Chapter Thirty-Eight

Jamie:

I stuffed the final shirt into my bag and shoved it off my bed. It landed on the floor with a definitive thud. Eight hours and forty-seven minutes. That was how long it'd been since I'd said goodbye to Callie and to Colby, the only true family I'd ever known.

I sat on the edge of my bed and leaned forward to rest my elbows on my knees. My breaths came in heavy rasps. I can do this. Despite what I told everyone, I was scared. Only two hours to go before I was on my own. But I'd never really be on my own. Amelia's brother told me I had the army now. They would be my family.

It was hard to see that when it hurt so much. Leaving Gulf city was easy. Getting free of my father and even leaving my brother were simple things.

I'd promised Callie to stay in touch, but what if that wasn't enough? What if I just couldn't do it? What if I became as big a disappointment to the army as I was to everyone else?

No, that was my father speaking. For the first time in my life, I actually felt like this was something I could do, and I could do it well. I'd prove him wrong if it was the last thing I did.

I stood and picked up my bag to put it back on the bed before grabbing my guitar and sitting down. I'd only managed to strum out a few chords before the front door downstairs slammed shut.

Heavy steps sounded on the stairs, and I waited. Over the years, I'd memorized the sounds in this house so I could always know what was coming. Jay's steps were always quick—one two, one two, one two. His mom's were like little flutters, barely audible. Dad's, his were different. They had a sense of finality to them, a stern authority.

His steps grew louder until he pushed open the door to my room without knocking. I leaned back against the wall, barely acknowledging the intrusion. My fingers picked at the strings, playing a simple tune.

“James,” my father said. “Stand up. I've come to say goodbye.”

That made my fingers freeze. I finally looked up and set the guitar on the bed in front of me before rising to meet him.

“Thought you'd be more of the 'good riddance' kind.” I tried to crack a smile, but it dropped.

“You're joining the army, Son.”

“I know. I was there when I signed the papers.”

He scowled. “It's a proud organization. You will not mess up.”

“Gee, thanks for your vote of confidence.” If I was going to mouth off, I should have been ready for him, but my mind wasn't in it.

His hand shot out, and he grabbed me by the shirt to pull me close. His strong cologne filled my nostrils, and I resisted the urge to cough.

“You will not embarrass the Daniels name.”

“No, you already do that enough.” I'd said nothing like that to him before and it emboldened me. “You think that you have power because you can beat on your eighteen-year-old son? You think that makes you more of a man? I think it makes you a coward.” I grabbed his arm when he tried to swing at me and slammed my other fist into his chin.

He released me and stumbled back in shock. I didn't waste any time hefting my bag over my shoulder and pushing past my still speechless father. I looked back at him once more. “You will never touch me again, you arrogant jerk.”

Getting into my car, I glanced up at the house that was home to so many memories, most of them bad. In that moment, I knew. I wouldn't be back as long as that man was still here.

Gulf City was no longer my home. It was time I found a place that was.

I would always love Callie, but she was leaving too.

As I left the city limits behind, I wasn't sad any longer. I was free.