Loved by a Soldier: A Military Romance Collection

by Alison Mello

  I quickly follow after her, trapping her against the counter. “I’m not letting you leave like this, Poppy. They understand. They’ll give us privacy to talk this through. You can tell me what’s wounding you.”

  Poppy bites the inside of her cheek before she nods her head and grabs my hand, waiting. I grip it tightly and lead her down the hall to my bedroom. I close the door and motion her to the dark blue bed. Poppy sits on the edge, grabbing a decorative pillow to hold to her chest.

  I stand in front of her, my arms crossed over my chest as I wait for her to begin. I want her to spit it out, get it off her chest. It is burdensome on her and I need her to tell me the truth. Let me carry some of the weight, if not all of it.

  Poppy suddenly grabs the hem of her dress and lifts it, baring her inner thigh. I gulp, jerking my eyes up to meet hers. Tears are pooling, threatening to escape. I follow her hand movement as she skims her finger over a jagged scar and I clench my jaw.

  Whoever did that to her is going to get the same, tenfold. How could anyone willingly scar her perfect skin?

  Poppy then shows me a similar scar on the other thigh. “Gavin did this,” Poppy begins, her voice shaky. She quickly covers her legs and folds into herself, her arms wrapping around her stomach as if to keep herself from falling apart. The scene breaks my heart. “It was senior year. Gavin had begun to approach me. He was nice, always asking how my day was and casually flirting with me. He was gentle whenever he touched me. A brush on the cheek or a kiss to my forehead. He asked me to accompany him to a party that Stephanie was throwing. I stupidly put my trust in him.” She hugged the pillow tight.

  “We ended up in a bedroom and he pinned me down…I told him no, and he threatened me with his knife. I was crying and screaming for help, but no one came. It was orchestrated.” Poppy lifts her eyes to look at me. I am sick to my stomach. I want to bring forth the steak and corn I had eaten. Her words are tearing me apart. My sweet Poppy has been walking around with this dark secret all this time?

  “He cut me. It was a red hot pain that made me squeal…li-like a p-pig.” Poppy sobs and I finally step forward, ignoring my heated anger to console her. I squat in front of her, gathering her hands in my own, kissing her trembling fingers.

  “D-Did he…?” I whisper, needing to know the answer. It will kill me if she confirms it. It will prove that I have failed her…the woman God has trusted me to care for.

  Poppy takes a deep breath, keeping her head bowed. “No. Someone came in and tore him off of me. Some guy from a different school, who wasn’t in on the plan.” I let out a breath of relief, though there should be none.

  “And your father? Does he know?” I ask her. Surely, he knows. He had to… She needed medical attention. But if he knew, why didn’t he react when the girls brought up Gavin’s name?

  “He knows a washed version of the story. I told him a drunk man got his hands on me and that I didn’t know who it was… I didn’t tell him Stephanie’s part in it. He took me to the hospital where I told the same story to the nurses and doctors. They highly recommended I see a therapist.”

  “Did you?” Poppy shakes her head and I let out a sigh. Why didn’t her dad insist? Why didn’t he force her to see someone?

  “No. That was the end of it.”

  Even if Poppy wasn’t robbed of her purity, she has still been violated in a cruel manner. Gavin had her in a compromising position and sliced her tender legs.

  “I love you, Poppy. I love you so much. You are strong and beautiful. I mean it. These scars…they only confirm it, sweetheart. You can be littered with them. This—” I place a hand on her heart, looking deep into her eyes. “—is what I seek. What I find beautiful.” Poppy stares at me with uncertainty.

  I know it’s hard for her to trust again. She trusted Gavin, and this was the outcome. But Poppy knows me. She has to understand that I would sooner hurt myself than her.

  Poppy slides off the bed and into my arms. I let out a sigh and hold her tightly to my chest, reaching a hand up to take her hair out of the failed bun. It falls beautifully around her shoulders and I massage her scalp, ensuring that she’s comfortable and safe within my embrace.

  “My beautiful warrior.”

  Chapter 11

  Humanity

  Reid

  June 4, 2016

  I hear her steady breathing in my ear as I continue to run my fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp. I know she fell asleep in my embrace a few minutes ago, but I wasn’t ready to let her go.

  She’s told me a dark secret from her past, one that caused her a great amount of pain…however, the worst part is that there are more secrets. More scars. But I’m going to reveal every one of them.

  Gavin is lucky Poppy is such a selfless being. She asked me not to pursue him. It goes against everything I know not to protect her. I want nothing more than to storm up to Gavin’s door and give him a piece of my mind. But, as promised, I will not.

  If he so much as looks at Poppy in a manner that I deem unfriendly or suggestive, I will put an end to everything immediately.

  I also want to speak to Stephanie. She’s the source of all this pain, I’m sure. She basks in the torment of my Poppy and, again, she has been let off the hook…because of the selfless woman in my arms.

  As much as I love Poppy’s tender heart, I do wish for her to let me stand up for her. What is she so afraid of?

  Does she think Stephanie will hit back twice as hard?

  I will make it specifically clear that it is unacceptable for Stephanie to even think Poppy’s name if it follows with a crude comment or master plan.

  I hear the balcony door open and close, and decide to go speak with my family. I cradle Poppy to my chest as I stand and set her gently on my bed. I pull the comforter over her shoulders, brushing her hair away from her face. She sleeps peacefully, licking her lips before they part and a soft snore sounds. I smile at how adorable she is, leaning down to place a kiss to her forehead.

  After casting her one last glance, I leave my bedroom, closing the door after me. I’ll let her sleep her fill and she can join us when she wakes…or if need be, she can spend the night and I’ll take the couch.

  As I reach the living room, I see everyone sitting on the couches. They’re talking quietly, but cease when they see me. Rachel gets to her feet and gestures to the kitchen with her eyes. I nod my head and I walk to the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water.

  “How is she?” Rachel whispers, leaning against the sink, crossing her arms over her chest. I let out a deep breath.

  “She told me about Gavin an—”

  “I’m so sorry, Reid.” Rachel cuts me off, her eyes wide with…fear? I tilt my head to the side in confusion, lifting a hand to rub my afternoon shadow.

  Rachel shifts on her feet, her fingers twiddling. She’s anxious.

  Understanding dawns on me and I lean forward, hissing under my breath. “You knew?”

  Rachel holds up her hands in surrender. “Not my secret, Reid!” she shoots back, taking a few deep breaths. “And I was ashamed I let it happen.”

  I take a swig of water, raising a brow. “It’s not your fault, Rachel. We can’t be with Poppy every second of every day. I don’t blame you. I blame Gavin. And Stephanie.”

  Rachel leans back against the counter and runs a hand down her face, letting out a heavy sigh. I see her shoulders sag in relief.

  Did she really think I was going to be mad at her? I understand that things happen…I understand that Rachel has a life apart from Poppy, just as I had. But now I see the error in it. I never should have gone to Alabama for college. I should have went to school here in Illinois.

  But we all make mistakes.

  And Gavin’s was touching Poppy.

  “She’s going to be okay,” Rachel whispers, lifting her eyes to look at me. “Right?”

  I honestly don’t know the answer to Rachel’s question. I know that I’m going to work every single day to piece her back together, so she will be okay.


  “I hope so, Rachel. But she’s not letting me speak to Stephanie. This is just going to continue if I don’t put a stop to it.” Rachel shakes her head, even before I finish speaking. She steps forward, her hands in the air as if gentling a startled animal.

  “No. If you do that, it will only spur Stephanie on, Reid. Believe me. You saying something will only make it worse.” I run a hand through my hair, wishing it was longer so I could grab it and tug.

  I am beyond frustrated.

  I close my eyes, leaning against the fridge as I silently ask God what I am supposed to do. What He wants me to do.

  “Hi, babies.” I feel a soft hand on my shoulder and I open my eyes to see my mom standing in front of me, a gentle smile on her lips. She kisses my cheek and then gives it a pat before she goes to do the same with Rachel. “How’s our Poppy?”

  “Fine,” Rachel and I say at the same time. My mom raises her perfect eyebrow before she rolls her blue eyes and scoffs.

  “Come. We’re about to play a game of Cards Against Humanity.” I want to chuckle at the thought of my father, a sergeant from the Army, playing such a crude, humorous game.

  ***

  “No! Come on, you know my card is the better option!” Talen shouts at me from across the coffee table.

  What is it with people yelling at me over games? It’s not as if I’m intentionally targeting them. First Poppy accused me of cheating, and now Talen is accusing me of favoritism.

  It’s not my fault that my father is surprisingly good at this game.

  “Talen, shush!” Rachel scolds while snickering. It’s my mom’s turn. “All right…what gets better with age?”

  I toss a random card, not having anything worthy. I lean back on the couch and wait as everyone else puts their choices in the pile. My mom gathers them and reads them aloud.

  “Robert Downey, Jr.…” my mom trails off, lifting her eyes to look at Rachel. All of a sudden, the two girls are laughing their lungs out. I place a hand over my mouth to keep from snickering along with them.

  I have to admit, Rachel’s choice is perfect for my mom. Rachel clearly knows of our mother’s infatuation with Robert Downey, Jr.

  “What’s so funny?” My eyes dart toward the hall where I see a muse-haired Poppy walking into the room. She has sleep in her eyes as she plops down on the couch beside me, squinting at the game on the table.

  “Hey, Lady Bug.” My mother reaches over to give her knee a gentle squeeze, along with a loving smile. “Sorry if we woke you.”

  “I’m glad you did. I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you guys. Sorry,” Poppy says, her voice small. Rachel scoffs and waves her off.

  “Don’t apologize, Poppy. But Talen and I have to go. Remember, we have a coffee date this Wednesday.” Rachel winks, standing from her seat. I squint at her, not entirely sure that she does have to go. When she meets my eye, I see the same mischief our mother always holds. She’s leaving to give Poppy and I some time to talk.

  “We do?” Talen asks. Rachel slaps his arm, giving him a look before she walks over to give our parents a hug.

  “We’re so happy for you two. Really,” my mother says, clinging to her daughter.

  My father gets to his feet and stretches, looking down at Poppy without her knowing. He has an expression of sorrow and I can’t help but understand. He sees her. He knows what I know: that Poppy Evans is in pain, and helping her is going to be a long, tough journey. My father loves Poppy, as if she were his own daughter. It’s hard for him to see her this way.

  Once Rachel and Talen leave, my father says it’s time for them to go as well. Poppy rises to give my mom a hug before she does the same with my dad. “Goodnight, sweet girl,” he whispers in her ear, running a hand over the back of her head.

  “See you, Pop,” I say, shaking my father’s hand and hugging my mom.

  She pulls me aside as my father opens the apartment door and patiently waits. “You treat that girl with the care and respect we taught you. She will make you happy, son, but not without a few hardships.”

  My mom is the only one who knows of Poppy’s childhood. She had spoken to her father one evening, while picking up Rachel from their house. I’m not sure what her father shared, but apparently it was enough to shake my mother. She has always looked at Poppy as if she were a porcelain doll.

  “I will, Mom.”

  I turn to Poppy once the door closes behind my parents. She’s twiddling with the material of her dress, clearly anxious. “I didn’t mean to kick them out…in the middle of your game.” My lips twitch into a smirk as I sit beside her.

  “Trust me, you did nothing wrong.” Poppy is silent, staring down at her lap. Her hair is a curtain, obstructing my view. There are times I am simply in love with her beautiful hair, then there are times that I want to chop it off. I don’t like the fact that she uses it as a shield to hide behind.

  “Let me take you out.” Poppy raises her head to look at me, her hazel eyes shining with curiosity and weariness. “Let’s plan a day. We can go hiking, and then grab lunch and spend the rest of the day at the beach. Or even a dinner and a movie. I wish to spoil you for a day.” I grin at the thought of dedicating a whole day solely to treating Poppy. To make her feel like a princess to the point that she fully understands how special she is.

  “Oh, um…you really don’t have to…” I frown, shaking my head.

  “Poppy, I want to. Please indulge me this one, simple favor. Besides, I plan on taking you out on plenty of dates. You better get used to it.” I tap her nose, watching her wrinkle it upon impact. My stomach twists.

  How can she be so beautiful?

  Poppy sighs before nodding her head. “The beach sounds nice…” A small victory.

  Hopefully when we’re on the beach, after she has been spoiled over a hearty lunch, Poppy will be comfortable enough to start to rely on me. I know she has shared a piece from her past, and it was hard for her. But I don’t want it to stop there. I want her to tell me every part of her darkness. I want to shed light upon it.

  God’s light.

  And if it doesn’t happen on date one, I will push for date two…and so on.

  Chapter 12

  It Is Proven

  Poppy

  June 10, 2016

  I stand in front of the mirror, looking at the different angles. The emerald green dress accents my chest and waist. It also has a detailed cut out on the back with lace, and off the shoulder sleeves. The dress is long and needs to be slightly hemmed. But other than that, I am simply in love.

  All I can do is twirl in front of the mirror, taking in every detail.

  I hear voices and they bring me out of my reverie. I look over to see Shelby and Katherine wearing the same dresses. We all stand on the mini stage in front of Rachel and her mother. “You guys are beautiful,” Mrs. Holt says. I smile at her.

  I feel beautiful.

  I look down at the dress, running my hand over the soft material. It’s stunning and simple. A dress that I am not hesitant to wear.

  “What do you think, Poppy?” Rachel asks. I nod my head.

  “It’s perfect,” I whisper. The other two girls agree.

  Shelby and Katherine are friends of Rachel’s from college. I never really got a chance to fully get to know them. I Skyped with them once, when they were over at Rachel’s dorm. We chatted for a few minutes before they had to go to some sort of social event at the campus.

  I was envious that they got to share their college experience with Rachel. I’m envious still of their friendships. The way the three of them laugh and talk…there are no boundaries. They are carefree.

  Rachel’s dress is amazing. It’s a one shouldered dress that hugs at her midriff and just barely flares out at the waist. There are tiny, subtle sequins along the tight midriff, but other than that, the dress is fairly simple. Just how Rachel likes it. She’s not over the top, with diamond earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. This day will be about her love for Talen, and it is signified with the dress. Beautif
ul, pure, and simple.

  After we change back to our normal attire, the girls begin talking about continuing the party at the local bar that everyone, apparently, goes to.

  “Are you going to join us, Poppy?” Shelby asks, tucking a piece of her blonde hair behind her ear to keep it from falling into her green eyes. I look at Rachel to see her smiling, a hopeful look on her face.

  “Erm…I have a date with Reid tonight…” I say. I have honestly been looking forward to tonight since he asked me out. Being with Reid is becoming easy. I’m starting to lose my edge and relax. The walls I had built are being chipped away. And though it frightens me, I am excited to see the real Poppy Evans, who has been sealed away for many years.

  “Cancel. I’m sure he’ll understand,” Katherine says, her eyes cast down on her phone. Her black, shiny hair is pinned up in a flawless ponytail. Her black rimmed glasses are perched at the bridge of her nose, giving her the innocent student appearance.

  “Please, Poppy,” Rachel begs, giving me the puppy-dog eyes. I look at Mrs. Holt in hope of finding help, but she only wears the same facial expression as her daughter.

  Sighing, I pull out my phone to call Reid to cancel. I walk away from the group, wanting our conversation to be private. The phone rings three times before he answers. “Hey, sweetheart. Are you okay?” I will never get over the fact that Reid is constantly worried about me, that every phone call is a distressed one.

  “I’m fine. The girls have asked me to go to the bar with them…can I take a rain check?” I whisper, glancing back at the group of giggling girls. For a moment, I’m reminded of Stephanie and her group, how they’re always laughing at me.

  “Poppy…is this a ‘help me’ call? Do you not want to go and need a scapegoat? If so, just say yes. I’ll come up with a reason as to why we can’t cancel.” My heart swells at his words and I bite my bottom lip to keep from smiling. How does he do it? How is he the selfless man that he is?