Come Back for Me (Arrowood Brothers #1)(2)

He puts his hands up. “All right, brother, no need to look like you’re about to slice me open. I get it. No going home. I’m just worried. I’ve seen a lot of guys get out and struggle to navigate civilian life. As much as we bitch about this life, it becomes us, you know?”

He’s right. Hell, I’ve seen it too, but I wasn’t ready for getting out to be my reality. I would’ve done twenty years with a smile because the navy saved my life. I was going to end up in jail if I hadn’t enlisted. Then, when I was in, I got selected for BUDs and refused to ever be anything else. Now, it isn’t my choice.

“I’m not sure what else I could even be at this point.”

“My buddy Jackson has a company that takes broken SEALs, I’m sure he has room for one more.”

I flip him off. “I’ll show you broken.”

Before we can get any further into a spat, the officers come around, letting us know we’re preparing for landing and how they want the offload to go.

Homecomings are like nothing anyone can comprehend. They are filled with emotions, balloons, fanfare, tears of happiness, and a lot of excitement. The wives are dressed up, and the kids look perfect and polished when we know that their lives the last nine months were anything but. You can see the families so ready for a glimpse of their loved one they would climb on top of each other.

Then there is how we feel.

Our nerves are different. We are ready to get home and see the people we love, but at the same time, we know that it won’t be easy. Loving a man who is preparing to leave again can’t be easy. It’s why I’m grateful that love and marriage were never high up on my priority list.

I like knowing that there is no sacrifice made in order to love me.

The commander falls quiet, waiting for everyone’s attention. “Patterson and Caldwell will go first since they had babies while we were gone. Then it’ll be alphabetical to deplane. Once you’ve checked out with me, grab your gear and don’t report back to base for two weeks, understand?”

“Aye.” We all answer in unison.

He puts the clipboard down and eyes us all. “Don’t make me have to explain to my wife why I have to leave home to come bail one of you idiots out.”

A few of us laugh, but he isn’t because it may have happened two deployments ago. Thankfully, it wasn’t me.

The plane touches down, and I swear I can feel the energy shift. Since it’s alphabetical, I’ll be one of the first off, but our team is filled with guys who have kids. I’ll wait until they’re off, take the ass-chewing from Commander Hansen, and go on my merry way the same as the other single guys do.

Commander calls my name, but I stay rooted. His voice rises again. “Arrowood!” He glares at me, but I shrug. “Jesus, every damn deployment you morons do this. Fine, I’ll call your name twice, and if you don’t get up, you’re moved to the back of the line. Idiots. I’m surrounded by them.”

“See you in a few weeks,” Liam says as his name is called.

“I’ll be sure to say goodbye.”

He slaps me on my chest. “You do that.”

After the rest of the names are called, I hear mine again.

Commander doesn’t look at all happy, but I see the hint of pride hidden behind his scowl. “You’re a good man.”

“Those kids want their fathers.”

He nods. “Here’s your paperwork. I’ll see you back in fourteen days.”

I nod, take the paper, and head off. The sun is shining, and the air smells clean. There’s no dust or dirt clinging to my skin as I walk down the stairs.

“Yo, douchebag.” I freeze for a second before turning to face my brother—who isn’t supposed to be here.

“Sean?” He walks toward me, arms open and a huge smile on his lips.

“Good to see you home in one piece.”

We give each other a hug, slamming our hands on each other’s backs. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“I figured someone should see you home from your last deployment.”

“Well, it’s good to see you,” I say with a smile.

“It’s good to see you too, little brother.”

I may be the youngest, but I’m not little. Sean is the shortest out of us, but he has the biggest heart. I sometimes wish I was more like him.

“You know, I can slice you from ass to cheek in about ten seconds, you really want to spar?”

He slaps me on the shoulder. “Not today, I’m here for something else.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah, we have to go meet Declan and Jacob . . .”

A sliver of worry fills me. We don’t exactly have family reunions. In fact, I think the last time the four of us were together was the day I graduated from boot camp. My brothers and I are all one year apart going down the line. My poor mother had four kids in four years and then spent the next seven years raising four boys who weren’t known for being easy kids. We banded together and were best friends—in all things mischievous.

Now, though, we’re all scattered like the wind and only see each other separately for the most part.

“Meet them where.”

Sean clenches his jaw and then releases a heavy sigh. “Sugarloaf. Our father is dead. It’s time to go home.”