Something was on my face.

As I started to wake up, I felt Ayden tracing his finger down the bridge of my nose and over my lips. I couldn't hold back my smile as the memories of the night before played through my mind. I wasn't mad at what happened. After all, I was the one who kind of, sort of, started this whole thing. I wore the revealing dress. I let myself get drunk. I kissed him; at midnight and after. It was also me who gave him a certain ultimatum.

"Good morning, Goddess." His voice was low and soft. It vibrated through me and I relished it. I burrowed in the plushness of the pillow before I rolled over, taking the sheet with me.

"Good morning," I replied as I looked up at him. He was resting on his side and had an arm resting on my stomach.

"How did you sleep?" he asked with a knowing smile.

"Sergeant, I think you know the answer to that. I'm not stroking your ego."

He raised a brow and his lips twisted in amusement. He leaned down to give me a nice deep kiss before whispering in my ear, "Goddess, you were definitely stroking something last night, and it wasn't my ego."

I chuckled at his words until he started to place teasing kisses on my neck. Then my chuckle turned into a soft moan. I ran my hands up his biceps, pulling him towards me. What was it about him that made me crave more and more each time I got a little taste? Must be the chocolate...

His alarm went off and he pulled away with a regretful sigh. "I'm sorry, Lanie. It's time to get up."

When he leaned over to turn the alarm off, I sat up and started kissing his back. I ran my left hand under the sheet until it came into contact with the hardest part of him. I smiled in victory as he groaned and rolled onto his back. He reached up and brushed his hand through my hair before cupping the side of my face. "I would give anything to never leave this bed, Lanie. But I have to get ready."

I pouted and he leaned up to kiss me until my lips changed to a smile. "Okay, okay," I breathed. When he got up from the bed, I stretched out on my stomach and laid my head on his pillow. I stayed there while he went to the kitchen. When he came back in the room, I nearly jumped from the bed with excitement.

"Is that for me?" I asked as I worried my bottom lip.

"Maybe," he teased as he held the cup out to me. "Give it a taste."

I took a sip of the hot Stewart's coffee and moaned as it slid down my throat. He must have paid attention when I sweetened my coffee. It tasted perfect.

"God, I'm going to miss that," he breathed.

My eyes met his and silence hung between us for a few minutes. All of a sudden, our moment was interrupted by a hard knock on the door.

"Ayden, you in there?" Nate called from the other side of the door.

After a paralyzing minute of being frozen in fear, I pulled the sheet off the bed to wrap around me as Ayden helped me off the bed and ushered me into his closet. "Yeah! One second!" Ayden called as he went to open the door.

"Hey, what's up?"

I facepalmed myself. Ayden needed to not sound like he just ran a marathon.

"I was going to see if you were cool with getting breakfast with me and Lanie on the way."

"Yeah, sure. Sounds good." Ayden's voice was surprisingly calm and steady. Much different to the nervous tone he had originally.

"Cool," Nate replied with a smile in his voice. "When Lanie wakes up, can you tell her I ran to the store real quick? There was no answer when I knocked on her door."

"Of course. How long do you think you'll be? You know...in case she asks. She can be pretty stubborn."

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. He was going to pay for that.

They both laughed before Nate replied, "Yeah, she can. Just tell her I'll be back in an hour."

"You got it."

Once I heard Ayden's door close, I stepped out of the closet with a scowl. "Stubborn, huh?"

He walked over to me like a lion stalking its prey. "Oh, yeah. Very stubborn."

Once he closed the distance between us, he started kissing my neck again and tugged at the sheet that was wrapped around me. "Ayden," I warned, "I need to shower and get ready. He's going to be back soon."

The sheet fell to my feet and he took my coffee cup and sat it on the bedside table. "He said he'll be back in an hour. That gives us plenty of time to take a shower. Together."

Excited by the idea, I pulled away from him with a teasing grin. "You have to catch me first."

I took off towards the bathroom and couldn't help but laugh as I heard him follow after me.

"This is always the hard part," I whispered to Nate at the airport. Hard didn't even begin to cover it. Honestly, I was glad his tour was almost over, because I couldn't handle this much longer. ate was the only family I had and the more time he spent over there, the greater chance I had at losing him. 

"I know, L." He pulled me into a tight hug and I couldn't stop the sniffles and waterworks that were coming. "Hey now," he said as he pulled back and wiped at my tears. "You know I can't handle it when you cry." 

That was definitely true. When we were younger, I would sometimes use my tears to get my way with Nate. But at times like this...I was a blithering idiot. "When are you finished?" 

"About three months left. Then I'm home. For good," he answered with a smile. Three months. I could last three months right? "Besides, you know I'll call you and write frequently. Just like always." 

I nodded. "Thank you, Nate. For everything. I'm glad we celebrated Christmas and got to spend time with our friends." 

"Jules, too?" he asked with a wink.

I laughed. "Nope! Sorry, Nate. That woman and I will never get along. Ever." 

He placed his hand on my shoulder. "I love you, little sister. Be good until I get home, okay?" 

"I love you, too. I'm always good. You're the one who needs to behave." 

Nate put his hand to his chest. "Excuse me? Moi? I'm an angel!" He grabbed his suitcase and turned towards the glass double doors. "L, I'll be right back. Let me check my bag. A line is forming and it looks like Ayden beat me to it."

As Nate disappeared inside the airport, Ayden came out. He walked over to me with a sad smile. One that I definitely returned. 

"Hey you," he said quietly. 

"Hey." 

He reached up and brushed his hand over my cheek. "I know this is hard for you. Saying goodbye to your brother." 

Yes, it was. It was nearly unbearable. "Yeah. He's not the only one it's hard to say goodbye to." 

I knew he caught my meaning and he winked at me before holding out his hand. 

"What's that?" I asked. 

"An olive branch," he quipped as he repeated my words from the first day he was at my house. 

I placed my hand in his. "Friends?" 

"Always, Goddess." He pulled me into a hug and whispered, "Take care of yourself, okay?" 

I nodded. "I will. You, too. I don't want anything to happen to either of you."  

We pulled apart and Nate came back outside. "Alright, little sis. Time for us to go. Come here." He pulled me into another hug and I closed my eyes tight. "I'll call you when we get there. Okay?" 

I kissed him on the cheek. "Sounds good. I'll see you in three months." 

I waited until they vanished into the crowds of people before I got back in my car. I left the airport and had one destination: Down the Rabbit Hole. Whenever I had to see my brother off, Harper always met me for drinks after. I just needed to unwind and keep busy while he was on the plane. Harper would meet me at the bar, we would drink, eat, then go to my place and watch some movies. Even though she was in a serious relationship now, she still honored this tradition. It was one of the many reasons I loved her so much. 

This time was definitely harder. Saying goodbye to one soldier was rough-- saying goodbye to both of them nearly killed me. Even though I tried to keep Ayden at arm's length, he got under my skin. I was lucky though. Even though I've only known him for two weeks, I knew he was a good guy. He really was a friend and I didn't regret anything we did. 

I parked next to Harper's car in the parking lot and walked inside the bar. She waved at me from a table in the corner and I walked over to join her. I sat my purse down and gave her a much needed hug. 

"You okay?" she asked me. 

My voice cracked a little. "Not really." 

Harper flagged down the server. "That's why I'm here. Waiter! Hi, can we please get two shots of tequila?" 

As I started at the TV in the corner, I saw her grab a rolled up piece of paper from my bag. "What's-- Oh. My. God." 

"What?" I took the paper from her and stared at it. "Oh. My. God." 

It was a sketch. A new one that Ayden must have drawn and slipped in my purse. I looked up at Harper and she waved down the server again. 

"Yeah, we need you to bring the bottle. Thanks."