Total pages in book: 51
Estimated words: 48271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 48271 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 241(@200wpm)___ 193(@250wpm)___ 161(@300wpm)
Hearing all this, I can’t help but wonder how the hell I remind him of this guy because so far there are zero similarities.
“The night before they deployed, we all went out for drinks, and I ended up spotting a photo he kept in his wallet of this beautiful young woman. I asked him about her, figuring she was his wife or girlfriend, but turned out she was his best friend.”
Now we’re getting somewhere…
“As I listened to him talk about her, it was obvious his feelings ran a hell of a lot deeper. He eventually admitted as much but said he’d take it to his grave. Sadly, he almost did.”
Lead forms in the pit of my stomach at that last remark. “Why? What happened?”
His expression turns grave. “That summer, he and two men from his team were held captive and tortured.”
“Jesus,” shock radiates through that one word.
“It was a damn shame,” he agrees solemnly. “He spent almost a year in a rehabilitation center before he finally went back home. And guess where that was?”
“Where?” I ask.
“That best friend.”
The weight of that revelation hangs in a moment of silence.
He leans forward, eyes locking with mine. “You see, sometimes when a choice is taken from you, it can change your perspective. Make you realize what you’re willing to risk and what you aren’t. I guess the fear he had about loving this girl turned out to be far less scary than never getting the chance to find out.”
I swallow hard, the knowledge reflecting in his eyes hitting close to home.
“It can also make you realize what’s always been right in front of you,” he adds, his insinuation loud and clear. “Maybe that’s what’s happening to you with Ellie. Her taking this step without you is finally putting things into perspective.”
I think about that and wonder if he’s not right. There’s no denying Ellie is beautiful, I’ve always thought so, even when we were kids, but she’s always been more. She’s my one constant. The person who knows me better than anyone else, including the man before me.
“Let’s say you’re right about all of this, and I decide to do something about it. What if it doesn’t work out? What then?” Fear strangles me at the thought.
“What if it does?”
That response strikes with the force of a sledgehammer, awakening a profound sense of hope among infinite possibilities.
“You’ve had a rough start to life, kid. We both know that. But don’t let it control your future. Search what’s in here”—he points to his chest, his gaze unwavering—“the unknown can be scary, no doubt about it, but what’s even scarier is always wondering what could have been and never knowing. You need to decide which one you can live with more.”
He chooses to end the conversation there, rising from his chair with a quiet resolve.
His boots thud under his weight as he heads toward the door.
“Hey, Ryland?” I call out, my voice weighted with the decision I need to make.
He pauses, his hand resting on the doorknob as he glances back at me over his shoulder.
“What happened to Jaxson after he went back? Do you know?” My heart pounds in sync with the question, fearing for what the answer might be.
Until a smile transforms his face, replacing the solemnity that was there moments before. “He married her, and they have a beautiful daughter now,” he reveals, pride evident in his voice. “Guess the risk he took paid off.”
The last of his words are an echo as he walks out, leaving me with the weight of the choice I need to make.
The room seems to expand, becoming larger and emptier, as if it’s holding its breath, waiting for me to fill it with my decision. My leap into the unknown.
Ellie
Eight Years Old
My bare feet dangle off the dock as I sit next to Gunnar at Gap Lake, a place we come to often when we want to fish.
I slurp at the juices of my melting popsicle I hold in one hand, while gripping my fishing pole in the other, praying I get a bite this time.
Thanks to Gunnar, fishing is something I learned to do this summer and it’s been so much fun. I haven’t caught anything yet, but I’m hoping that changes today. So far, it’s not looking too promising considering we’ve been here for almost an hour without so much as a sighting.
“I sure hope we get some action soon,” I say, searching the glacier-blue water for any kind of movement. Though, it’s hard to see much of anything through the reflection of the mountains.
“Don’t worry, we will,” Gunnar assures me. “Ryland says next to a rainy day an overcast one is the best time to catch fish.”
Mr. Ryland would know. He’s a pro at this stuff and taught Gunnar everything he knows.
“Just need to be patient is all,” he adds, giving me a half smirk.