Chapter One
Acer
When I graduated high school and left for basic training, I swore I’d never come back to this town—this state. It held nothing but bad memories. But my mother—my absent mother who never bothered to get better and get me back out of the system—had passed away, and she’d left a will behind that apparently, I needed to be here for.
She’d already been cremated, and I had denied her ashes when they were offered to me. I had no idea where they went, nor did I care to know. I’d long ago become indifferent to anything that pertained to that woman.
Katherine Sterling had loved drugs and the bottom of a bottle more than she had ever loved me. I used to be angry about it, but after a while, I just didn’t care anymore. There was no use wasting energy on someone who wasn’t expending energy on me.
I rolled my head around, trying to ease the tension in my neck from the long drive I’d just made from Georgia to Washington. I could’ve flown, but I hated flying. Not to mention, I only had a few days to tie up loose ends here before I got deployed overseas. I wanted to experience as much of it as I could behind the wheel of my truck before it got parked in a garage for months on end.
Military life. I swore I got deployed more these days than I was ever at home.
But that was what I’d signed up for. Both times I’d signed my contracts, I wanted to be gone more than I was home. I had no attachments, and I figured if I ever decided I was ready to settle down, I’d cross that bridge when I got to it.
No use worrying about something that hadn’t happened yet.
Somehow, I found myself pulling up to the old football field where a game was about to start. My last foster mother—the kindest I’d had—had paid for me to play, giving me an outlet for all the pent-up, negative energy inside of me. I’d always loved the sport, and though I was a bit sad I hadn’t gotten to play more, I was glad I’d gotten to play the little bit that I did.
Once I found a parking spot near the back of the lot on the grass, one of the few spots left open, I slid out of my truck and headed toward the ticket booth. There was a bite in the air, snow getting ready to come down. There hadn’t been any blizzards in the forecast though, so hopefully whatever came down, I’d be able to drive in it.
“Acer Sterling, is that you?” someone asked from behind me. I spun around, a grin pulling at my lips as soon as I landed my eyes on her.
Sparrow Clay.
If anyone would have ever been able to make me come back to this town, it would have been her. We’d become friends in my last foster home, but we both went separate ways once we graduated. She went on to college on a full-ride academic scholarship, and I started my career with the US military.
“Sparrow?” I asked incredulously. Her once long, dark hair was now cut, falling just below her shoulders, and just like always, it was pin straight. Her brown eyes were bright against her reddened cheeks. She tugged her hat lower on her head against the chill when the wind blew.
“I thought that was you when you got out of your truck, but I couldn’t tell for sure until there was some better lighting.” She stepped closer. “How have you been?”
I rubbed the back of my neck, a nervous habit I’d never broken, and judging by the teasing smile that tilted her lips, she noticed. I quickly dropped my hand, stuffing them into the pockets of my jeans. “I’ve been everywhere.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. “Joined the military.”
Her eyes widened in surprise, allowing me to see those beautiful, brown irises even more clearly. “Really? Never pegged you for the type.”
I laughed. “Well, school definitely wasn’t my thing,” I reminded her.
Her pretty cheeks flushed red. “Yeah, I remember. I had to help you countless nights with homework so you’d graduate on time.”
Another woman called her name, and Sparrow waved at her before turning back to me. “I’m here with a friend of mine,” she said as the woman walked up, smiling at me, an appreciative glint in her eyes. I ignored it—wasn’t interested, especially with Sparrow standing in front of me. “But can we catch up for coffee after?”
I nodded. “Coffee sounds great. Want to meet at Owl Cup?”
She nodded. “Yeah! I’ll be there after the game.” She reached forward and gently squeezed my bicep. “I’m so glad you decided to come to town, Acer.”
With that, she walked off with her friend, and I stared after her, suddenly realizing my heart was racing in my chest. I was so used to adrenaline and its effects that I barely noticed it anymore.
But seeing and talking to Sparrow just now… she made me feel as If I’d just jumped out of a plane into enemy territory. Except Sparrow wasn’t the enemy; she was one of the only kind people I’d known in this place.
~*~*~
I was already sipping at a plain black coffee in the back corner of the coffee shop when Sparrow walked in, little flurries of snow on her knit cap. I glanced toward the window. Looked like the snow was already making its appearance.
She waved at me when I turned my eyes back to her. I let a small smile curve my lips as I raised my cup in greeting, watching as she ordered a hot chocolate for herself. When she got it, she made her way over to me and took a seat across from me.
“So, what’d you think of the game?” she asked.
I shrugged. “Defense needs some work, but offense is on fire.”
She laughed. “Still as particular about it now as you were then, huh?”
I shrugged, biting back a smile. I’d been a good football player, and the coach was quite grumpy about the fact that I hadn’t been on his team before my senior year. I managed to get the team to state, and while we lost, it was the furthest the football team had gone in two decades.
“What have you been up to?” I asked her. “I’m surprised you came back here.”
She sighed, taking a sip from her steaming cup of hot chocolate, little marshmallows floating on top. “Well, I had no plans of coming back here. Swore I never would. But then, Mrs. Keller called me and told me the elementary school desperately needed a teacher.”
Mrs. Keller had been the principal when we were in school here, so I was surprised she was still there. “She’s still working there?”
Sparrow nodded, giving a light laugh. “Surprisingly, yeah. I think she’s retiring at the end of this school year though. Her husband says it’s time for her to spend more time at home with him.”
I shook my head. “I gave that poor woman so much trouble,” I mused.
Sparrow laughed. “I remember, which is why I’m still a little shocked that you went into the military.”
I shrugged, admiring the way her cheeks warmed, her brown eyes dancing with so much life. “It was a paid ticket out of here, and the structure actually did me good.” I shrugged. “I didn’t think I’d like it, but I’m almost done with my second contract.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you going to reenlist?”
I nodded. “Definitely. I want a full career out of this.” I looked up at her. “What made you decide to be a teacher, especially at an elementary school?”
She shrugged. “I want kids to have a safe space.” Understanding flooded through me, and my heart clenched in my chest. She was too sweet for her own good. “We didn’t always have that growing up,” she whispered.
I reached across the table and laid my hand on hers. My heart skipped a whole beat as tingles erupted through my fingers and hand, racing up my arm and into my chest to swirl around my heart. She sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widening as they locked on mine.
I imagined both of us had just felt that.
“You’re an incredible woman, Sparrow.”
Her entire face flushed with a beautiful blush. “Thank you,” she whispered.
