The Veteran Who Shouldn't Want Me

Alina stacks dirty breakfast plates by the office sink, jaw set, morning light on her face.

I carried the empty plates up the dock and stacked them by the office sink.

My hands were still steady. They had been steady all morning.

That was the one thing nobody at that table could touch.

The Veteran Who Shouldn't Want Me

Chapter 3 of 21

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Synopsis

I have a plan. Keep the boatyard running. Keep my hands steady. Keep Drew looking at me like I'm the best thing in his life. His family treats me like I belong, and I need that more than I say. Drew is warm. He forgets things. He says sorry with a kiss, then leaves me alone when his friends laugh. I tell myself his family's kindness is enough. Then his older brother comes home from the Navy. Callum is cold, quiet, and hard to look at. He acts like I'm a stain on the family dock. I want to hate him. I don't trust her. I don't want to notice her. But I do. He watches me when Drew doesn't. When I'm at my lowest, his contempt cracks, and I see something that scares me. I think he wants me too. I can't want him back.