Page 101 of Ebbing Tides

Silence fell between us once again as his words settled in, acting as a balm to the wounds lacerating my heart. And then, without a chance to stop it from happening, I began to laugh as the tears stung the back of my eyes.

Sid was quick to do the same.

“You really laid it on thick with that one,” I said, sniffling and stretching my thumb and forefinger across my eyes.

“Fuck yeah, I did,” he replied, wiping a rebellious tear away from his cheek.

“Effective.”

He nodded, pulling his lips between his teeth. He was holding back, keeping his emotions at bay. So was I. But I feared … Iknew… the moment I got into my truck and drove away from this house …

There'd be no stopping the waves from crashing once again.

But they would settle; they always did.

I looked forward to the ebbing tides, the calming of the sea contained within my soul. They were coming—I could feel it—and, man, I couldn't wait.

Sid stood, Lido jumped off the couch, and I followed. I looked my friend in the eye, seeing the guy who had once been the biggest pain in my ass during basic training. How quickly that had changed. How quickly we’dbothchanged. He was right—we had grown up together—and where the fuck would life had taken me had he not been by my side every step of the way?

I wasn’t going to think about that now. I didn’t want to think about it ever again.

He grabbed my hand and pulled me in for a tight, long hug. “Text me when you get there,” he said against my ear. “Don't fucking disappear on me.”

“Not gonna disappear,” I assured him. “Would you mind checking on my house? I don't know when I'll be back. Could be tomorrow or …”

“You got it, man.”

He clapped a hand against my back, then stood back. “Now, get the fuck out of here before your sister guilts you into going to the old bastard's funeral.”

“I'm going,” I said, patting my thigh and signaling for Lido to follow.

We headed for the door, a new rush of determination burning bright in my core.

“Hey, Serg.”

I looked over my shoulder. “Yeah?”

“I'm glad we made it out of there alive,” he said, his voice quiet and gruff.

“Yeah,” I replied. “So am I.”

“Love you, dude.”

I smiled despite knowing I was seconds from falling apart. “Love you too.”

***

I glanced over my shoulder at my truck, parked at the curb, looking for Lido. I tried to find a fraction of calm in seeing his smiling face, poking out from the top of the half-open window, yet found none.

I had thought this would be a good idea. I had thought I could do this. But standing in front of this door, I doubted every ability I’d ever possessed to be brave. For fuck’s sake, I had been to war, and while I’d never embarked into enemy territory without a little fear coalescing with the blood in my veins, I had done it without hesitation. But I was frozen now.

Turn around. Leave.

I squeezed my eyes shut, filled my lungs until my chest hurt. Then, before I allowed myself another chance to think, I rang the doorbell.

From inside, footsteps approached until the door was pulled open to reveal a face I hadn’t seen in what felt like an eternity.

She stared at me as she traded her smile for something more shocked, more horrified.