Free Unlikely Lovers by Anna Kristell Page B

utter amazement.
    “Yes. We’re going to try a long distance relationship.” Missy was ecstatic and it showed in every feature of her face.
    “Why now? Think of all the time you’ve wasted ,” Jessica asked, still reeling from her friend’s startling announcement.
    “I don’t consider it wasted. It was time spent building a friendship that has every possibility of turning into more. He was getting over a failed love when we met and I didn’t want to be the rebound girl.”
    “I’m happy for you, but now you’re in the same boat I am,” Jessica said as they walked to the commissary.
    “Well…not exactly. Andy knows.” They had reached their favorite lunch spot.
    “He’ll tell Cody,” Jessica said worriedly as they sat down.
    “He won’t. That’s your call. But he agrees with me that you need to tell him.”
    They both ordered taco salads for a change then Jessica asked, “What was his reaction?”
    “He understood why we kept it a secret at first, but he’s glad I told him. You just need to get it over with. Cody loves you, I’m almost certain of that. Surely he’ll be all right. He might be pissed off for a while. But don’t you think he’d get over it?”
    “I know I need to tell him and get it over with, but I just can’t. I want to enjoy my time with him as long as I can. If I tell him now, he’ll be gone. And I’ll be alone. I’m not so sure I’ll ever enter into a relationship again, after Cody.”
    “Is there any possibility the two of you would ever consider marriage?”
    “We’ve never talked about it,” Jessica answered. “Why would you ask me that?”
    “Well, you’re so sure that it’s going to end…what if there’s a chance it wouldn’t?” Missy urged her to consider.
    “Missy, all I know is right now, I can’t live without him.”
    “I hate to say it, but you’re in love with him whether you admit it or not.”
    “You could be right. I’m going to miss you and our little chats when you leave Fort Sill.” She looked at Missy sadly. “I should be used to this by now.”
    “I’ll only be a phone call or a text or an email away. You know that. And we can visit each other on weekends occasionally. Although my weekends are going to be pretty tied up I think.” Missy blushed again. “Andy’s planning on visiting as often as he can.”
    Happy for her friend, Jessica asked for the details. “What made you decide to get together now?”
    “It was strange, really. Right about the time I was wondering if I’d made a mistake by insisting we only be friends, he asked me if we could ever be more,” she explained.
    “Sounds like some weird kind of karma, doesn’t it?” Jessica laughed.
    “All I know is that it was perfect after that. I don’t know why I waited so long.”
    “Maybe it wouldn’t have worked out this way if you hadn’t. You guys formed a close bond as friends first and gradually grew to be lovers. Not like Cody and me, who went straight to the bedroom and became friends later. Maybe that ’s where we made our mistake.”
    “ You don’t know it was a mistake.”
    “You’re right . I don’t know it was a mistake. Let’s go back. I have a lot of work to catch up if I want to go home tonight.”
    “Okay, think about what I said, though. You need to have that talk with Cody as soon as possible.”
    “I will.” She sighed at the mere thought of that conversation.
    They returned to their offices and Jessica worked straight through until four when she received a message telling her that her transfer was being delayed by four months. That buys me some more time, she thought . That would give her at least six more months with Cody . She walked to Missy’s office to give her the news.
    “Well, it gives you more time, but I still think you need to come clean. And the sooner the better,” Missy told her.
    “I know, it’s just so hard, now that it’s gone on so long.”
    “ And the longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be. I’m