Page 89 of Brighter Shades of Light

“Sometimes I wonder how it would be right now if I was just a regular student when we met.” Cody’s sad tone matched the look in his eyes. “I’d have my degree and probably have a job by now. I would be able to sleep beside you every night.”

“But you wouldn’t be happy,” I said, touching his jaw. “That life isn’t you, Cody.Thisis what you’re meant to do.”

“I love you. You know that, right?”

I smiled before pressing another kiss to his lips. “Yes, you silly man. I know. I love you, too.”

Eventually, I had to leave him. I warned against looking back at him, yet I did so anyway. He stood with his hands at his sides and a sad smile on his face. We’d said goodbye so many times. It never got easier.

***

It was now the beginning of November. Over the months, I had flown out to see him a handful of times. Each visit, I only stayed the weekend, since I couldn’t be away from the university longer than that. But seeing him for two days was better than not seeing him at all. We talked a lot, though, even if it was only for a few minutes each evening.

Now, I was about to leave to see him again.

The U.S. Marine Corps birthday was on November tenth, and a ball was held each year to celebrate the history and remember the Marines who served, as well as show respect for the traditions of the Corps. It was a huge event for Marines all over. The Birthday Ball was being held in Washington D.C., and Cody had invited me to accompany him as his date.

Throughout my career, I had attended many events, given lectures in front of thousands, and gone to many celebrations. This one felt more important than all of them, and it made me more nervous. I had ordered a new tailored suit to wear, sparing no expense. Cody would be wearing his dress blues, and I wanted to look like I deserved to stand beside him.

As I was packing my suitcase the Friday afternoon before I left, my phone rang.

“Dr. Vale,” I answered without looking at the caller information.

“Hey, Sebastian,” Emily said. “How are you?”

I stopped packing and sat on the edge of the bed. We hadn’t spoken in months. “I’m fine. Is something wrong?”

“No! Not at all.” She sounded flustered. “I was just…I don’t know. I’m sure you won’t care either way, but I wanted you to hear it from me and not from motor mouth Vance, because I’m sure Claudia will blab to him. Steve and I got engaged.”

Steve was the baseball player she had started seeing last December. I was relieved she hadn’t called for another reason, like anotherI want you backplea. She and Steve seemed happy, though, which was probably why I hadn’t heard from her in a while.

“I’m happy for you, Emily. Truly.”

“You’re not upset?”

“Why would I be?” I stood back up and continued packing, holding the phone between my ear and shoulder.

“I don’t know. I just don’t want it to be weird.”

“Emily, listen to me.” I paused to consider my words. “It doesn’t matter to me if you get married. I’m in your past, as you are in mine. And we’re allowed to move on with other people and find the happiness we both deserve.”

“You’ve found your happiness with Cody?”

“Yes.” I didn’t tell her, but I hoped to marry him someday. Perhaps once he graduated TBS and was stationed at a Marine Corps base. If marriage was even something he wanted.

“Then I’m happy for you,” she said. “I would’ve never forgiven myself if my actions last November broke you two up for good. I was still trying to come to terms with everything back then. I thought you were my happily ever after, Sebastian, and it took me a while to figure out I was wrong.”

The phone call felt like the end of a chapter. We had our own lives now and were no longer bound by strings holding us in the past.

***

The Washington Hilton in D.C. was hosting the Marine Corps Birthday Ball. The grand hotel matched the expected elegance and class of the event, and as Cody and I arrived, my hands shook a little.

“You okay, Doctor?” Cody arched a brow at me.

He looked extraordinarily handsome in his dress blues, so much so that my breath hitched in my throat almost every time I looked at him.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I said, after finding a place to park. “Only a little nervous.”