Dear Steele,
I miss you. Body-aching, heart-cramping, belly-twisting miss you. It’s only been a couple weeks since you left, and it feels like years. Five days wasn’t nearly long enough, but I treasure every moment we had together.
I go to class, I come home, I study. I’m just going through the motions. I never imagined I could miss you this much. The shirt you left behind helps. Having your scent with me, wrapped around me as I sleep, makes it easier.
I’m selfish in my desire to have you by my side at every moment and in my bed every night, but I’m so proud of you. The work you do. The people you help. And it’s that knowledge that keeps me from begging you to come home. To quit.
I look forward to our next call.
I love you.
Ava
Damn. My girl sure knows how to make a guy feel loved. I have four months left on my tour, and I intend on permanently making her mine as soon as I can upon my arrival. I just hope by then, she and Heather have become friends again.
Chapter 9
Ava
Dear Ava,
You keep me sane. The thought of you at home, waiting for me, keeps me from going nuts while I’m here. Things have been quiet, so it’s easy to get lost in what’s happening back home. Right now, all I can think about is the moment I can hold you in my arms again.
Whisper my love in your ear.
Indulge on your pleasure until the sun rises.
Hear you moan my name until you’re breathless.
I fucking miss you, Ava.
More than I’ve ever missed anyone in my life. The anticipation of tasting your lips is what wakes me up every morning. Even with the video calls, I can’t wait to touch your soft skin. Make love to your mind and body.
I never imagined a life where I could fall in love with my soulmate through a letter, but we did it. Even if the feelings were there before, I was blind. I know you were embarrassed, even angry at Heather for sending that first letter, but I couldn’t be more grateful because we nearly missed our chance.
I’ll see you soon.
Love always,
Steele
Sighing as I reread his letter, we haven’t been able to video chat as much the last two weeks because of finals, but that only makes this letter so much more special.
“I did it on purpose, you know.” I gaze up at Heather sitting in the chair at my desk as I sit cross-legged on my bed and see the guilt in her cheeks. “Even though I was mad at you, I knew you two were meant for each other. I could see it every time you guys were in the same room.”
“You could?” I thought I kept it to myself pretty well.
“A blind person could, Ava.” She grins. “I don’t know why I was so bloody mad at you over stupid Jeremy Edwards. He was an asshole. But I saw you reading that letter that day, and I glimpsed the word love when you tried to hide it from me. I might have been mad at you, but Steele is the best person I know. He deserves happiness.”
When Heather showed up to apologize a few weeks ago, I was skeptical, hesitant even, but I’ve known her long enough to recognize when she’s sincere. Since then, she’s been up twice more. We’ve grown in our friendship, and I’m grateful to have her back in my life.
Chewing the corner of my lip, I debate sharing my secret with her. My excitement bubbles over, however, and I spill. “I’m pregnant,” I blurt out, and her eyes widen to the size of small saucers.
“Noooo!” A huge grin overtakes her face. “Seriously?” I nod. “Oh my gosh!” Standing, she tackle-hugs me to the bed. “I’m going to be an aunt!” Her squeal of excitement is all I need to breathe a sigh of relief and release my sense of excitement.
“How are you going to tell him?” Heather finally asks when we can breathe again, and I have no clue.
But she has the perfect idea.
Epilogue
Steele
Four Years Later.
“Hush, little baby, don’t you cry…” Listening to Ava sing to our youngest, a little girl, as she rocks her back to sleep makes me homesick. I know I’m watching the footage hours later, after the babies have been put down and fed two more times, but it doesn’t make it any less important.
With the birth of our son, we decided to have cameras installed in the house that I could access from any secure connection in the world and watch our children grow up. Missing Maddox’s first steps nearly killed me, and now I’ll never miss anything again.
Many people have tried to convince Ava that I’m controlling because of them, but she shuts them down immediately, telling them it was her idea. One she’s insanely proud of, especially after I heard Katelyn’s first word a month ago.
It was music to my ears. Witnessing the tears in Ava’s eyes when she heard it made me miss my family even more and appreciate my wife's sacrifices.
After the vixen told me about her pregnancy with Maddox—through boudoir pictures that apparently were Heather’s idea—she worked her ass off to finish school as quickly as possible. She graduated six months early, found an amazing substitute job at a private school, and has been home for most of the last four years.
With two children now, though, she has quit working for the time being. She’s the back-up sub if they need her, or she helps tutor when requested. Ava is happier than I’ve ever seen her and loves being a mom.
“Mommy’s going to give you a baby sister.” I pause at the words she’s crooning to our daughter and, immediately, mute the video and call her.
“Hello, handsome.” Her grin upon answering as she breastfeeds Katie tells me she knows exactly why I’m calling. “Having a good day?” she asks instead.
“The fucking best. Were you serious?” She always is, but I need to ask for confirmation.
“As a heart attack.” A tear rolls down her cheek.
“I fucking love you, Ava.” Touching the screen, I wish I could dry her tears away.
“Just come home, Steele.” I have yet to be there for either of the births and have missed every ultrasound. Not once has she done anything but encourage me to come home.
A promise I intend to keep.
Epilogue
Ava
Six Months Later.
“I could kill him!” I scream at Heather, who has been my best friend, birthing coach, babysitter, everything I’ve needed since Steele and I got married nearly five years ago.
“You got this, Ava,” she reassures while pulling my legs up higher as I push when the doctor asks. Exhaustion weighs heavily on my body.
Not only am I pregnant with our third child but also our fourth. Twins. We’re having twins. Surprise twins even. I had no idea, neither did the doctor, until my latest ultrasound a little over a month ago because I was feeling way more uncomfortable than I had with my other pregnancies.
I haven’t told Steele yet. Not because I don’t want to but because he has been unreachable. As much as I’ve hated it, I understand, and his family is always here for me. Even my mother over the last few years. I still barely talk to my father, but that’s his choice, sadly, not mine.