Broken Heatbeats Read online

  Broken Heartbeats

  A Military Novella

  Lindsay Becs

  Copyright ©2019 Lindsay Becs

  All rights reserved

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without prior written consent of the author except for the use of brief quotation in a book review.

  The characters and events depicted in this book are fictitious. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author.

  Formatting: AB Formatting

  Editing: Tricia Harden

  Proofreading: Mercedez Velez

  Cover Design: Amanda Walker

  Contents

  Playlist

  Part I

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Part II

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Part III

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Special Note

  About the Author

  Other Books by Lindsay Becs

  Playlist

  Bye Bye Love: Everly Brothers

  Someday We’ll Be Together: Diana Ross and The Supremes

  Little Deuce Coupe: Beach Boys

  Wishin’ and Hopin’: Dusty Springfield

  I Wanna Hold Your Hand: The Beatles

  You Were On My Mind: We Five

  Hungry: Paul Revere and The Raiders

  Wake Up Little Susie: Everly Brothers

  Daydream Believer: The Monkees

  Young Girl: Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

  Brown Eyed Girl: Van Morrison

  California Dreamin’: The Mamas & The Papas

  I’d Wait A Million Years: The Grass Roots

  Happy Together: The Turtles

  Bad Moon Rising: Creedence Clearwater

  The House of the Rising Sun: The Animals

  Crimson and Clover: Tommy James and The Shondells

  Let It Be: The Beatles

  For Rusty and Sherry and their love that never had the chance to flourish.

  Part I

  The First Flutter

  Chapter 1

  SUSAN

  Present

  “Are you listening, Grandma?” Ashlin’s voice pulls me from my thoughts, lost in memories I don’t visit often anymore.

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” I smile at her, trying to mask the sadness that’s crept up on me. “Tell me more about this boy. Is he going to ask you to the school dance?”

  “I don’t really care if he asks me or not,” she says full of attitude, much like her mother had at fifteen too. I just want him to stop hiding us from his friends. It’s so dumb that he tries to be two different people, one when he’s with me and another when he’s with them.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that. Sounds like he’s just trying to figure out who he is. A little growing up will help with that,” I reassure her.

  “Well, he needs to grow up fast. I really like him, Grandma,” she gushes about her first boyfriend.

  “I can see that,” I chuckle, taking a sip of my coffee. “First boyfriends are special. Make sure he treats you right and shows you proper respect.”

  “He does,” she sighs. “How old were you when you had your first boyfriend?”

  “Well, that’s a trick question. I didn’t really date anyone until after I left home when I was twenty.”

  “What?!”

  “Things were different in my day.” I sigh with a smile beginning to pull on my lips. “But I was in love years before then.”

  “How were you in love but never dated? That makes zero sense. You do understand how all this works, right?”

  “Things were different but not that different, you twerp,” I tease, then look down to my hands in my lap. “I knew the boy I wanted. None of the others matter much to me.”

  “Does Grandpa know about this man?” she teases.

  “Oh, yes. Your grandpa knew he had a big place in my heart to fill.”

  “So, Grandpa wasn’t the first man you loved?”

  “No. That piece of my heart belonged to someone else, my fiancé, my first love, my Ru.”

  “OK, so you loved this other man—Ru—but never dated him, yet you were engaged and he was your heart? Tell me what I’m missing because I’m lost, Grams! What happened?”

  Sitting back in my chair, I take another sip from my cup. “Vietnam happened…”

  Chapter 2

  SUSAN

  My parents and I just moved to the town of Greenchester, Ohio a week before school started, and I was going into eighth grade. Daddy got a new job working at the new tire factory in town. He told Momma and me that it would be a great new beginning for us. Little did we know when he said that, he meant it would take some time for us to get settled and for it to feel like home here.

  It’s always just been the three of us, and our home is always filled with music and laughter. Momma plays the piano and even plays for our church on Sundays. Daddy plays the guitar when he has time and gives lessons here and there. I, on the other hand, can hardly carry a tune, so I’m sure the musical gene skipped my generation.

  Betty Jo was the first girl I met in class. She wore glasses and had a blue ribbon tied around her head ending with a bow on top. It matched the yellow one I wore that same day and bonded us forever as instant friends.

  By the time summer rolled around, Betty Jo and I had a kinship like no other I’d ever had before. We’d walk down to Baily’s, the local corner store that served as a pharmacy, soda shop, and convenient store. We’d buy a soda or milkshake almost every Friday after school and talk and laugh about everything.

  We both had hopes of joining the cheer squad for the high school football team, the Panthers. Betty Jo’s older brother was already in high school and on the team, but she was determined not to let him ruin her high school experience.

  I hadn’t met him yet. I’d been to her house plenty of times, but he was always working or, in her word, getting in trouble somewhere. Betty Jo and her family were nice enough; I couldn’t imagine her older brother to be that terrible. She had a younger sister, Donna Lynn, and another younger brother, Bobby.

  “Oh, great. Ru sees us,” she says, rolling her eyes as she drinks the last of her grape soda float.

  I turn to look where her fiery gaze is locked. I see the most handsome boy I’ve ever seen. He has a big, broad, smug smile on his face as he watches his sister’s annoyance at his presence. His tall frame is filled out nicely, making him look more like a man than a boy. His dark sandy hair is swept to the side, but when he walks through the door of Baily’s, he pushes his sunglasses to the top of his head and I see the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.

  “What is this? You didn’t buy your big brother one?” he asks her, looking at her empty glass sitting on the counter.

  “And why would I do that?”

  “Because I’m working until close tonight and you know Mom’s French fries aren’t good cold. I might starve.” He places a hand on his stomach. “You don’t want to be responsible for me starving to death, do you, Betty Jo?”

  “Oh, please. You know Mom always leaves you a plate warming in the oven. Although if she knew where you went ever Wednesday night, she might stop,” she throws at him.

  “Whatever,” he grumbles, then turns his eyes on me. I swallow down the ner
ves that have surfaced since he came over to us and I could see all of him up close and personal. “Who’s your friend?” he asks her, but his eyes stay on me with a lopsided grin still in place.

  “This is my friend Susan. Who you’d know if you were ever home, I might add.” She rolls her eyes again. “Susan, this is my brother Rupert,” she says, giving him a look like she just won this round with him. “Unfortunately,” she adds under her breath.

  He stares at me with that half smile for so long, I start to feel uneasy. “Ru. Everyone calls me Ru. Nice to meet you, Susan.” He pulls his sunglasses back down over his eyes then. “I’ll see you around.” And off he walks, no…struts, out of the store and across the street to the gas station where, apparently, he works.

  “See you,” I say quietly, still watching him.

  “Oh great,” Betty Jo complains, shaking me from my stupor.

  “What?” I ask, shifting on my stool.

  “He got to you too.”

  I pull my face back like I have no idea what she’s talking about. “Got to me?”

  “Every girl who meets him immediately falls at his feet. It’s so annoying. If only they knew how he smokes like a chimney, curses under his breath, and only changes his socks every other day.”

  “Betty Jo, you shouldn’t be telling me about his bad habits. That’s not nice.”

  “No, he’s not nice. Promise me you won’t fall for him, Susan,” she begs.

  “I’m hardly looking for a boyfriend. And definitely not one who’s two years older and my best friend’s brother.” I try to brush off everything that just happened and how my heart is still beating fast thinking about him.

  “Good!” she says, sounding much more chipper and hopping off her stool. “Want to come over for dinner? It’s sloppy joes and French fry night.”

  “Sure! I need to ask my mom, but sounds good to me.”

  She links her arm with mine, and we walk out to head to my house. I try to hide it when my eyes betray my friend and sneak a look across the street at the first boy to make my heart pitter-patter in my chest as he pumps gas for a customer. When he looks up and our eyes meet for the briefest of seconds, he gives me a shy smile, and it feels different from before.

  Maybe there’s more to him than his sister says…

  RU

  “You’re all set, Mr. Shuller,” I tell the man as I put the cap back on his gas tank.

  It’s like I can feel her then. I look up and see her—Susan. Those golden eyes sparkle from across the street, captivating me, as she walks with my sister. I shouldn’t be looking, and I definitely shouldn’t be interested in a girl like her. She my sister’s friend and too sweet and innocent for me.

  I chance another look and see her glancing at me then too. I think we both know we shouldn’t, but we can’t help but feel pulled to each other. Feeling almost embarrassed, I smile at her again and turn back to finish with Mr. Shuller.

  But embarrassed? Me? Pfft! I’m Rupert Hunter, for gosh sakes. The Hunter, as I’m called on the football field. I’m the guy everyone at school knows and fears. I’m the one girls want to ask them to the next dance and cry when I don’t. I’m the guy who rules this town. I don’t get embarrassed. Embarrassment means weakness, and I’m anything but weak.

  Shaking my head, I round the car and wait to be paid and move on with my day, knowing that I need to rid this girl from my thoughts. She doesn’t belong with me. She should keep her distance. I’d only end up hurting her.

  It’s been a long week, and I’m thankful to be home after my shift at the Gas n’ Go. My stomach growls as I walk up the driveway toward the house. If everything goes as planned, soon I’ll have enough money saved to buy a car of my own and can drive instead of walk everywhere.

  Kicking off my shoes as I walk into the house, I try to be as quiet as I can. I see the soft glow of light coming from under Betty Jo and Donna Lynn’s bedroom door, telling me they are still awake. Thomas is asleep, I’m sure. He still goes to bed early since he’s only four. It makes it challenging to share a room with him at times, but I’ve gotten good at being quiet when I sneak in and out.

  “Rupert? That you, honey?” my mom asks from the kitchen.

  Turning the corner, I see her making a cup of tea, her hair up in curlers and wearing her nightgown, ready to settle in for the night.

  She pulls a plate from the oven, setting it on a towel in front of my seat at the table, kissing me on the cheek as she passes me.

  “Thanks, Ma.”

  “Eat up now and get to bed. You work early in the morning, don’t you?”

  “Yep,” I answer around a mouthful of food.

  “Mr. Shuller called earlier and told your father that you did a fine job with his car at the station.”

  “Must not take much to impress him,” I chuckle, stuffing her homemade fries in my mouth.

  She lightly smacks me on the arm. “You stop that. You do fine work, Rupert. We’re proud of you.”

  I drop my head a little then at her compliment. “Thanks, Ma.”

  “Don’t stay up too late,” she tells me as she gets up to head to bed, where I’m sure my father is waiting for her to join him. They read together in bed each night. It’s pretty cute actually.

  “Night!” I yell and get a “Shhh!” in return, making me laugh again.

  After cleaning my plate, I rinse off the day in a quick two-minute shower before Pops comes yelling at me for using all the water. Heading back to the kitchen for a glass of water, I hear giggles coming from the girls’ room. I’m about to open the door and tell them to be quiet when I hear a voice that isn’t one of my sisters.

  Quickly, I turn and keep walking to the kitchen, where I down a glass of water and begin to fill another when I hear a gasp behind me. Spinning to see who it is, I catch those golden eyes. Even in the dark kitchen, they still seem to sparkle like the sun.

  “I’m sorry,” she covers her mouth like she walked in on something bad.

  “What are you apologizing for?” I ask, putting my glass in the sink.

  She muffles her giggles this time. “I don’t really know. Being in your presence, I guess.”

  Leaning back against the counter, I smile at her. “Do you need something, sweetheart?”

  “I was just going to get some water.”

  Pulling from the sink the glass I just used, I fill it again and hand it to her. She accepts and sips from it, never breaking eye contact with me. I don’t know why I didn’t just give her her own clean glass, but something about sharing a glass with her was appealing.

  “Thank you,” she says quietly, handing it back to me once it’s empty.

  “No problem.”

  She spins on her sock-covered feet to leave but pauses and looks over her shoulder. “Good night, Ru. See you around.”

  “Night.”

  I huff a laugh when she walks out, leaving me alone in the dark kitchen, shaking my head, once again trying to rid this girl from my thoughts because she’s too good for the likes of me.

  Chapter 3

  SUSAN

  Ninth grade has been a gas so far! Betty Jo and I both made the cheer squad, and we have most of the same classes together. High school should have felt intimidating, but somehow, I felt more confident walking through those doors on that first day.

  Maybe it’s silly to think, and I probably only made it up in my mind, but I think Ru looks out for me. We hardly say more than a handful of words to one another any given week, so I’m not completely sure why I think this. No one picks on me or bothers me really. Betty Jo too. I know why no one bothers her; they don’t want Ru coming after them for picking on his little sister. Still, I’m not his sister, only her friend.

  It probably is silly and made up… but sometimes I can almost feel him watching my back as I walk down the hall. I keep my eyes forward, though. I never want to get caught staring at him like every other girl in this school.

  Like now, the Panthers are winning the football game against the Yellow Jack
ets, our biggest rivals, and all eyes are watching as The Hunter carries his team to victory.

  Ru got the name The Hunter his freshman year for being aggressive on the field. Hunting his prey like a panther would and taking down the opposing team. It’s stuck, and now the whole town calls him that. His closest friends call him Hunt for short, but you have to earn the privilege to call him that, one I don’t have.

  My eyes never leave him during a game. It’s the one time I can stare all I want and no one will think anything of it. I watch in wonderment at this star on the field, cheering, “Go, Fight, Win!” Screams and cheers ring out across the stadium as we win the game against our rivals, no doubt much due to Ru’s skills on the field.

  He breaks from the crowd, and our eyes meet. I don’t miss the big triumphant smile on his face under his helmet as he takes in my own. It’s a short moment, but it feels like time stands still as we’re in our own bubble for those few seconds. Everyone and everything around us fades.

  I wait after the game for his exit from the locker room to congratulate him while Betty Jo waits with her family. I hear him talking with his friend George as they near the door. Ru sees me and tells his friend he’ll be there in a minute before turning toward me.

  “You alright, sweetheart?” he asks with a small grin on his face, knowing that I’m there for him.