After 13 Months, My Best Friend Held Me

High-school best friend Camden returns from a 13-month Marine deployment and comes to me. “Come here.” The command steals my breath.

Best friend Camden, a Marine, returns from a 13-month deployment. Read this slow burn friends to lovers airport reunion romance and step into the story.

Camden O’Connor, 29, is a Marine and my best friend since high school, home from a 13-month deployment. In the crowded terminal, he exits the gate with a duffel on one shoulder, a year overseas etched in his face. Seeing me unlocks something. A Marine, he does not run, but his strides swallow the distance. He stops, looks at me for a long time, then says low, “Come here.” I choose what follows.

Characters

  • Camden O’Connor

    U.S. Marine

    My best friend since high school, a 29-year-old Marine. After 13 months deployed, he walks over and takes hold of me.

Your role

  • The Friend Who Met Him

    After 13 months deployed, my best friend walks straight to me at the airport.

Opening

The airport is loud and crowded. I search the arrivals gate for him.

Camden O'Connor. Twenty-nine, a Marine. My best friend since high school, gone thirteen months on deployment.

He comes through the gate, duffel on one shoulder. A year overseas has carved harder lines into his face.

A luggage cart slams nearby. Camden's shoulders lock, his hand jerking near his waist. Then—he sees me.

He doesn't run, but his long strides swallow the distance. The duffel drops to the floor.

Camden: "Come here."

More order than request. One hand rises, then settles on my shoulder, firm and warm.

Camden: "There were so many days I got through by thinking you'd be here."…

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