THE CRAZY GOOD SERIES - Rachel Robinson Page 0,228

hand away.

I nod. “She gives a shit. Congratulations to me. Do you know what I’m going through with her?” He sucks in a breath and tries to guide me out of the gate toward the hotel. I let him lead.

He clears his throat. “I know. You’re stronger than I thought you were. After all this time. He’s been gone for so long.” Maverick looks up to the sky, remembering Stone Sterns. “You’ve stuck by her.”

I have and I’m just now realizing the price. I’ve turned a blind eye to the obvious for too long. “I love her. She loves him.”

Maverick stops walking and turns to face me. “What are we talking about here? Morg being followed and her safety, or something else entirely?”

The urge to call her back to get more details springs to mind, but I know I’m too drunk to do anything about it. “Both! A fucking ghost follows her and some other fuck is walking around breathing when he should be six feet under. Why her? Who is it? In case you forgot, we’re leaving for six months. Morganna will be back in Virginia all by herself. Alone. No protection.”

“We’ll handle her safety. For that matter do you think Morganna would let anything happen to Morganna? She takes care of herself and we’re just backup, Stevey. She’ll be safe. Do you think I’d let anything happen to her? ”

“You let him happen to her.”

His face falls. “And now our conversation comes full circle. Stone isn’t here to kick your patsy ass right now. Luckily I know he wouldn’t want me to, because Morg loves you. She fucking loves your crazy, stupid ass. Give her more time, because that’s what you should do, or peace the fuck out and let her find someone else. Then you can go right back to your fucked up relationships. That sounds like a good idea, doesn’t it?” His tight grip on my shirt loosens. The night air chills my body and goose bumps prick my skin. “You’re drunk. If you weren’t this wouldn’t even be an issue, would it?”

I let my gaze fall to the ground. “No. Because I wouldn’t have the balls to speak the truth otherwise. When I’m with her I can’t…I just can’t. I’m going to bed.” Turning from Mav, I walk directly back to my hotel room, and he doesn’t stop me. The alcohol numbs the pain in my chest, but it doesn’t numb my mind. Falling onto the down feather bed, I cross my arms over my face and pray that I wake up in an alternate universe. Somewhere I’m not haunted by the decision I didn’t make before Stone did. A place that’s fair, without heartbreak or complications.

My phone pings a text message from her. I love you.

So much for calling instead of texting when she has something important to talk about. Fuck all of this. Fuck it all.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Morganna

Past

“DON’T VILLIANIZE THE guys, Morg. It’s just the way they are. I’d bet if you polled a non-SEAL group of type A men there would be just as many cheaters.” Stone is exasperated as he pseudo-defends his friends.

I huff. “What makes you different from them?” One of the guys cheated on his wife—his very pregnant, very beautiful wife—after ten years of marriage. Though he’s admitted to cheating all along because he could get away with it. It was the thrill of the chase. Personally, it makes me want to vomit.

Stone replies without hesitation. “Because I love what I have with you more than anything else. I’d never do anything to jeopardize our relationship.” He stares me directly in the eyes, his brownish color twinkling with sincerity. I trust him, it’s just disheartening after hearing story after cheating story. Especially given my profession. I’m inundated with marriage failures and scandal so wild it makes my head swim.

I lean forward and kiss him square on the mouth. “I just don’t want to end up in that scenario. I see the heartbreak too much for comfort. It’s almost as if I know what it feels like.”

He shakes his head, furrowing his brow. “I’d never give you the clap, baby. Don’t you worry.” His smile is beatific, nothing grander.

“I don’t want syphilis either. Write that down,” I bite back. Stone pulls me into his chest and kisses my neck. “I can’t believe you’re deploying. It’s surreal. We’ve talked about it a million times, but it was always like this looming date that I never thought would come.” I sigh, as I