Free Army of You & Me by Billy London

were weird? At the same time you’re normal. For a man who’s been back and forth to war you’re more normal than the men around here. And you haven’t pushed me about sex or anything until right this minute, so I take it back. I don’t love you. I don’t even like you right now.”
    Cain unfolded his arms, his eyes shining with amusement. “That’s quite a list.”
    “I said I take it back,” she said petulantly, scuffing the carpet with a toe. A glance up told her she needn’t have bothered saying that.
    “Okay.” His voice was soft. “You take it back. For now.”
    “I meant it.”
    “I’m sure you did, Madeline Grace, but here’s the thing. I’m going to make you admit it. Guaranteed by the end of today you’ll say it. See where you are with your resolve.”
    She edged back. “I...”
    He stepped into her space, and she lost her breath. “You think I’m worthy of it. I’ll prove it to you.” Leaning down, he brushed his mouth over her eyebrow and trailed the tip of his nose over her cheek. She couldn’t quite breathe even though there was the smallest distance between them. “When you tell me again that you love me? It won’t be surrender. It’ll be a release.”
    She stood her ground, tilting her chin in defiance. “I said I don’t even like you, so that’s not happening.” Stepping around him, she gathered up her keys. “I’m going to the shop for a little bit. You can stay here and…” She gestured to his form. “Evolve from Neanderthal.”
    Cain’s smile was pure devilry. “I’m not going anywhere, Madeline. You take your time.”
    ***
    She hid in the shop until well past closing time. Unnatural fear kept her from her own house, and each time a shadow fell across the front door, Madeline panicked that it was Cain. She hid in the back room to make chocolates and instead ended up having a fitful nap, half her face studded with freeze-dried strawberries.
    “What’s he done?” Caz asked as they were closing the shop.
    “Why does something have to be wrong?”
    “Because you’re behaving like an abused pet who’s worried their owner is coming back. What did he do? I knew he was a sex perv!”
    Madeline closed her eyes to find some patience. “It’s not him. It’s me.”
    “Bullshit.”
    “It is me.”
    Caz frowned. “Is he pushing you into sex?”
    “No... I’m just... I don’t like the idea that I don’t have a choice about things. And sometimes he makes me feel like we’re just...destined.”
    Caz rolled her eyes. “Jesus. Remind yourself you said this, and after you have disappointing and very rapid sex, remember how ridiculous you sounded.”
    “What?”
    “You always have a choice. That’s the beauty of the Western World. And you still have that switch knife I gave you for Christmas, don’t you? If you feel threatened, just stick it in his throat.”
    Madeline growled in frustration. “You don’t understand!”
    “You’re explaining it horribly, so no. I don’t.”
    She breathed out. “Have you ever been afraid of something? Like swimming? And tried it to prove it’s not as bad as you think? But it is just as bad. And it doesn’t get any better. Even though you’ve tried swimming in different pools. That’s what the ‘s’ word is to me.”
    “And you haven’t had the ‘s’ word with your squaddie?”
    “No. Almost. But no.”
    Caz seemed stumped. “I don’t get it. He’s all over you. And you get that moo face whenever you talk about him. Ah, well, most men are as thick as shit, so unless you spell it out, he won’t know. Is that it? I’m off out tonight and I want to go and get ready.”
    By the time Madeline returned home, her stomach was in knots. But Cain was waiting patiently for her and had even made dinner. She watched him suspiciously as he talked about his parents’ admiration of her and how happy they were that he’d introduced her to them. “You’re not eating your steak.” He said when she failed to make anything more