Happily Never After (Heart Springs #1)
Prologue
Fuck Forever and Fuck Happily Ever Afters
I ’ve loved Marlee May Parker since I was six years old. She was the prettiest thing I’d ever seen, and she wouldn’t pay me a lick of attention. So, I pulled her pigtails. The moment I locked my gray eyes with her baby blues as she drove her tiny little fist directly into my nose, she owned me.
Hook.
Line.
Sinker.
When blood was spouting down my chubby cheeks as she whined and cradled her hand, I was smiling. Smiling because I knew, even back then, that I’d found her.
My true love.
The one who completed me just like my mama completed my dad. Just like Grammy did Grandad, and so on. Gravity wavered. I felt my feet shift from under me. My world rocked— literally.
And then, I fainted.
Turns out I don’t do well with blood.
But I do a hell of a lot better than Marlee does. She screamed at the top of her lungs for the police, claiming there’d been an attack, and a stupid boy was dying. We were both put in a time out.
Marlee cried big, giant crocodile tears. All I wanted was to hug her. To wipe them away. To make her smile. So, from my spot in time out next to her, I tugged her into my arms, vowing to make it all better.
She kneed me in the nuts.
I told her I loved her.
She told me to fudge off.
Not much has changed in the last seventeen years, and yet everything has changed. And it’s about to change again—for the better.
So much better .
I grin to myself as my thumb runs over the edge of the dainty gold band nestled around my neck along with my dog tags. Six more months. That’s all I need before my life, our life , can finally begin.
“Seriously, man?” Griffin barks, shoving the back of my head roughly. I bat his hand away with a smirk. “If you’re hellbent on spending your time with your head up your ass, might as well daydream about pussy instead of wedding bells.”
My eyes narrow on the big bastard. “Don’t talk about her—”
“Pussy?” He smirks, crossing his thick arms over his equally thick chest. His army green pulls taut, and it only serves to further piss me off. “I bet pretty little Marlee May has a pretty tight p—”
And those are the only words he gets out before I’m on him.
Our limbs are a blur as we grapple for dominance. My fist collides with his sharp jaw, and pain immediately lances up my arm, but I don’t stop. No one talks about Marlee like that. No one.
He chuckles deeply, his chest rattling beneath me as I finally get him on his back. Sterling grins up at me as my arm arcs, ready to make his dumbass bleed.
“There he is,” he rumbles, Tennessee accent thick. My brows furrow, my breaths coming in heaving pants as I freeze. “Glad to see you haven’t lost your balls completely. You’re gonna need ’em.”
I exhale roughly, my hand dropping to my side. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You got fat.” He grunts as he heaves upward, tossing me to the side.
I jump to my feet and roll my eyes as I offer him my hand to help him get up. He reaches to accept, but at the last second, I yank my hand away, leaving him to collide heavily with the floor.
“Sorry.” I shrug, dropping back down onto my bunk with a chuckle. “Must be too fat to help your big ass up.”
“You’re such a fuckin’ prick.” Griffin shoots me a glare and jumps to his feet with more grace than he should possess.
He tries to run a hand through his hair but grimaces when he remembers he’s now bald—a gift from me and the other guys in our squad yesterday. We gave him a little trim while he slept, stealing our retribution where we could.
I snicker to myself.
“Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, asshole.” He eyes my thick dark brown hair. Even with my military cut, it’s still a lot. “While you can,” he mutters ominously.
I scoff and bend down to re-tie my boots. Nothing but perfection. Always. “What did you mean before?”
He waits for me to finish lacing up and the silence grates on my nerves. Griffin’s never quiet, so whatever it is, it can’t be good. I swallow thickly, preparing myself as I meet his steely gaze.
“We’re shipping out.”
My spine snaps straight as dread pools in my gut. “When?”
His jaw ticks. “Three days from now. Big aid mission.” He stands and leans forward, giving my shoulder a firm squeeze. “Time will pass quickly, and before you know it, you’ll be in South Dakota, on one knee, finally giving away that ring around your neck—just wait.”
I look up into my Staff Sergeant’s eyes. A man I’ve known for nearly three and a half years. A man I respect. He’s more than my best friend; he’s family.
Despite all the shit he’s seen in the last decade, he’s still good. More than that, he’s honest. If he says we’ll be back for me to make it home in time, I trust him.
“Thank you, Sir.” He glares at me. I grin wider. “Now fuck off so I can check in on my girl.”
He shakes his head and steps back, letting his heavily tattooed arm drop to his side. His gaze snags on the newest letter sitting on my pillow.
“Still think you deserve better than her,” he mutters but I ignore him, tossing a middle finger in the air.
His comments are nothing new. None of the guys like Marlee, but I don’t care. I love her.
“Fuck off,” I grumble. “And get out.”
“Don’t get cum on the fucking floor!” he shouts, letting the heavy door slam behind him.
A bark of laughter slips from my lips as I fall onto my back to get comfortable. If this letter is what I think it is, I make no promises.
Smiling, I gently slip the folded piece of paper from the bent and stained envelope. I’d expect nothing less when they’ve traveled over five-thousand miles, sometimes farther, depending on where I’m at, and while it sucks being so far from home, I’ve known this was coming for a long time.
It’s been the plan for as long as I can remember.
Work on the farm, get good grades, graduate, join the military, and honor my country. Have a pack of kids and be beyond fucking happy.
I made promises to my girl. Promises I intend to keep.
Four years apart. Together forever.
Happily ever after.
The ring. The wedding. The white picket fence. All the fucking babies I can get her to give me. I want a whole house full of them. I want loud mornings with my family and quiet nights with my wife. Crying and crappy diapers. I want the whole goddamned package.
Don’t realize I’m smiling till it falls. Normally, she writes about home, about my family and how she’s loving college. But that’s not what this letter’s about…
Not at fucking all.
I jackknife up to a seated position, and the room spins.
Air stalls in my lungs as I finish the shorter than normal letter, already knowing the second I’m done reading, my life will change forever.
Forever.
Four years and then forever.
That’s what she said. What she promised.
But as I read the last word, finding my entire world crumbling beneath my feet, I know without a shadow of a doubt that Marlee May Parker is a motherfucking liar, because she’s no longer promising me forever.
“ I want a big life, Kade. Cities, adventure, the world. Something more than a dusty town and a farm that smells like hay, horse shit, and honey. You dream small, and I can’t shrink myself to fit it. I don’t want this. I don’t want you. I can’t do this anymore. I don’t love you. ”
The paper slips from my fingers, fluttering gently in the air, like a delicate feather on the wind, instead of a death knell in my entire relationship.
Fuck… in my world.
Nausea swells rapidly in my throat, and I swallow it down, refusing to give way to the emotions battering against my insides.
Not yet.
Not right now.
Instead, I slowly push to my feet and roll my shoulders back. I inhale once, hold it for ten beats, then exhale, releasing every aching pain and desire to scream, to fucking rage , out with it.
Not yet.
Not right now.
It takes me less than five minutes to make it to the administrative building and even less time to barge into my C.O.’s office. He’s probably pissed, and I’m more than likely about to get my ass reamed but I don’t care.
I don’t care about anything.
Not even as the words that will once again change my life slip from my lips without pause.
“I’d like to extend my contract, Sir. I’m no longer going home.”
Fuck forever and fuck happily ever after’s.