The Wounded Read Online Free PDF Page A

worried that you’d never feel the same way.”
    “I did. When you were clinging to my neck at the pool, I wanted to kiss you so bad. Tossing you into the deep end was one of the stupidest things
    Eric ever did, but it showed me how much I needed you in my life. Leaving you was hard for me and Eric. There were times I would have welcomed them kicking
    me out of the service, just so I could come back to you. I needed you to be proud of me, though. I didn’t want you to be ashamed because I
    couldn’t be strong for you. Then when the whole thing came to a head, I stuck it out, because I knew if I came back, you’d never again
    look at me like you used to.”
    Mark cuffed Jase on the side of his head. “Idiot. No one would have thought any less of you. Mom and Dad still would have welcomed you with open
    arms. I would have been beside you every step of the way. But remember, if you had come home, my brother might not be alive today. You made sure my family
    wouldn’t suffer.”
    Jase shrugged awkwardly. “He’s my family, too. When my folks told me they didn’t have a son, your family took me in and made
    me part of theirs. I think it’s me who owes you.”
    Mark chuckled and stroked a finger over Jase’s palm. “Oh, don’t worry. I think we can work out a payment plan.”
    Jase rolled his eyes and was about to make a comeback when a sound caught his attention. To his left, Michael’s sister and mother sniffled. A
    stereo began to play, “May I Have This Dance.” Michael and Jay stood together in front of their family and friends.
    “Wow. Check them out,” Jase whispered.
    Jay wore a dark blue suit, an ivory shirt, and a slender, light blue tie. Michael had put on a suit coat that had belonged to his grandfather, which his
    mother had said she’d saved, knowing one day her son would wear it. The coat was old and didn’t fit exactly right, but the man in it
    still commanded attention. They approached from different sides of the people in attendance and met in the middle. Jay reached out and took
    Michael’s hand in his, giving a look that radiated pure love.
    “Michael Aaron Ritter… “ Jay began, “everything that I am, all that I own, with all of my being, I pledge my life
    to you.”