Free We Shouldn't and Yet... by Stephanie Witter Page A

times.’’
    Hal laughs and shakes his head, turning down the TV volume. “You really need to find another job.’’
    My frown comes back with a vengeance. I don’t know how to take this. If he’s criticizing, then I’m pretty sure I’m going to snap at him. I hate it when people think they’re entitled to criticize my life when it’s already in shambles. At least, I can keep a job, two even, I pay my bills on time and I have a roof over my head. That’s more than some vets can say. It’s easy for people to give you advice when they haven’t seen your friends, your army brothers fall. Or when you’re wondering everyday why you’re alive, coming out almost unscathed from an explosion on the last mission of a tour. It’s easy for them to talk when you feel lost most of the time. Then, if they know what it’s like, maybe I’d agree to at least listen.
    “There’s nothing wrong with his job,’’ Aideen says, putting some distance between her and my son. Her usually soft eyes are now wary and annoyed. It shouldn’t, but it’s calming me down immediately.
    “I didn’t say there’s anything wrong,’’ he retorts with an annoyance I’ve never seen in him before. “I don’t know what crawled up your ass today. You’re so damn defensive.’’ He crosses his arms and with narrowed eyes, waiting for the fight.
    I sit up straighter, ready to intervene before they argue when Aideen takes me by surprise. Apparently, she’s very good at it.
    “You know nothing about vets or how difficult it is for them to go back to a normal everyday life outside of the army. You’re always like that, Hal, thinking that you know everything and you have the answer to everyone’s issues, but you don’t. Instead of asking for more, for something else, you should be damn proud of your father and support him.’’
    “Who says I’m not supporting him, huh? You’ve been here for two days, Aideen. I’ve been here for the last few months.’’
    She jumps to her feet, body shaking, cheeks red from anger, eyes bright with fury. What the fuck is going on here? Because it’s obvious it’s something that’s more than just a fight between best friends.
    “Forget it, Hal.’’ She grits her teeth and turns around as if to go to her bedroom. I want to reach out and ask her to stay, but I’m frozen in the armchair, a spectator. And, God help me, I’m even harder than earlier. Seeing this spark of passion, these extreme emotions, it’s doing something to me, making me want to see where that passion could lead without clothes on. Damn, I’ve got a one track mind.
    “You’re running away again. Every time you have to open up about something you run away. Yann really did a number on you.’’
    She whirls around and marches to my son who visibly pales. Apparently he knows he’s said something he shouldn’t have. He looks sick to his stomach, his eyes now pleading with her, but he keeps his mouth closed. Aideen’s body is coiled, as if ready to strike. As furious as she is, she still looks gorgeous.
    “To answer your dig at Yann and me, yes, he did a number on me, but considering what you know, it’s not surprising.’’ She takes a deep breath, obviously trying to regain some of her composure. “You should leave before I say something I’ll regret.’’
    “What?’’ His back pushes harder in the back of the couch as if punched straight to his heart.
    “Leave. Now.’’
    “But—‘’
    “Now!’’ she screams. Hal jumps and quickly grabs his cell, not once sparing me a glance before he sprints out. But I see his haunted face. He’s made a huge mistake and now he must pay the price for it.
    She’s breathing hard, too fast when the door soundly closes after my son. She walks back to the couch on shaky legs and sits down heavily. Without thinking I stand up, round the coffee table and sit down next to her, almost touching her side. I gently grab her hands gripping her thighs and I let my thumbs move in tiny