Free Soldier On by Sydney Logan Page A

have all the time in the world to fall in love.”
    I chuckle. “I’m not in—”
    “Maybe not. Not yet. But when my brother calls me and starts talking about some girl’s big brown eyes and her sweet laugh, I know it’s just a matter of time. And I bet he does, too. That’s why the very best thing you can do for yourself and for . . . what’s her name again?”
    “Stephanie. Steph.”
    “The best thing you can do for yourself and Steph is forget that she exists. You’ll just break her heart, and doing that will break yours. You need to stay away from her. For both your sakes.”
    Probably not the best time to talk about the new roommate.
    “You’re right, Chris. I know you are.”
    “Good.”
    We hang up, and I spend the rest of my shift in misery. Deep down, I know Christian’s right. Even if Steph didn’t despise the military, we’d still be doomed. What kind of future can I offer her when I don’t even know where I’m going to be for the next four years?
    And why are you even considering a future with a girl you’ve barely known for a month?
    I’m still pondering that question when one of our regular customers walks into the shop. Sylvia Metcalf is seventy-two and loves onion bagels with her French roast coffee. She’s a widow and has a granddaughter named Amber who is around my age. I know this because she tells me every single time she sees me.
    “How are you today, Mrs. Metcalf?”
    “Oh, can’t complain,” Mrs. Metcalf replies, but she proceeds to do exactly that. The weather sucks, her back hurts, and the snow tires on her Buick need replaced.
    “You look preoccupied today,” she says as I ring her up. “Something on your mind?”
    “A few things, actually. School. Family.”
    “You know, a girl could take your mind right off those troubles,” she says, with a twinkle in her eye. “That’s all you need. A sweet girl. I have a granddaughter . . .”
    My chest tightens as I think about the only girl I want to see. The only girl that matters.
    I look down at my watch. “You know what, Mrs. Metcalf? I think you’re right.”
    She brightens. “I am?”
    I hand her the bagel and coffee.
    “Yep. A sweet girl is just what I need. And I know exactly where to find her.”
     
     

CHAPTER NINE
    Stephanie

     
    “So the pharmacology books are in the 600s?”
    “615, yes.”
    The nursing student looks confused as she glances at the bookshelf. “But this sign says the 600s are Technology.”
    “That’s right.”
    “Shouldn’t it be in the 500s? In Sciences?”
    God, give me patience.
    My entire afternoon in the library has been just like this, with one annoying question right after the other. Where’s this book? Where’s that book? How much is my overdue fine? Do you have a vending machine? Can I check out a laptop? Ms. Maria, the librarian, even threatened to send me home early if I didn’t chill out. Now, I have this little blonde nursing student with a ridiculous interest in the Dewey Decimal System, and I am just not in the mood.
    “This way.” I lead her toward the appropriate shelf and point at the large volume titled Side Effects: The Big Book of Pharmacology. “Is this the book you need?”
    “Yes, but . . .”
    I hand it to her. “This book is classified as Medical science, and books related to medicine are in the Technology category.”
    “But why is it in Technol—”
    “I don’t know why! I don’t care why! I wasn’t alive back in the 1870s when Mr. Dewey developed his system! Now, please, for the love of God, just take the book and go.”
    The girl frowns. “You need a mood stabilizing drug. Maybe something with a mild antidepressant.”
    “I need a lot of things. Have a nice day.”
    The girl rolls her eyes at me before heading to the checkout counter.
    Taking a deep breath, I lean my forehead against the spines of the medical books. What is wrong with me? Yes, I’m tired. Yes, I’m stressed. But I’ve never been rude to other students,