The Chosen Ones: Book 3: The War

12

Matt said good night to the others and went to the kitchen and made Casey one of the best sundaes he ever made. Vanilla ice cream, chocolate and caramel syrup, nuts, a banana, whipped cream and three cherries. He looked down at it, proud of himself.

He found Casey laying in bed reading a book he had on his nightstand. A Darcy Coates thriller he had gotten into in his spare time. She put it down and smiled as he came in. She only had on one of Matt's t-shirts.

"What's this?" She asked.
"Well, we didn't have dessert." He replied.
She took it from him and dug right in. "Oh my God." She said, with a mouthful.
He let out a laugh. "Eat up."

After a few more spoonfuls she put the bowl on the nightstand.
"I love you so much." She said. "I need you to know that."

"I do." He replied. "But don't talk like that. You're saying it like one of us might not be coming home."
He was standing in front of her. She got to the edge of the bed and got on her knees. She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck and stared into his eyes.

"I'm saying it because I mean it." Her eyes lit up an electric blue. "I've never felt this way about anyone before. And somehow, I already know I never will again."

"Well then.... I need YOU to know, that no matter what happens tomorrow, I'll always love you. You changed my life." He stared into her glowing blue eyes. "I never thought I'd be able to love anyone ever again after Amy. You saved me, in more ways than one."

She smiled, then a wave of sadness came over her. "Why couldn't we have met under different circumstances?"
"We met, that's all that matters." He kissed her, this one longer and more passionate. He didn't want the night to end.

"What are you thinking?" She asked, after they slowly pulled away from the kiss.
"I feel like I'm leading everyone into an ambush. Like everyone is following me to their death. And I know they're thinking it too, but they'll still follow anyway."

"They follow because they love you. They would literally do anything for you." Casey told him. "That's an incredible thing."
"Can we win, Case? Can we all make it back?" He asked. "Because if we all don't come back I don't know if I'll be able to live with myself."

She couldn't give him the answer he wanted to hear, she could only tell him what she knew.
"There were times when I was at the Nest that I never thought I'd make it back here, back to you. I thought for sure I was going to die there, hundreds of miles away from you.... And yet, here I am."

It made him smile. It wasn't the exact answer he was looking for but it did give him one thing. Maybe the best thing. Hope.

"What do you want to do now?" He asked as he smiled at her.
She pulled his shirt over his head and kissed him, answering his question. They could hope all they wanted, the truth was this could very well be their last night together.