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He breathed in deep. “So when I couldn’t do that anymore, she was done. And that confirmed what I think I always feared. If I wasn’t chasing glory, if I didn’t find it, who would stand by me? Rory always felt like there was nothing special about her. And she had to find that strength inside herself. And that’s what draws me to her. She is just herself. And I’ve never known quite how to be that. I just know how to be a thing. A symbol. I don’t want that anymore. I can’t want it.”

“Gideon,” said his mother, wrapping her arms around him. “We would never stop loving you. We were proud of you. But you were born naked, and not good at anything but screaming your head off and eating. You hadn’t done a damn thing for me and you were the apple of my eye, and still are. You both are. I’m sorry if that was never clear to you. I’m sorry if us being proud got mixed up somehow. But I don’t need you to be a military hero.”

His mother’s scent enveloped him. That same scent that had been there waiting for him when he woke up after his injury.

And of course, she loved him.

“I just couldn’t stand the thought of letting you down.”

“We’re all going to let each other down. Because we’re human. You were disappointed that I didn’t want to move back to the ranch. I don’t know that you understand it, but you love me.”

“Well, yeah.”

“I don’t need you to be perfect, Gideon,” Lydia said. “In fact, it’s really damned annoying. I don’t like you perfect. Because that just makes me feel inadequate.”

“Well, I think you can safely say that you’re maybe doing a little better than your addict brother.”

“Don’t say that. You’re a hero. Because you’re here. And that’s it. You will always be a hero to me. Not in spite of the fact that you have weaknesses, but because you do. You’re not an invincible robot. Don’t you see that only makes everything you’ve ever done that much more brave? Don’t let Cassidy’s failures speak for the rest of us.” Lydia swallowed. “And don’t let her speak for Rory.”

He realized, though, that it wasn’t really Cassidy. That was a convenient excuse. He just didn’t want to risk loving like this.

But he knew he had to be brave again.

He thought that his days of that were over. That now that he wasn’t in the military he didn’t have to suck it up quite so hard.

But he did.

“I might need to move to Boston,” he said. “And I bought the ranch. I was going to make that our thing. But I think I need to go to Rory.”

“What?” Lydia looked confused.

“If Rory is in Boston, then that’s where I’m going. I’m in love with her. And I can’t live without her.” He took a sharp breath. “Boston would be too loud, and it would be a step closer to my personal hell, but I’m in hell without her. So.”

“Rory didn’t move to Boston. She’s just visiting. She already had a one-way plane ticket, so she thought she would buy a return one and spend a little time there. Eat some food.”

“Lydia,” he said. “Do you know where she’s staying?”

“Yes.”

“Can I have her contact details?”

“Of course. What are you doing?”

“I think I have to do a grand gesture. I think...it has to be nothing short of a parade.”

“Well. This is perfect. Let’s get you a plane ticket.”

“Yes. Let’s get me a plane ticket.”

RORYWASONher nightly circuit, wandering the north end, looking for delicious food. She had found some and was carrying her pastry bags back to her hotel room when she stopped. The sun was setting, a glorious pink backlit by the bridge in the distance.

And there he was.

Like that day in the woods. All in black. As if needing him had made him appear.

Like magic.

Like love.