Middle Ground Read Free Page B

his hand and pulled. “Nope, turns out I have more patience than you thought I did. I’ve been saving it for a special occasion.”
    “A special occasion? You mean like dancing in The Red Horse bar? On the night before your wedding? You think you’d save it for your wedding reception.”
    “Oh, no, mister.” She tugged harder and he let her pull him to his feet. “That one’s a gimme. You owe me that dance.”
    He’d give her anything she asked of him and she knew it. “How do you figure? Have you got more incriminating evidence for that particular piece of extortion?”
    “Yeah, pictures of the time you dressed up like a girl. Come on.”
    He followed her out to the dance floor. “I never dressed as a girl.”
    “I have photos that prove otherwise. Shut up and dance, Wilhelm.”
    He laughed. “You haven’t called me that in years. You must be desperate.”
    “Desperate times call for desperate measures…”
    The pop song stopped and Will grinned. “Looks like I got a reprieve.”
    Her grip tightened. “You stay here and wait.”
    A ballad filled the room. At least he didn’t have to make a fool of himself. “It’s my lucky day.”
    Putting her hands on his shoulders, Megan laid her head against his chest. “Remember when Mom decided we needed to learn ballroom dancing?”
    He hadn’t thought about that in years. “Yeah, and you got paired with that Russell kid and pitched a fit.”
    She lifted her chin, pursing her lips. “He picked his nose! I wasn’t holding his hand!”
    “Yeah, so they put you with me and I had to give up Shelia Murphy as my partner.”
    “Waa. Waa. Life’s a bitch.”
    “Dancing with your sixth-grade sister is the kiss of death to your social status when you’re an eighth-grade boy.”
    “You seemed to recover with the ladies just fine.” She winked.
    “You have me mistaken with James.”
    “Oh yeah, it was weird that James wasn’t there. That was one of the few times I don’t remember him being with us.”
    His entire life he’d been with his sister or James. Now he was losing them both. “We were like the Three Musketeers.”
    Dreaminess softened her face. “We had some good times.”
    “Yeah. We did.”
    “I miss you, Will.”
    A lump closed off his throat. “I miss you too, Meg. More than you know.”
    A desperate look filled her eyes. “Don’t reenlist when your time’s up.”
    His feet froze. Had James told her about his plans? “Megan, don’t…”
    “I need you. Mom needs you. Don’t reenlist, and come home.”
    He shook his head to clear his confusion. His two best friends bombarding him on the same night? But even if he did come home, his relationship with Megan wouldn’t be the same. “You’re marrying Dan tomorrow. You don’t need me anymore.”
    “I’ll always need you, Will. Nothing can come between us.”
    A chill ran up his spine. Something told him that wasn’t true. He shook it off and started dancing again. “Megan, don’t be silly. My entire life’s purpose was to be a Marine. You know that.”
    “Will, you’ve proved yourself to Dad and if he doesn’t see it, he’s a fool. We both know that’s what this is.”
    He pulled out of her grasp. “Is that what you think my life is? An attempt to get Dad’s approval?”
    “Isn’t it?”
    His stomach cramped. “I have to go.”
    Fear widened her eyes. “Will, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it.”
    “No, Megan. It’s exactly what you meant.” He turned to leave. The noise was getting to him and he’d had too many things thrown at him tonight.  He needed some quiet to sort out the mess in his head.
    “Will, wait!” She grabbed his arm and pulled him to a stop. “Please.”
    He hesitated, rubbing his free hand over his face.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it. It just scares me when you’re over there. And I know you. You’re putting yourself in danger to protect everyone else before you protect yourself. Your new medal proves it.” Tears fell down her cheeks. “I