Back To You Read Online Free PDF

even know if we have it. I found my rack mate’s stuff in my
footlocker, and he found some of mine. Those are some of the mind games they
play, but they say boot camp is 90% mental crap and 10% physical.
    But anyway, I don’t have much time to
finish. I’m writing this during what we call “square-away time,” and I still
have a lot of stuff to do before I go to bed. Including shaving my face , which I am already sick of having to deal
with every damn day. I’ll write you again when I can. Tell your family I say
hi.
    Be
back soon,
    Spence
    I folded the second
letter and put it back in the envelope with the first. I had no idea what to
write him back. He was going through this crazy culture shock, and I had just
gotten home from a movie. I wondered if it would come off as bragging if I told
him about all of the mundane things in my life, knowing that he probably wished
he could be out doing stuff like that too.
    I groaned out
loud. What was wrong with me? I was second-guessing how to talk to Spencer
– my Spencer – when he
had always been the one person that I didn’t have to worry about that with. Why
was I overanalyzing every little thing?
    “Ellie?” Mom stood
in the doorway that led to the kitchen, squinting into the night. “What are you
doing out there?”
    “Reading Spencer’s
letter. I’m not sure how to respond,” I explained to my mother, my shoulders
sagging against the chains of the swing.
    “Well,” Mom began,
crossing the porch to join me on the swings, “you and Spencer have always had a
pretty easy friendship. I don’t see why things would be any different now.”
    “I don’t know why,
but I feel like it is different
somehow. He’s off doing this great thing, and I’m here, still doing the same
things I always do.”
    Mom reached for my
hand and gave it a quick squeeze. “You’re living your life and he’s living his.
You’re heading to great things too, you know. Starting your new job with your
father next month is exciting.”
    “Yeah, I just wish
he wasn’t so bent on me going to law school. I’m not sure I want to do that,
but I know it means a lot to him.”
    “That’s why it’s
so great that you get to work at the office with him while you decide. You can
get exposure to law and decide from there.”
    I nodded. “I know.
We’ll see how it goes. I just don’t want either of you to get your hopes up.”
    Mom gave my
shoulder a pat and stood from the swing. “Treat Spencer like nothing’s changed.
Talk about the things you normally would, like how annoying your parents are.
He’ll welcome some normalcy, I’m sure.”
    As I watched her
start to walk away, I took a chance. “Mom?”
    “Yes?” She turned
and came closer.
    “Spencer said
something weird at the party before he left. That’s why I thought things might
be different between us.”
    My mom tilted her
head. “What did he say?”
    “That he didn’t
approve of my relationship with Tim anymore… and that he didn’t think Tim was
good enough for me.”
    “Hmm. I’m sure
it’s scary for him to leave everything that’s familiar to him and sign his life
away. He cares about you a lot; I’m sure he probably just wants to make sure
you’re happy while he’s gone.”
    “But what does
that have to do with him suddenly not being cool with my boyfriend?”
    “Maybe he was
afraid that your friendship wouldn’t be the same after he started his life with
the Marines, so he wanted to make sure that he told you how he felt while you
two were still close.”
    I shook my head.
“That won’t happen. I’m not going to let this pull us apart. He’s my best
friend.”
    “Then you really
need to relax, sweetheart. Be normal with him, don’t create drama or pressure
where there doesn’t have to be any. You know Spencer’s been through a lot, he’s
protective of you.”
    “Thanks, Mom.” I
gave her a small smile and looked away as she made her way back to the house.
My mom was right, I just needed to act