Things are good. Really good. I’m sleeping. I’m…doing other things that a healthy adult does in bed. Ivan finally stopped trying to claw my eyes out.

And Gloria is. Everything.

I’m happy. Happier than before I deployed. I’m better than I was with two fucking—sorry—legs. I never thought I’d get to this point. I’m still working my way back to where I was in some areas. But overall, this is the best time in my entire life.

I didn’t realize how much I wanted someone to come home to. Instead of hanging out at work, clearing a few hundred things off my list when everyone else leaves, I’m leading the pack out the door so I can see her face faster, get that smile fixed on me sooner.

She’s doing great. She’s planning the hell out of the town Christmas festival and light show. Things at work are going well for her. It’s like she’s this flower that’s finally bloomed. I think she’s surprised by how far she’s come. But I’m not. It was always in her.

I want to move things in a more permanent direction. You know? Like more than just swapping house keys and sleepovers. I want to ask her to move in. But I don’t want to spook her. Not when things are this good.

She’s been there for me. Even when I didn’t deserve her. Even when I was trying to fix everything myself. She stood by me, nudged me when I needed it. I want a hell of a lot more than just living together. I want a life together.

One step at a time. One foot in front of the other. Right?

65

Things were practically perfect exactly the way they were. For the first time in her adult life, Gloria felt comfortable, secure, appreciated. Work was challenging and interesting. She’d survived an online QuickBooks course and thoroughly enjoyed a weekend workshop on floral design. Her apartment was the cozy home she’d always wanted. And Aldo was…Aldo. He was the burliest, brightest part of every day.

There was just one teeny, tiny thing.

He’d been holding back on her. Keeping her up on that sky-high pedestal, drowning her in romance and sweetness. She wasn’t complaining. She wasn’t a monster, for God’s sake. But every glimpse she got of the darker side of sex, she wanted to explore it more. And she wanted Aldo to take her there.

He made her feel safe. Because of that, she could trust him to make her feel craved.

They’d enjoyed a flirty dinner together. Teasing, private touches. Long, warm glances. And it was about to pay off.

Aldo pushed in the front door with more brute force than finesse, stripping her of her sweater before the door was even closed.