Chapter 121

The room was still and quiet, the only sound coming from the bed where Jessica slept. Most people wouldn't be able to hear her breathing, but it was the only thing he could hear. At night when he had been overseas in the military, that was the one sound that kept him grounded—that let Layne know he was still alive. He clung to that sound again tonight; not sure why, just needing a sense of familiarity.

Rolling over onto his side, he used his arm as extra support. The pillow he had for this chair wasn't that great and again reminded him of his time in the Army. There were a lot of things he had learned during his time there that he wanted to completely forget, but there were some things he also coveted. One of those things slept in the bed across from him.

"C'mon, some chick got Justin Timberlake to go to her ball. Why don't you ask Jessica Shea? You're a good lookin' guy, I'm sure she'll say yes."

Layne laughed, shaking his head. It was a late night in Fort Benning, Georgia, and