Lost Love

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Walking into Templo, Coco has his fingers laced with mine and I didn't realize how much I missed him. He pulls me to the chair next to him and when he sits, I do the same. "Now, tell us how you know each other." Bishop says. "She's my wife." Coco says and they all look shocked. "Right before I went to boot camp we got married. Separated shortly after." he tells them and they don't push for more. He looks at me and asks "How long was he beating you?" I look down at Coco's hand still holding mine and say "Just over a year. My mom forced me to move in with him. We moved here a few months ago because my mom wanted to make sure that I went through with the marriage she was trying to force on me. I didn't want to get married because to me I was still married to Johnny." I tell them and feel Coco gently squeeze my hand. "Well, get some rest tonight and tomorrow we'll figure out the next steps." Bishop says and we all nod.

Coco leads me to his dorm and as soon as the door is closed and locked I cup his face and ask "How are you here?" He pulls away and says "Let me shower and then we'll talk." he says and I just nod and step away. I move to sit on the bed and move against the headboard. I pull my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around them and am lost in my thoughts. What if he doesn't love me anymore? How is he still here? I am broken from my thoughts when I feel him take a seat next to me. Leaning back against the headboard next to him, we don't touch each other. We are both quiet until he finally speaks.

"Why did you marry me?" He asks. I look at him and say "Because I love you." I tell him. "Then why did you leave me?" he asks. "What? I didn't leave you." I tell him. "I got a letter in boot camp from Celia telling me that you moved on and that you didn't love me anymore." he tells me, looking down at his hands. "I called your mom and she told me the same thing." he tells me. I take his hand and lace my fingers with his and say "They told me you were killed in a training exercise." I tell him. He looks at me shocked. "You thought I was dead?" he asks and I nod softly. "I was miserable. All I could do was cry. I missed you so much. I wanted to die with you. I tried once and mom kept a close eye on me after that. As long as I was alive, I could work and make money for her." I tell him and I feel him pull me closer. "Do you still love me?" He asks. I look at him again and say "More than anything. I missed you so much." I tell him. "Do you still love me?" I ask. He finally looks at me and says "More than you know."

I lay my head on his shoulder and he asks "What happened after they told you?" I sigh and say "I buried myself in work. Didn't date. Didn't speak to anyone if I didn't have to. I went into a deep depression. I was working at a gas station and we were robbed. Guy shot me in the stomach when I couldn't open the safe for him. Went into surgery. They said that the bullet went through one of my fallopian tubes and mom told them to take it all out so I can't have kids. She told me the last thing I needed was to bring another dumb fuck like me into this world. " I tell him. "Mom forced me into a relationship with James. Said he needed something pretty on his arm for his business partners and that he didn't want kids and that it was all I was good for." I tell him. Kissing the top of my head, he says "After I got the letter, I finished boot camp, fucked up a few times with hookups and had a couple of kids. Not in their lives. Finally decided to try to move on with someone and had a daughter. Got into some trouble and told Celia to give her up for adoption but she raised her. Mom is a junkie and don't know where the fuck she is. Don't care either. I did five years for stupid shit and then joined the club. Celia moved back here and next thing I know, my daughter is here in my life. Her name is Letti and she's seventeen." he tells me. I look up at him and ask "Where do we go from here?" He pulls me to straddle him and he says "First I'm going spend the night with my wife and tomorrow you get to meet the kid." he says I kiss him and say "I missed you so fucking much Johnny." I feel the tears fall and he cups my face and says "I won't let you go again." before softly kissing my lips.

We spend the rest of the night talking and kissing and just being together. Laying in bed, holding each other I ask "You remember our wedding night?" He smirks before placing soft kisses to my neck. "I sure do. Spent the entire night just us. Being together." he says. " That was my favorite memory." I tell him. "Was?" he asks. "Finding you again is my new favorite." I tell him. "Mine too Tali." I kiss him softly and he deepens the kiss. Hovering over me, I whisper "Claim me Johnny." We start to slowly shed clothes between kisses before he enters me slowly. Making love to me nice and slow for the first time in forever, I am finally with the man I was supposed to be with.