Easier to Lie

Chapter Eighteen

Dad stayed for dinner. He thought we could use a good home-cooked meal so he made his famous lasagna.

We made small talk throughout dinner, avoiding at all costs mentioning Leah's new last name. Us girls cleaned the kitchen while the guys went outside. A little while later, Adam came inside alone.

"Everything okay?" I asked, watching Dad and Eric outside.

"Yeah, I think your dad wanted to give him the 'don't hurt my daughter' speech."

"That's my dad."

They were outside long after Leah and Adam left for his house. I started to get nervous and the re-runs of Rocko's Modern Life were not distracting enough. I'm not sure why I was worried so much, my dad thought highly of Eric.

An hour later they came inside.

"I'm gonna take off now, Hun. Do you need anything before I go?"

"Your approval of Eric," I smiled and winked at Eric.

"I approve. Your mom does too." He hugged me and slipped a twenty-dollar bill in my hand. "I'll see you when you get home." He kissed my head then left.

"So," I stood on my tip-toes to put my arms around his neck and kiss him, "what were you and Dad talking about?"

That crooked smile of his made me melt every time. "You. Us. College. My dad."

"What about us?"

"Nothing, really. I told him I plan on marrying you some day."

Why hello there, anxiety attack, haven't seen you in a few months.

We had only started dating and now he was talking marriage. If he had mentioned marriage before that kiss with Frankie, I would be thrilled, but I was scared and confused.

Later on that night, we were cuddled on the couch watching Child's Play, my favorite scary movie. He was gently tracing my spine as I rested my head in his lap. I was content. Eric felt like home to me.

"Don't go," I was falling asleep and found myself missing him.

"I'm not going anywhere," he told me as he laced his fingers with mine. "What are you talking about?"

"The military. Don't go."

The next morning, I woke up to sausage and egg biscuits. I would soon learn that's what he cooked before having a serious conversation. Biscuits and strong, black coffee were signs of bad things about to happen.

"You sleep okay?" He cared about that. If I hadn't slept very well, he would postpone the conversation.

"Kind of. You kept moving. I think you kicked me a few times."

"Sorry," he poured a cup of coffee for me and handed me a plate. "I had a lot on my mind."

"Anything you want to talk about?" I blew on the coffee to cool it down, completely unaware of the storm heading my way.

"Yes, actually," he sat at the counter beside me, his muscles were tense. "Last night you told me not to join the Navy. Why did you say that?"

I had only been awake a few minutes. I wasn't ready for this. "Because I'll miss you," that was the obvious, safe answer.

"Is that all? I'll miss you, too, but I need to do this. Do you understand that?" He was calm for the most part. His eyes, though, were lacking that happy sparkle.

"You need to do it? Why?"

"The money. I could afford to help my mom. I could take care of you too. Neither one of you would have to worry about anything.

"But we'll never see each other."

"I would have time off," this conversation was going nowhere. "If I join, is that a deal breaker for you?"

No. I wanted to say no, that I'd support his choice all the way, but I couldn't. I had heard plenty of stories about military life breaking up relationships. I didn't want to be a statistic. I was scared to respond to him. I didn't want to lose him, not so soon after saying 'I love you'. We can't fall in love then go our separate ways. That's not how this was going to work. He couldn't leave me.

"Eric, I just... I don't know. I don't want to lose you. I just got you. And with everything going on overseas, is joining the military a good idea?"

I didn't want to fight. I studied him, tried to gauge his reactions. Eric had been easy to read, but not right then.

"Why don't we wait until summer is over and then we can revisit this, okay?"

His lips were in a tight line, his knuckles were white, and his legs were bouncing. He wasn't happy. "Okay."

We ate in silence then he rushed off to be with his mom. Leah didn't return that night either.

For the first time all summer, I felt truly alone.