Sea Breeze 03 - While It Lasts

Josh and I had done our best to include him as much as possible.
    When Josh had been killed by a bomb just north of Baghdad eighteen months ago, the only person I could stand to have near me had been Jeremy. Josh and Jeremy’s m omma said it was because Jeremy was the only one I felt could understand my grief. In a way, we’d both lost our other half.
    “And how’d you get that outta the brief conversation we just had with hi m? Seemed like a nice guy to me. ” Jeremy was always optimistic. He always saw the best in people. It was up to me to keep people from taking advantage of his trusting spirit. Josh wasn’t here to do that anymore.
    “He’s here because he was drinking and driving , Jer . That isn’t exactly a small offense. He could have hit a family. He could have killed someone’s kid . He’ s a selfish lose r.” Who really was too good- looking to be real . I’d have to get over that, though. His pretty face wouldn’t get to me.
    “Eva, lots of people drink and drive a little. He probably was just going a short distance from the bar to his house. I doubt he was on a road trip. Probably just had a couple beers.”
    Sweet Jeremy. Bless his heart , he had no idea how depraved some people were. It was one of the things I loved about him. I happened to know Cage York was lit up like the Fourth of July when he had been pulled over. I’d heard Uncle Mack talk about what a thug he was and how the only thing he ever took serious ly was baseball.
    “Trust me Jer , that guy is trouble.”
    Jeremy didn’t respond. He leaned his elbow on the opened window and let the warm breeze cool him down. The inside of daddy’s farm truck was smo ldering hot this time of year but i t was the only vehicle I’d drive. My vehicle sat in the garage untouched. I couldn’t bring myself to drive it and I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. The pretty silver Jeep Daddy had bought me hadn’t been driven since I’d gotten the call from Josh’s momma telling me he’d been killed. Josh had proposed to me in that Jeep overlooking Hollows Grove. Then he’d turned the music up on the radio and we’d gotten out and danced under the stars. I hadn’t laid eyes on it in a year and a half . Instead, I drove the farm truck. It was just easier.
    “Eva?” Jeremy asked , breaking into my memories. He always seemed to know when I needed someone to stop me from remembering.
    “Yeah?”
    “You know I love you, right?”
    Tensing , I gripped the steering wheel tightly. When Jeremy started with something like that I never liked what he was going to say next. Last time he’d asked me that the next thing he said was I should really start driving my Jeep again because Josh would want me to.
    “Don’t , Jer ,” I replied.
    “It’s time to take the ring off , Eva.”
    My hands stung from the death grip I had on the worn steering wheel. The gold band on my finger dug into my skin reminding me it was there. I’d never taken it off. I never would.
    “Jeremy , don’t .”
    He let out a long heavy sigh and shook his head. I waited patiently for him to say more and was so thankful when we pulled into Mrs. Mabel’s. I all but jumped out of the truck before it came to a complete stop in my determination to get away from him before he could say more. The engagement ring Josh had put on my finger couldn’t be removed. It would be as if I was forgetting him. Like I was moving on and leaving him behind. I’d never leave him behind.

Chapter Two

    Cage

    This could not be my room. It was the size of the closet in my bedr oom at my apartment . I dropped my duffle down onto the twin bed that sat crammed in the corner of the tiny room. On the opposite side, a small, round bedside table barely had enough space to fit between the side of the bed and the wall . Then at the other end of the nar row room was a shower. The cem ent floor had a drain in th e far corner and a small shower head came out of the wall. A simple rod and dark blue shower curtain w ere the only barrier s between the shower and the bed. I was pretty sure if I got too carried away in the shower I’d get the bed wet. My phone started ringing in my pocket and I pulled it out to see Low’s name lighting up the screen.
    “Hey , baby,” I replied backing up and sinking down onto the bed. Surprisingly the mattress wasn’t bad.
    “So , how is everything? Are they nice?” Just hearing Lo w’s voice made me feel better—n ot so alone.
    “I’ve only met the guy’s