Saving Easton (Oakside Military Heroes Book 2)(12)

I just shake my head and smile. She studies me for a minute, as we finish eating.

"Honestly, you’ll forgive your brother. He's family, and I'm sure he got his ass chewed out by your mama. You’ll forgive her, because after all, she thought she was doing something that would make you happy.”

“As for Easton, just be there for him. If you stand by his side through this, then there’s a good chance something more might be in the cards. When he's ready, he’ll reconnect with your brother, but you have to respect his wishes on that one."

That's exactly what I was afraid of.





Chapter 8





Chapter 8


Easton





When I wake up, it's light outside. It takes me a minute to realize I slept through the night and didn't have a nightmare. No, I had a dream. A dream of being able to take Paisley out on a date, like a normal couple.

In my dream, I picked her up at her parents’ house with her parents’ and brother's blessing. I took her to the burger place she loved so much in Savannah, when we were in school, and we had burgers, fries, and milkshakes.

After dinner, we went for a walk along the riverfront, going in and out of stores, getting free samples at the candy shop, before heading back to the car, and driving around downtown, looking at the historic homes and talking all night.

Such a simple date, but one I crave. Each day Paisley visits, I want her more and more. I crave being around her. She’s like an addiction and is the one person that can pull me out of the dark place and help me open up.

In school, dating her wasn't an option, since her brother was my best friend. I'm sure it's still against some kind of guy code, even though it's been a few years since Leeland and I have spoken, but I find I don't care.

If Leeland had stayed in touch, it would be a different story. The tides have turned, and I'm now a closer friend with Paisley than I am him. Not that I want to stay friend zoned much longer, or at all really.

If I can convince Paisley to give me a chance, I'm going to take it. To do that, it means I need to push past my comfort zone and see if the doctors here can help me.

A knock on my door reminds me I have a therapy session today. Dr. Tate has been really great at working within my boundaries, and that means coming to my room. In the beginning, he would pull up a chair and sit across the room by the door. But like my nurses, doctors, and Paisley, the more I got to know him, the further into the room he was able to come.

Now, he sits on the couch during our sessions. Most of the time I don't talk much. I’ll answer his questions, and he’ll go over some things for me to try. Maybe, it's because of the dream I had of Paisley, and knowing for her, I have to work with him in order to get better, but today is different.

"I didn't have a nightmare last night," I tell him.

He doesn't even bother to hide the shock on his face.

"What do you think brought this on?"

"Paisley," I say.

"Who is Paisley?"

"She's the sister of my best friend from high school. She volunteers here and brings in service dogs. Her dog, Molly, sits on my lap, while Paisley visits, and we talk."

"Paisley sits where?" He asks.

"She started on the couch, but now it's the chair here." I point to her chair in front of me.

"Is this the same girl you walked out to the lobby with the other day?"

Yeah, I knew Lexi and Noah would tell everyone on my care team about that. They’re proud of it, and I am too as much as it scares me.

"Yes," I say. "She makes me want to push and to be better. Also, to be able to take her on a date, like in my dream."

"You had a dream about taking her on a date?" He asks.

"Yeah, last night."

While he’s busy scribbling notes down in his notebook, I keep talking.

"In school, Paisley was always off limits. Her brother said so, but I liked her even then. Her brother and I lost touch about the time of my first deployment. So, does that rule still count?" I ask, thinking out loud.

"A good friend would want you to be happy. If he trusted you enough to be your friend, then he should trust you enough to take care of his sister, though it's not really his choice, is it?" He says.

He has a point. Paisley is an adult now, and so am I. We can both make our own decisions. He might not like it, but if he's a true friend and knows this is serious and not just some fling, he’ll forgive me, right?

"Does her brother know you’re here?"

"No, and I don't want him, too. Not yet. I'm not ready to face him just yet."

Even just the thought of it ramps up my anxiety.

"You’re taking the sleeping medicine?"

"No, I haven't been for a while. I didn't like how I felt, and I couldn't wake up from the nightmares." I tell him.

"We can try a different one."

I shake my head.

"I know I'm not in a good place, but I'd like to try to do this with as little medication as possible. I don't want to be dependent on that stuff."

"I respect that. There are some more natural things we can try. Melatonin is a natural sleep aid. There are also some sleepy time teas you can try, even essential oils. Those are all more to get you to sleep. I have seen great results with meditation, too. It helps clear your head, so your focus is better."