a smile.

"Huh, go figure. Annabelle, I guess maybe you are going to get that Alaskan cruise you've been wanting to go on sooner rather than later."

"Do you mean it?"

"Yup. I think we're going to be having dinner with that young man and his family in the not-so-near future."