The Veteran Who Shouldn't Want Me

A silver-haired woman in a linen blouse adjusts a thin silver bracelet on the younger woman's wrist.

Elaine found me by the drinks table and straightened the bracelet on my wrist.

Elaine

There. Now everyone knows whose table you belong at.

Her hand stayed on my arm a second longer than it needed to, and something in my chest eased.

The Veteran Who Shouldn't Want Me

Chapter 7 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.