Letters from Home (Love Beyond Reason #1)(17)

She’d known it wouldn’t be easy to bring a guy home—even at her age. She just hadn’t considered how awkward it would be if Zack were the guy.





Chapter Eight


“What in hell are you waiting for? You’re going to let that woman get away!”

Zack bit back the inappropriate retort on the tip of his tongue. “I don’t let her do anything, Dad.”

His father had been distant when Zack was a kid, but they were much closer these days. He chalked it up to joining the Army. His dad had done the same when he was nineteen. Now, their relationship had evolved from father-son to good friends. His dad saw more than Zack let anyone else see, including his infatuation for one Elena Rodriguez.

“You like her, don’t you?”

“It’s a little complicated.”

“Well, of course it’s complicated.” His dad banged a fist against the table. “Otherwise, you’d probably be dating a man!”

Zack chuckled when the waitress came up and timidly set their dinners on the table. He thanked her then placed his napkin in his lap. They’d been coming here for lunch every Saturday since he’d gotten home.

He picked up his fork and stabbed the steak he’d ordered. “I just need a little more time.”

“I’d think time isn’t something you have a great deal of. What you need”—he pointed with his fork, narrowing his familiar gray eyes—“is a plan B.”

Frustration ate at him. Those stupid letters. Christmas was in three days. Another short week after that, and Lena would return to duty. Back to Sam Houston for new orders, a possible relocation, and three more years of service.

Why? Why had he made such a ridiculous promise? Because Christmas was about love. It was about family. It was early mornings with his pretend family, sitting near the tree. The year he’d been given his first pocket knife, and the time Mrs. R had bought him a sweater. He’d lost his family once and been gifted with a replacement—the Rodriquez family. Was it too much to ask for the best Christmas present ever, Lena’s love?

Zack cleared his throat, folded his napkin, and laid it next to his plate. “I had a plan for Christmas morning to tell her everything. I didn’t expect it to be this dicey. I definitely didn’t think I’d have to go through her guard to get to her.”

His dad laughed. “Uncle EJ made a stink the day I came for your mother.”

Zack stopped the forkful of food halfway to his mouth. His dad rarely spoke of the old days, or even of his mom anymore.

“It was different in those days. Seemed like we all had a wild hair. Your mom’s parents didn’t want her to go. They thought it was a mistake to marry a soldiering man.” His dad shook off the memory. “Maybe it was.”

Zack suddenly knew what it meant for a sentence to be loaded. Holy moly. “No,” he answered succinctly. “It wasn’t. Besides, Lena’s a soldier, too. And perfectly capable of making her own decisions.”

“Son.” Zack nearly dropped his fork. His father never called him that. A wistful expression clouded the old man’s face. “You never know how long you’ll have, so make good use of your time.”

He thought about what his father had said throughout the day. When he wanted to go to her, Lena had disappeared to Sacramento with her sisters and mother. Christmas shopping. Now the day was over, and he hadn’t seen her at all.

He tossed and turned in bed, the one he’d treated himself to after eight years in bachelor quarters and less than luxury accommodations. He wanted her here, next to him, even for the short time she was home. He wanted to hear her whisper his name and say that she loved him.

But she’d fallen in love with the letter guy, who was only a part of him. The silly romantic part…he should have taken more time to swear or tell a dirty joke or two.

What if she didn’t love the rest of him?

Zack woke groggy and restless. He showered, lingering longer than usual as thoughts of his predicament continued to fill his mind. But maybe it wasn’t all that bad. They’d had a good time on Friday night. And she’d stood up for him, too. He hadn’t expected that.

“She loves you,” he said to the face in the mirror before he slid his razor down over his cheek. His stomach clenched, hearing the words echo against the tiles of his bathroom. He just needed to show her he loved her. Show her what he offered her was real.

After dressing, he drove the half-mile to Sacred Heart Church and parked his Camaro. The way the early morning light illuminated the rose window above the main doors, he could believe he had a chance. If there was one thing he believed in right at this moment, it was hope.

A knock on the window made his heart jump and pound against his rib cage. Mike was standing there with a look of what-the-hell on his face.

Zack rolled down the window.

“Are you coming in or have they finally ex-communicated you?”

“Haha.” Zack closed his window and opened the door to get out. A breeze swept through the parking lot. “It’s going to be warm today.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Mike hesitated, the pause filled with uncertainty and passive aggression. They’d never had anything between them before. “Look, it’s taking a while to get used to you…and Lena. It’s weird.”

“I don’t want it to mess with our friendship.”