Ansley's nerves spiked when I pulled into a gas station outside of town, and filled up my truck. I pretended not to notice the way she glanced in the review mirror or slightly over her shoulder on the way over. She had every reason to be freaked out. Seeing someone get killed wasn't for the weak of heart. I'd never forget the first time I saw someone die overseas. The fear in his eyes as his life slipped away from him. The blood leaking from his chest after the shot, it ran dark and into the gravely sand beneath him. It haunted me for weeks after that, until it became so normal that it wasn't a surprise to see the light fade away, and all you could do was pray it didn't happen to you. When I slid back into the driver's seat with a couple Coke's and chicken strips from the store, Ansley didn't budge. I started the engine, and glanced over at her. "Hungry?"She turned to face me, underneath her pretty eyes were swollen from crying, and I knew nothing I could say would wash away those
“Mr. Ernest, put the newspaper away!”The man pushing his late seventies looked at me over the top of his newspaper and dramatically licked his finger before turning the page. In his defense, hiring a fitness trainer was his wife’s idea.For three months, he sat at the tricycle in the corner of the gym, reading his newspaper while I tried to encourage him to work out—obviously, with no luck.The florescent lighting reflected off his balding head while his only movement, besides turning the paper, was to push up his tiny framed glasses on his crooked nose.I leaned against the floor to ceiling mirror surrounding us and took a drink of my bottled water. At least his reluctant attitude gave me extra time to work out for myself.“Dude is relentless,” Corey said.Corey, another trainer leaned beside me, offering me one of his mini pretzels. I snagged one, laughing to myself at his choice in snacks. With three y
I shamelessly watched Ansley watch down the stairs in front of me and toward the passenger seat of my pickup. It’d been years since I’d seen her, and time had been good to her. Mr. Sanders mentioned she worked part-time as a fitness trainer and seeing her, I understood. She looked good enough to eat. But, that was one meal I’d have to skip if I wanted to keep my balls. Her Dad wasn’t going for that, and it wasn’t the reason I was hired. I needed to get this prick off her back and make it safe. What a coward, threatening a woman. She hopped into the passenger seat and pointed us in the direction of the cell phone store. I could remember when Ansley and her grandmother had the wreck that took her leg. The tears in her eyes lying in that hospital bed would break anyone’s heart. I also remembered her dad giving her a pep talk and the way it soared her confidence. Ansley never took shit from anyone, which it didn’t surprise me, that she broke it of
The screwdriver incident followed me around like a bad day. To know Marcus would do something so petty pissed me off and embarrassed me. Madden was right … what did I see in him? The rest of the day flew by and I felt myself relax when softball practice neared. Madden plopped down in the passenger seat of my car. “Any more surprises in store for today?” “Just softball and my shift at the restaurant.” Madden sighed. “Damn girl, do you ever sleep?” I smiled. I liked to keep busy for many reasons. Paying the bills being the biggest one. My apartment was small and crappy but a lot when I had other expenses. I couldn’t ask my dad for pride reasons, so I did what any college-aged girl needed to. The softball field sat in the back corner of the campus surrounded by woods and bleachers. It was my time to relax, other than the gym and I loved every minute of it. My practice partner, Sarah, waited for me by the fence, noticing Ma
“Push it.”Ansley spotted the middle-aged woman on the weight bench while motivating her. She looked in her element. After the night before I wasn’t sure how she’d be this morning. When I heard her in the kitchen, and noticed the time, I knew she wouldn’t let this Marcus kid get to her.I was glad. I didn't always know the right thing to say to someone, especially a hurt female.Seeing those tears in her eyes really pissed me off. I could have crushed his trachea the night before. When I pressed my boot against his chest, I felt the fear in him. I liked it. It wasn’t normal to find pleasure in someone’s fear, and I recognized it as dangerous early on in my time overseas. I shoved it aside, the excitement of hurting our enemy, and crammed it down so deep I thought I’d gotten rid of it.Guess not.Mr. Ernest, Ansley’s favorite trainee, dramatically turned the page of his newspaper and sho
Rays of morning light streaked through the crack in my bedroom blinds, waking me. I groaned, rubbing my eyes with my fists. It felt like someone hit me in the head with a hammer, or ran over me with a truck. I kicked my leg and swung my arms to get out of my blankets because a thick layer of sweat covered my skin. What time is it? What’s the day? I rolled my leg over, noticing a glass of water and aspirin sitting on my nightstand. I tried to remember what happened the night before, only gathering bits and pieces. Oh yeah, the barn party. I grabbed my leg, slipped the sleeve over my thigh and tossed the aspirin into the back of my throat. A headache danced around my vision, promising me a fun-filled day of torture—crap. It’s Friday. My clock on my nightstand read seven-fifty-five. I bounded up in a hurry, grabbing clothes and tossing them until I looked somewhat presentable. My door crashed against the opposite wall as I barreled through the barrier. Madden was up before I made
The morning sun woke me. It felt unreal to wake up naturally compared to Ansley turning on the shower or rushing around late. I groaned, stretching my arms above my head and staring at the tiled ceiling.I didn’t check my phone to see what time it was, because I figured it was early, since I’d been used to getting up at the crack of dawn while on active duty. The sheets clung to my sweaty skin as I peeled them away and walked toward the bathroom.Ansley kept the thermostat too high for my taste, but it was her apartment, I was the guest. I made it to the doorjamb of the hallway when her door opened and she walked into the hallway with me.She wore a pair of bright pink pajama short and a tank top. My gaze dropped to her tits, unable to stop myself from looking at the soft outline of her nipples through her shirt.If my morning wood hadn’t already been at attention, her soft curves would have drew him out.Get it together, Madd
I rolled over in my bed, and buried my head into my pillow. The memories from the night before assaulted my brain, shaming me further into my covers. As if Madden getting into a fight because of me wasn't embarrassing enough, I called him out about not kissing me. It was depravity to ask him about it. I knew my dad would crap bricks if he found out Madden laid a finger on me, not to mention Sammy. But that little girl inside still looked up at him with wide lustful eyes. I groaned, and kicked my leg in a way a toddler threw a tantrum. My nightstand clock read seven on a Sunday, which sucked, but I would never go back to sleep now that I'd woken up. I swung my leg down, and grabbed my prosthetic one, while putting it on, I debated on going for a run. It would definitely calm my nerves, and hopefully, make me forget the embarrassment from the night before. I grabbed my clothes, and put on my tennis shoes. The living room was silent, besides the very soft sound of Madden's breathi