Can't Fight It - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,28
them to his forehead.
“Sweet dreams, sweet boy,” she says, her voice soft and gentle.
I have to push my hands into the pockets of my jeans to keep from kissing her. The urge is strong, but I fight it. Instead, I step up to the crib and lean over, placing a kiss on his forehead. “Love you, son.” When I stand back up, she’s there. Right there. We stare at each other, a current passing between us. Neither of us willing to move in fear of breaking the connection.
“I think I’ll take that beer now,” she says and rushes from the room.
I count to ten, and then twenty, then thirty before I leave the room and follow after her. I find her in the kitchen with two beers, one in each hand. She hands me one and takes a long pull from the other. She grimaces.
“I’m not much of a beer drinker,” she confesses.
“No? What’s your drink of choice?” I ask, taking a sip of my own. I move to the living room, hoping she’ll follow me. I’m not disappointed when she takes the seat on the opposite end of the couch. Not close enough, but she’s not hidden behind her door either, so I’ll take what I can get.
“Fruity. I prefer to not taste the alcohol.”
“Got it.” She smiles, and I don’t want things to grow awkward, so I begin. “I enlisted in the Army when I was eighteen. I was young and had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I knew that I didn’t want to go to college, that just wasn’t for me. So, when a recruiter came to my high school and talked to my senior class, it just felt right. I enlisted. My parents, although worried, supported me. Turns out, I loved it. I was good at it, and I met my brothers-in-arms. Those are relationships I will never forget.”
“That had to be hard being away from your family.”
“It was, but as time went on, it became my normal. I found out that I loved the Army. It gave me a sense of pride fighting for my country.”
“It’s very honorable.”
I nod. Her praise warms something inside me. “Anyway, I would come home on leave. Most of the time, for a couple of weeks, max. My last leave of absence, Chase and I met up, and we pretty much got hammered. I lost track of the number of shots and drinks we had. It wasn’t something we often did, but I was going away for at least nine months, so we made the best of our last night together.”
“No judgment zone, Colton. We’ve all done things we regret.”
“Yeah, but I can’t regret that night. It gave me Milo.”
Her eyes widen. “Oh.”
I go on to tell her how I told Laura that my name was Chase. I don’t stop until we get to the present. Me being a single father to a little boy whose mother signed her rights away to him.
“Wow.”
“Yeah, so now you know.”
“You’re a good man, Colton Callahan.”
“He’s my son. There is no other option but for me to try and be both mom and dad for him, and love him unconditionally.”
“Thank you for telling me. For trusting me with your past.”
“I’m not going to push you, but I want you to know that you can trust me.”
She gives me a weak smile. “It’s late. I should get to bed.” She stands, and downs the rest of her beer, with yet another grimace. “That is truly awful.”
“You didn’t have to finish it.”
“Isn’t that alcohol abuse?” she asks with a hint of mischief in her eyes.
“That it is, Hollis. That it is. Thank you for tonight. For putting up with my crazy family, your help with Milo, and listening.”
“Anytime. Goodnight, Colton.” She stops in the kitchen and tosses her bottle in the trash, then disappears into the laundry room.
I stare after her long after she’s gone. I’m disappointed our night was cut short. I could have spent the entire night talking to her. I don’t want to push her, but I want to know her. It’s more of a need at this point. I want to know what makes her who she is. I spent my entire adult life in the Army. We strive for discipline and patience. Let’s just hope I still have that skill set in me. No matter how hard I try, I just can’t fight it.
Hollis Taylor is quickly becoming my addiction.
Chapter 6
Hollis
I keep myself busy, submerging myself