Saving Easton (Oakside Military Heroes Book 2)(15)

I set the book down, get up, and then pace the room. I find the more I do this, the easier it is to walk to the lobby with her. There we go, another thought of Paisley. I sit back down and try to read, but I can't.

When there’s a knock on my door, I look up to find Noah.

"I found the rest of the books in the series." He looks a little hesitant.

Noah has always respected my boundaries and never wanted to push me too far other than to make me come here. Which I think was a great idea.

"You can come in," I say, and he looks relieved. He sets the books on the coffee table, and then slowly comes to sit in the same chair Paisley does.

"Almost done with the book I see." He says, nodding towards the book in my lap.

"Yeah, it's pretty good. I was never much of a reader."

"But with nothing else to do on deployment, you learn to like reading," he says.

I nod in agreement.

"So, how are you doing? You keep pushing your limits, and I want to make sure you're okay."

"I'm fine. Paisley makes it easy to step outside my comfort zone."

Noah gives me this look like he knows something I don't know.

I sigh. If I consider anyone a friend, it's Noah. Really, I should confide in him more than I just did, because he deserves it. He's helped me more than I can ever repay.

"I had such a crush on Paisley growing up, but she was my best friend’s sister, so it was never an option. But when things got bad... it was her that pulled me out of it. She’s the reason I was able to keep going. The feelings I had for her, they haven't gone away, and if anything, they’re stronger now."

"She's who you want to get better for."

I nod.

"For me, it was Lexi. She was my reason to push. I know without a shadow of a doubt, if Lexi hadn't been there that day in Germany, I would have given up and would have died there," Noah says.

I know a little of Noah's story about his then fiancé, Whitney. She came to his bedside in Germany and screamed at him, saying he was selfish, because he was burned, and then shouted how he ruined their wedding pictures and broke it off with him right then with him lying in the hospital in critical condition.

Lexi was there and went off on her, defending Noah. Then, Lexi told Noah to fight for her, because she wasn't going anywhere. Noah thought at first it was just her being thankful he had saved her brother, but it developed into so much more.

By the time he got out of the hospital, he moved in with her and ran full steam ahead on getting Oakside up and running.

"But my feelings for Paisley, feel like a betrayal of my friendship with Leeland. He always told his friends that his sister was off limits. I respected that. Joining the military, was a big draw to get out of town and away from the temptation."

"Maybe, you should talk to Leeland. After all, you’re both adults now. Explain how you feel. I bet his feelings have changed now that everyone is grown up. We both know how boys are in high school. They have one goal. Sex, but as adults, things change."

"We haven't talked in years. We lost contact during my first deployment when he was at school partying." Noah looks at me, like I just lost a million dollars on that game show because I said the sky was green.

"Then, is it really a betrayal if you date Paisley? Sounds like you guys aren't much of friends anymore. Paisley is here for you, and she’s here now. She can make her own decisions because the Paisley I know is strong willed and independent. She doesn't strike me as the type of girl who would be okay with someone else making decisions for her."

"No, she isn't." I agree.

Noah reaches into his pocket and pulls out a phone, handing it to me.

"What's this?"

"It's a phone. See you press here to turn it on..."

"I know what it is, smart ass. Why are you handing it to me?"

"It's included in your plan here. I programmed in Lexi’s and my number, along with your doctors. There’s a messaging system for your nurse that’s on duty. I also took the liberty of putting in Paisley's number." When he says that, it catches my attention.

I take the phone and look up at him, as he has a smirk on his face.

"You should text her. She how her day's going. Let her know you're thinking of her. When I got a phone in the hospital, it was a game changer. There are books on there, and there’s also the Internet, so you can get on social media and look up support groups. Even find a new hobby. It's all right there. But being able to talk to Lexi anytime I wanted or needed, it changed my life," he says.

As Noah gets ready to leave, he stops at my door. "I have to make the rounds, but I’ll come by again before I leave."

I stare at the phone in my hand. If I text Paisley, it changes things. It's me taking the first step, instead of her always coming to visit me. Is that a step I'm ready to take? I think I am. I have to push out of my comfort zone, right?

After our last conversation, where we admitted we had crushes on each other, that was pushing it, but this step feels like more.

Maybe, it's time for more.





Chapter 11





Chapter 11


Paisley





This family dinner sucks. But let's be fair, any family dinner my brother invites his girlfriend to sucks. Molly doesn't like her, and I don't blame her, but Molly makes it known she doesn't like her. She won't let her near me and is constantly growling at her, and any time she laughs, Molly barks.