Page 98 of Not How I Saw That Going

I can always count on Caleb to tell it to me straight, but I don’t always want to hear it.

“So I shouldn’t fall for her?”

“I didn’t say that.” He pops the lid of the can. “Just make sure you’re ready. For your sake as well as hers.”

I lean against the counter opposite of Caleb.AmI ready?

Eight years ago, I thought I was ready to join the war, and look how that turned out. But this is a relationship; there are no guns or bombs to dodge. Who am I kidding? The pain Lyndi could inflict on me if she pushed me away would be worse than any brush with death.

But she’s also helped heal me. I don’t feel broken when I’m with her. There’s hope and light and all the things that used to exist years ago.

“No way!” Caleb’s shout brings me back to the present.

His eyes are wide, and he’s looking at something on his phone. “I got in.”

It takes me a moment to decipher what he said. “You’re going to the academy?” I push off against the counter, excitement bubbling in my chest for my best friend. I always knew he could do it.

“Yeah, buddy!” he whoops, pumping his fists in the air. He was worried last week after his physical fitness test and background check, but I knew he’d pass with flying colors.

“I’m happy for you, man.” I hit his shoulder, the man equivalent of a hug.

“I’m proud of you, too. Finally going after a girl because you want to.”

I shift my weight. “It’s just a fake date.”

He smiles knowingly at me. “I don’t believe that for one second. It might take a gun to your back to get you running sometimes, but once you’re moving, you can’t be stopped.”

I hope he’s right. But I’m afraid this all ends with me up against a brick wall, gun still aimed at my back instead.

“Just remember what I said.” Caleb jumps over the back of the couch and picks up the remote. “And don’t have too much fun tonight. She already has one kid.”

I grab the first thing I can find off the counter and chuck it at him. His keys smack against his shoulder and he jumps up. I run out the door before he can retaliate.

I pull up in front of Lyndi’s apartment to find her and Crew waiting outside. I straighten my button-up shirt and meet them on the sidewalk. A light yellow sundress hugs Lyndi’s curves, stopping just above her knees to reveal legs that are much too appealing. White tennis shoes complete the look.

I clear my throat and focus on her face. “Hey.”

“Hi.” If she’s nervous to see me after our kiss, she doesn’t show it. She’s confident and carefree at the same time. Her hair is pulled up in a loose wavy bun, different strands appearing lighter and darker in the sun. She’s spring and fall mixed into one.

“Weird! Look at my bug.” Crew’s arm shoots forward with a little too much momentum and said bug flies at me. It leaps onto my chest, and it’s not just any bug. It’s a freaking grasshopper. I fall off the curb, swatting at the awful vermin. A horn honks behind me and I stumble back onto the sidewalk, which must be enough to convince the grasshopper to leave.

“Ugh.” I cringe, dusting off its invisible footprints. Grasshoppers are the worst.

“I’m sorry, what just happened?” Lyndi doubles over with laughter, but Crew is less than amused.

“You killed Fred.” He stomps his foot on the cement.

He named it?

I scratch the back of my neck. “Sorry, bud. He kind of scared me.”

“You owe me a new one.” His lips pucker and his eyes narrow.

“Okay.” I try not to cringe just thinking of touching another one. I peek up at Lyndi. “Do you think he’ll go for a roly-poly instead?”

The hundreds of freckles on her cheeks are practically dancing with delight. “What do you have against grasshoppers?”

I turn a glare of my own on her. “You don’t like bikes, I don’t like grasshoppers. Don’t judge me until you’ve been stuck in a storm of dust and grasshoppers.” I shudder again. Minus the loss I faced in the Middle East, that had been the worst ten minutes of my life.