Chapter Two

Three Years later Having a boyfriend, you'd think that I would feel loved and cherished. That's what I thought when I got into this relationship.

It’s been three years since Damon left, and I've only just been able to get over it. Well, as much as I could anyway. The number of times I think of him weekly is probably unhealthy.

James was a close friend of mine, but an even closer friend of Damon’s. I was surprised when, after a few weeks, James started to show interest in me.

I didn't find him that attractive at first, but he soon made his way into my life, and now we are technically going out. The reason why I say technically is because we're not really your average couple.

We've been together for four months now and the only thing we've done is kiss. That's all he wants to do. I'm not being a slut or anything, but don't I deserve more than that from my boyfriend?

It’s so frustrating, but I've just got to live with it, I guess.

People talk about James a lot. I mean, he was pretty special around here since he was popular and an all-around good guy. They talk about him, but they don't do it around me. But I've heard them.

Natalie, Damon’s mum has been doing well recently. She no longer cries about losing him, and she's found strength in forming a bond with a new man, Christian. My mum had decided to play matchmaker.

Christian is a retired policeman, but he’s still able to make money directing a crime series. We’re all fans of his show—it literally gets my heart beating out of my chest.

Damon came back for a few days in December, right before Christmas. Apparently, he met Christian and was instantly a fan. Supposedly they got on really well and had a lot to talk about, which I guess is good for the family.

Although Natalie’s fallen in love with Christian, there is no question that she still loves Damon's father. They had something out of this world, and no one could match that. But she's still young. She’s just turning 48 in a few months, and it would be wrong to not ever try again.

I wasn't in town when he came back. I was on a trip with my work in the states, so I missed him. He's tried to contact me plenty of times and I've been able to have normal conversations with him. But that's all I give him. It pains me too much.

Over the years, I learned that being mad at him for fighting for his country and getting his life sorted wasn't right. He deserved to be happy, so I just had to accept that. I'm still sore about how he lied to me about leaving though.

But I had to move on. I needed to just live my life without him.

I have great family and friends, and also a really good job that pays me well. Working at the agency, I create campaigns for different businesses. It has always been my passion, so I'm just glad I work with a really good company.

Even though I don't speak to him as much, I still watch the news every day for updates on the situation in Asia. The army was called to help with a war outbreak in southeast Asia and they were working to with the army in Vietnam to put a stop to rebels there.

It’s something that has good days and bad. With nuclear weapons being used more now, the risk is so much more than it used to be. I get scared because something could happen to Damon.

I thought I was the one that was the angriest at him, but James had a deeper anger for Damon. They were best friends, but he left James and he felt abandoned just like the rest of us.

I know that James is scared too. We’ve had discussions and I know he cries for his lost brother out on the battlefield.

Right now, we are all at Natalie's house. Christian had suggested we all have a barbecue to celebrate my stepsister’s graduation. We would do it at mine, but Natalie has a bigger house so we thought that it would be better suited for a barbecue.

Mum was a major part of helping Natalie move on, and they have grown close just like sisters.

My little sister is graduating from art school and I couldn't be prouder. My stepdad, Shane, came into my life when I was two years old after my parents got divorced and my dad left with his fucking mistress. My mom found love again with this man.

Shane was the only dad I ever knew. And from the stories my mum told me I knew that my real dad was an actual jerk.

I was over the moon when I found out they were going to have a baby. I was super curious about the growing bump my mum had and I knew that I would always take care of my little sister. 

"Hey ma," I called as soon as I entered the house. Practically everyone was here already but I was late because I had a doctor's appointment this morning. I've been getting intense migraines lately, so I just got myself some meds.

"You're late." She narrows her eyes at me as she cuts up some fruit on the table. Wow, okay, I literally told her I was going to be late.

I wrap my arms around her shoulders.

"Nah, everyone's early, Madre," I say, laughing against her back. She only groans at me, but I know she's fighting a smile.

She fell into conversation with me as I helped take the fruit to the large table outside.

"Sky, you're here!" I laugh as my sister comes running up to me. She was wearing a cute summer dress with her hair tied in a high ponytail.

"Hey Ill, congrats! I'm literally the proudest of you," I say, crushing her in a hug. She giggles.

"I beg to differ," Dad says, coming over as well. He joins us for a hug, nearly squashing us.

We all laugh before finally sitting down at the table. We cheer to Lily’s success before digging into the delicious barbecue that Christian prepared for us.

I couldn't actually believe that we sat talking for almost two hours. Before we left the table, Natalie paused, and Christian then said a prayer for our soldier.

We all helped clean up and then made our way into the living room to chill. I excused myself after a while to use the toilet. I’d had way too many glasses of Pimm's, but I couldn't deny that Natalie made a cracking Pimm's.

Finishing my business I headed downstairs and gazed at the photographs hanging on the wall. There were so many; some of Natalie when she was younger and then with Damon and his father.

She really had a beautiful life. As I made my way to the bottom, I had to hold onto the wall as I heard the sound I didn't want to hear. The voice was so familiar to me that I didn't have to ask who it was. 

I slowly stepped inside the lounge and saw everyone crowded around facing the big screen in the room. I had to cover my mouth as I saw who they were looking at. Damon was on the big screen talking to everyone through a video call.

He had changed a lot. His uniform looked good on him and his hair was shorter. He looked older for sure. More like a man than the boy I used to know.

"Why the fuck do you look so skinny, Mum?" His voice echoed around the room. It’s true, Natalie had lost a lot of weight.

"Son, your mum’s gone vegan so she will be a lot skinnier," Christian reasoned with Damon. I cringed already knowing the reaction.

"Vegan! Balls, that's courageous of you." I saw her visibly relax at his words.

Damon strongly believed in having a healthy diet that included every food group. He had never liked the idea of going vegan but respected it.

Lily had just walked in when she gasped, practically jumping over people to get in front of the screen.

"Damon, I've missed you big bro!" Lily squealed into the screen causing Damon to laugh deeply.

Lily loved Damon. He would fight off any pervy guy that came her way, and she was always grateful.

When people tried to tell me he liked me, I always told them he was just protective of Lily and me. Lily would argue he was different with me though.

He always had a girlfriend though—a nice Spanish girl from our year. She was beautiful and so kind that I couldn't hate her. Damon seemed happy with her as well.

"Ill, I've missed you too! Congrats on graduating, you little freak." Lily’s narrowed eyes made me laugh. This time I really had to cover my mouth. Please tell me he didn't hear that.

I saw Damon's eyes widen and his body grew tense. My mum glanced at me with a sad look on her face.

"Baby girl is that you?" His voice travelled right to my heart. I struggled to breathe. Hearing my nickname sent memories tumbling through my brain.

Natalie ushers me forward and everyone parts, creating a space for me. I shake my head, and I know she feels sorry for me.

"Come to me baby girl, I need to see you." I couldn't hold out any longer. He always had this commanding tone about him. I didn’t want to do it, but I felt like I needed to. What if this was the last time I ever spoke to him?

With hesitation, I walked closer and knelt down in front of the screen. Everyone started to get up, leaving me alone with him. As soon as I looked into his eyes, I broke down. I tried my best to hold in my tears.

"Hello, beautiful. How are you?" He moved closer to the screen. His eyes were shining brightly. I could barely form a sentence.

"I'm good. You okay?" I ask him, not wanting to make this weird. I have to keep reminding myself that this could be the last time.

"Better now. I missed you, my girl. You look ravishing." I watched his eyes move further down the screen. I was wearing a skirt with a crop top that showed my toned body. His gaze made me feel hot and it was only through a screen.

I blushed. "I'm sorry I wasn't here when you came home." No matter how mad I was at him I still wished he was home.

His eyes softened. He was about to say something, but suddenly a man came barging into the room. He wore the same uniform, but he looked skinnier and not as good as Damon.

"Stay strong for me, baby," he said, indicating he needed to go. I barely nodded my head before the screen went black. When I knew he was finally gone I let the tears fall. No point in stopping them now.

"Oh, my baby." My mum came running in. She kneeled in front of me, wiping away the fallen tears. He did it again. He left before I could say goodbye.