Love Survives Read Online Free PDF Page B

regret. She’d lost so much already. I couldn’t ruin her, not again.
    Then I had to consider my brother, and our already struggling relationship. I’d put on a brave face, but it was quite obvious his relationship with Kat was coming between us. Without admitting my feelings, I was forced to pretend to be happy for them, at the cost of losing myself each and every night. I hated the sound of them laughing, the sucking noises when they kissed, and even the times when I knew he was sneaking into her room.
    I tried so hard not to listen to their conversations, especially when my brother made her promises I knew he wouldn’t keep. What hurt me worst was knowing that Branch was fully aware of my feelings for Kat. I hadn’t hidden them. He was my twin, yet acted out of his own selfishness to win her heart. What I’d done in her room was wrong, but it wasn’t in vain. Kat needed to feel loved, and that’s exactly what I’d provided her with. If I couldn’t have her forever, at least we’d part on good terms. I’d know what it was like to hold her in my arms and make love to her with all the passion I had in me. Life was about to rip us apart, but I wouldn’t let it cause me to forget.
    With a ton of regret, I left her alone in the room, convinced that leaving was my only option, and I knew exactly how I had to go about it so that no one was able to change my mind. There was no other way to keep the peace. Kat needed my family, probably more than I did. Out of us three kids, I was the strongest. I could handle being out on my own when I knew the two of them wouldn’t be able to.
    My only concern then would be to look her in the eyes and say goodbye, without the whole world seeing right through me.
     
     

 

     
     
    Chapter 5
    “Mom, Dad, there’s something I need to talk to you about.”
    My mom played with her hands while my dad sat back in his chair trying to figure me out. “Did you get a girl pregnant?” He asked.
    I focused my gaze elsewhere and shook my head, wishing that were the case. “No. It’s not that.” I looked down at the tan carpet, unable to face their reactions. “I’ve enlisted in the Army.”
    “You what?” My mother stood up, grabbing my attention immediately. Tears filled her eyes as she covered her mouth in a natural reaction. “Why?”
    I shrugged. “For a lot of reasons. It doesn’t matter. It’s happening.”
    “Brooks, you’re seventeen.” My father was already trying to find a loophole to get me out of it.
    “By the time I go to boot camp I’ll be eighteen. This is what I want.” For the record it wasn’t what I’d always set out to do, but it was the only way I knew I’d be able to stay away from Kat. “Please don’t fight me on this. I need your support.” With tears in my eyes I watched both of my parents face the hard facts. They couldn’t change what was done. I was going away, taking myself out of the equation before I lost control.
    After our chat, I had to give my brother the news. Honestly, he took it better than anyone, making me upset. His reaction only proved that he still felt threatened by my presence.
    It wasn’t hard to deal with Branch until Kat entered the room. Then I could feel my heart being tugged in a different way.
    “So, I told Mom and Dad earlier. They know I leave right after graduation.” It was the easiest way to break the ice with Kat; to get a feel of how she would take it.
    “Where are you going?” Her curiosity made the hair on my arms stand up.
    “He enlisted,” Branch announced.
    “What? When?” Kat sat up and stared right into my eyes as if she was having a bad dream. I wasn’t certain, but I sensed more than a friendly concern on her face.
    “Last week, like you care.” I’d been playing a video game with Branch while we talked, and unpaused the game to avoid looking at her for a long period of time. Besides, it made it easier to hide my emotions when I stayed occupied with something else.
    She was quiet for a