Anchor Line (28 page)

             
A tear slipped down her cheek and she was so glad that it was dark. Well, except for the night lights that she’d put out so that she wouldn’t trip and fall. She let him lead her to her bedroom where he tugged her shirt off of her and tossed it on the floor where his towel followed seconds afterward. They slid into bed where Conrad pulled Addie to him, facing him. He wiped her tears with this thumbs and kissed her head.

             
“I’ll miss you too.” He smiled brightly as he looked at her. “You are such a pain in the ass to live with.” He joked again.

             
Addie snorted a breath through her nose and slid her leg over his and buried her face in his chest.

             
“It’ll be okay baby. I promise.” That’s all that he could say. He was deploying and knew the dangers. He knew that if he made it through that, he’d see her again. But tonight, he’d make sure that she never leave his arms. He enjoyed this past month and what it would be like to be in a relationship with Addie. It was easy, smooth and so much fun. He could look past his hangups with her. She understood when he had to work late to make sure things were squared away for when he left. She didn’t demand his time or attention like so many of the other girls had. But, he hadn’t moved in with them. He’d moved in with Addie. It was only now that he could admit...he’d miss the living shit out of her.

             
Addie was dressed for work in a white blouse and black pencil skirt with nude stockings and her suede black heels. She was standing in front of the mirror throwing her hair into a bun as Conrad was putting his bags in his truck. He’d woken her twice last night making love to her slowly. The first time, he’d fallen asleep still inside of her as he rolled them on their sides, her leg over his. The second time, he pulled her against him, her back to his front, so that he could smell the scent of her skin. She was sore, but pleasantly so.

             
Trying not to be too clingy this morning was hard. This past month was everything she’d wanted and more. But it was just like the military though, you find someone you wanted to be with longer and they have to leave. Same went for friends and neighbors. You just had to make the best of it. Making sure that the lights were turned off in the bathroom and closet, Addie checked to make sure that Conrad took his cell charger from the night table. Satisfied that he’d gotten everything, she made her way to the kitchen where her garlic bagel with cream cheese sat on a napkin next to her travel mug of coffee that Conrad had made for her like most days when they went in together.

 
           She just didn’t even want to eat. She felt nauseous, and not because she was pregnant, because she wasn’t. It was just nerves. She lifted her travel mug with a shaky hand and took a sip. Usually, coffee calmed her nerves. Today it did nothing for her. She’d see him soon. He’d said as much last night. But today…today she would wallow in her misery.

 
           Conrad came up the stairs and walked through the door straight to her and enveloped her in his strong arms, kissing her forehead. He pulled away from her and smiled at her. 

 
           “I’m taking the other travel mug, okay? They are a pair I know. But…” He shrugged, not finishing his sentence.

 
           “Let me guess.” Addie smiled back, “You are so used to using it that you just have to take it.”

 
           “I’m gonna miss this little guy.” Conrad joked sliding it over his cheek.

 
           “Yeah. I’ll bet.” Addie chuckled.

 
           The inevitable was here. They both knew it. Conrad walked over and pulled a sandwich bag from the box and came back over and closed her bagel and put it in the sandwich bag, then put it in her purse on the bar. Then he reached over and turned off the light to the kitchen. He took her hand and handed her purse to her. He led her down the hallway toward the front door.

 
           Pushing her up against it, he slid his hands up her arms and to her shoulders before he cupped her face and leaned in, his lips touching hers.

 
           “I’ll say this once Addie. And not because you want to hear it, but because I want to tell you.” He kissed her lightly at first. “I’ll miss you. This has been the best month of my life and if this is what relationships are supposed to be like…I’d want this only with you.” He kissed her again.

 
           Addie was floored. She dropped her purse on the floor and her arms came around his neck.

 
           “We’ll keep in touch, I promise. I don’t know how much once I’m deployed, but I’ll keep in touch. Okay?” He looked intently at her. “No BS.”

 
           Addie had tears swimming in her eyes. “Well, someone has to give me a hard time and bust my ass I guess huh?”

 
           Conrad’s answer was to take her mouth in a desperate kiss. And when he pulled back, he brushed Addie’s tears with his thumbs and kissed her forehead.

 
           “You have a good day. I’ll let you know when I get to my dad’s in Pittsburgh. If you are a good girl, I’ll send you a goodie package with some Steelers and Penguins stuff. How’s that?” Conrad smiled, making Addie smile too.

 
           Addie nodded. Then they moved from the door and walked out. As Addie turned around to lock the door, Conrad leaned in up against her and kissed her on her neck.

 
           “I’m keeping my key too. So when I come back, I can surprise you.” He whispered.

 
           “Eh. Maybe by then I’ll have a steady boyfriend who won’t decide to flirt with me a few months before he’s supposed to PCS.” Addie tried to joke.

 
           “No. You won’t.” Conrad chuckled and bit lightly on her neck. He knew she wouldn’t see anyone while he was away. It’s not something she would do. Now with the possibility that he would return to her.

 
           She turned around smiling. “Just don’t hurt me while I wait for you to come back Conrad.”

 
           “Never.” He answered.

 
           They held hands as they walked down to her car. He opened her door and once she was seated, he leaned in and kissed her again. Then pulled her seatbelt across her and closed her door and walked over to his truck and got in.

 
          Addie was a robot at work. Talia and Jess didn’t try to cheer her up. They knew how she felt, so they checked on her periodically and let her do her thing. Addie went to her Monday Supervisory meeting and took notes, came back downstairs and immersed herself in reports and emails. Her mom had texted her to come over for dinner, but Addie declined saying that she wasn’t really feeling up to it. So, her dad phoned and said that momma was making homemade gnocci and meatballs and to have her ass there after work or they would descend on her apartment.

 
           Later...walking into her apartment with a few plastic containers of leftovers, Addie went straight to the fridge. Setting the containers in there, she closed the door and set to putting the coffee in the coffee maker to go off in the morning. Taking her phone from her purse, she made sure that the front door was locked, turned off the kitchen lights and made her way back to her bedroom.

 
           On her dresser was a vase of red, pink, and white roses. There were at least two or three dozen easily. She saw a large card leaned up against it. Turning on the lamp and tearing open the envelope, she read it:

 
           Ad,

 
           There are things that I just couldn’t say and I’m hoping that this will suffice. Our month together was amazing. It was what I’d always wanted in a relationship. I think if we had more time, things could have been different. I’m not going to ask you to wait until I come home. I don’t know where we are going in the Stan, but, I will have midtour leave, and if you want to come to PA, I’ll pay for your ticket. I would love to see you. My sister is getting married, and I need a date, keep that in mind. We’ll keep in touch that I CAN promise you. Miss you, Miss me!        Conrad

            Addie closed the card when the picture on the front caught her eye. How she hadn’t noticed it when she pulled it out of the envelope, she wasn’t sure. She started to cry as she looked at the picture. How Conrad pulled it off, she didn’t know. He’d had to have taken it a few times for it to come out right, but it was a close up of her asleep on her side facing him, her curly hair on the pillow behind her. Conrad for all intents and purposes looked like he was asleep too. His nose brushed up against hers, his eyes closed. It was taken while the sun had come through the windows obviously.

 
           Propping up the card against the base of her lamp on her night table, she walked over to the closet and turned on the light and undressed. Where her shoes were supposed to be put on the shelf, there was a t-shirt. Dropping her shoes on the floor, Addie unfolded it and saw that it was Conrad’s Steelers tee that she’d seen him wear. Tearing up, she brought the t-shirt to her nose and inhaled the scent of his cologne and soap. Realizing that she was standing naked, breathing in Conrad’s shirt, she swiftly pulled it on and forgot about her shoes and slid into bed.

             
As was her ritual with Conrad, she turned the TV to ESPN, plugged in her cell and turned off the bedside lamp. Looking at her phone once more, she had no next text messages or missed phone calls. Sighing, she saw that it was already ten forty and thought briefly about texting him goodnight, but decided against it and put her phone down. She changed the channel to HGTV and snuggled down in the covers. Engrossed in House Hunters International, her phone chimed with a text, so she rolled over and picked it up.

            
 
CONRAD: U up Sugartits?

             
ADDIE: Sugartits?

             
CONRAD: They taste gooood.

             
ADDIE: How much have you had to drink?

             
CONRAD: Dad took me out. U wud LUV to have me right now.

             
ADDIE: Tell me why?

             
CONRAD: i m fucking drunk. Rum and Coke. U’d love the taste from my lips.

             
ADDIE: I can only imagine.

             
CONRAD: Need sleep. Miss Me...Miss U Sugartits.

             
ADDIE: Miss you too. Sleep well.

             
CONRAD: Not likely....dick is fucking hard as a brick.

             
ADDIE: Tug on it.

             
CONRAD: Not the same. Nite Ad.

             
ADDIE: Night Connie.

            
 
Feeling much better that he’d texted, she was about to put her phone down when it chimed again.

 
          CONRAD: U find my shirt????

             
ADDIE: Yes, thank you.

             
CONRAD: Put it on.

            
 
ADDIE: Already did.

             
CONRAD: Good girl. Nite.

             
ADDIE: Night night.

             
CONRAD: Always the last word w/ U!

             
ADDIE: Yes! :)

             
When he didn’t text back, Addie slid under the covers and finished watching her show until she fell asleep. This was going to be a busy week at work. End of Month reports and statistics on things they’d updated and completed.

             
Conrad had gotten into Pittsburgh earlier than he’d thought and drove up Beech Street to his Pop’s townhouse. It was just a red brick front, kind of plain, but the character was on the inside. It was all street parking, so he pulled up along the house and parked. Getting out and stretching his legs, he walked up to the door and rang the bell waiting for someone to answer.

             
His sister Carrie was probably out planning her wedding that was supposed to happen next year. Hopefully he’d be able to make it home during mid-tour leave to surprise her for her wedding to Roger, who was an engineer for the state of Pennsylvania. Ringing the bell again, he went the few feet to his truck to phone his brother Jeff who should be home. Closing the truck door, he walked up to the front door when it opened and out walked a tall, leggy blonde with a backpack over her shoulder. Conrad raised an eyebrow at her and she blushed to her fake blonde roots.

             
“Later Chelsea.” Conrad’s brother, Jeff stood blocking the doorway in only a pair of boxers. “Conrad!” Jeff exclaimed. “You made it home sooner than you were supposed to.” But the bothers did the whole man hug and slapped each other on the back and pulled apart to look at one another.

             
“You’ve grown.” Conrad nodded his head. “You always were way too scrawny.”