Military Love

Chapter 8

Maddie's POV

I wake up the next day and Dalton and Bella aren't in bed. I grab my phone and see I have a text from Dalton. 

"Bella and I went for a walk be home in a little bit. I love you!"  That was an hour ago so they should be home soon. I decide to call Dalton just to make sure everything is okay. 

*Phone Call* 

D- Hello?

M- Hey, just checking in to make sure everything is okay and seeing when you guys will be home. 

D- We are coming around the corner right now, so we'll be home in a couple of seconds.

M-Okay, I'll talk to you when you get home. 

D- Okay.

*End of Call* 

When Dalton gets home I'm on the couch studying for my nursing boards that are tomorrow. He walks over to me and kisses me on the forehead before sitting down. 

"Babe, what're you doing?" Dalton asks putting his arm around me. "Studying for my boards tomorrow." I say

"Maddie, you've been studying for like months you'll be fine." He says pulling me closer to him. I set my books down and cuddle into him. "Babe you stink, go take a shower." I say wrinkling my nose. 

"Wow, way to ruin the mood, I guess I'll go shower then," Dalton says jokingly. 

While Dalton showers, I continue to study. I know all my materials but I don't want to take any chances.  I get my highlighters out of my bag and start re-highlighting everything to make sure it's clear and I know it. 

"Babe, I thought you were done studying for the day." Dalton says coming downstairs in just basketball shorts.  "I was and then I realized that I needed to go over a few more things." 

"Maddie, you're going to do great. Just put the books down and enjoy one of your last days off." Dalton says taking my books from me. 

"You know taking my books away isn't gonna make me not worry about it." I say moving over to him. "I know, but it got you closer to me." He says kissing my forehead. 

We just lay on the couch in silence for a couple minutes before I finally say, "Babe, I don't want you to leave. We only have 8 days until you leave, and I'm not ready for that." Dalton pulls me in closer, hugging me tightly and says, "I'm coming back, we have way too many things to do together for me to not." Instead of saying anything, I kiss him. 

We decide to watch some TV to waste some time. We decide on the movie "After" on Netflix (My choice, of course.) "I hope this isn't a chick flick." Dalton says, coming back from the kitchen with popcorn. "You'll like it, I promise." 

As we are watching the movie, I start to dose off. 

When I walk up, Dalton and I are in bed. Huh, he must've carried me to bed after the movie. I move a little in bed, and Dalton rolls over and wraps his arm around me, still asleep. 

I grab my phone and start looking through social media to see what's new. After looking through every possible social media app, I try to get up without waking up Dalton. 

Once I'm finally up, I decide to go downstairs and finish unpacking some things and let Bella out. When I get back in from letting Bella out, I hear Dalton's phone ringing; I start walking upstairs to answer it for him when it stops ringing. 

Assuming it went to voicemail, I head back downstairs. After putting a few things away, I hear Dalton coming down the stairs. 

He comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. I turn around to look at him and can tell that something's not right. "What's wrong?" I ask. "Maddie, I love you so much, and you know if I had it my way, this wouldn't be happening." 

"Dalton, what is going on?" I ask, starting to get worried now. "I just got a call; I have to leave Wednesday now." My heart drops, I've been dreading him leaving and now that it's even sooner it's becoming more realistic. 

I slide down the counter and just sit there. I don't know why I'm so upset I've dealt with this before with Ajay. "Baby, please talk to me, don't be mad, I can't help it, I want to stay with you." 

"I'm not mad Dalton, I just, it's only now hitting me that you're going to be gone. We've been together every day for months, and now I have to go months without seeing you, hugging you, and talking to you. I know it's not your fault, I'm just not ready for it. I was hoping that we'd have that extra week because I don't know what I'm going to do without, especially since I'm pregnant."