Can't Say Goodbye

by Eden Finley

I can’t help the pang of longing that hits my chest when we’re curled up together with Brady between Kit and me. It’s a heartbreakingly perfect moment that will never happen again. So I hold on tighter and breathe them in to try to remember this for as long as I can.

I want to see them again, no doubt. For a day, a week, a month. The only problem with that is each time we make it happen, this has to happen as well. The goodbyes. What goes up must come down. All hellos morph into goodbyes.

“I want someone to love me so much they couldn’t walk away if they tried.”

“Make like the Beatles and come together. Right now. Over me.”

Uncle Damon rubs his chin. “I know I’m not allowed to tell your parents anything, but can I please tell Maddox? You have no idea how proud he would be of you for pulling SEALs. Damn, even I’m impressed.”

I’ve only had one conversation with Abbey, and I already know this could go one of two ways: it’ll either be an embarrassing shitshow or a humiliating clusterfuck. Either way, I’m screwed.

“You have a thing for guys who don’t have use of one leg?” He waggles his eyebrows in Cooper’s direction. I know the correct answer here isn’t that this whole place makes me think of our uncertain future. “Yep. It’s a fetish,” I say instead. “I like it when my men can’t run away from me.”

My honorary family that my fathers built is proof that you don’t need to be traditional to be loved the way you deserve.