True Love Waits novel Chapter 560

When Wesley heard what Blair said, he suddenly stopped in his tracks, paralyzed by her words. "No, I don't," he replied.

Blair wouldn't let the matter drop. She hurried over to him and asked, "Then why won't you take my gift?"

After giving it some thought, Wesley grabbed the bag in her arms and took out his phone. "How much was it? I'll pay you back. WeChat Pay okay?"

"No, you don't have to. I—" She wanted to tell him that she had money now; her aunt had floated her some funds.

But Wesley interrupted her. "It's not easy to win a scholarship. You're taking the GRE test, right? Studying abroad is expensive. You shouldn't be spending money on stupid things."

Blair said dully, "My uncle will help me out."

Since she would have to ask her uncle to help her with living expenses and schooling once she was overseas, she didn't think the meager thousands of bucks she had spent on the lighter would make much difference.

"In that case, let me buy your ticket. It's the least I can do."

Blair was disappointed seeing how persistent he was to pay her back. "Seriously, guy? Why can't it just be a gift? No strings."

Wesley had never gotten a present from a girl before, so he had no idea how to handle this. He gave her an infuriating answer, in his single-word style: "Because," he said eventually.

For a moment, Blair didn't know what to say, nor did he; the apartment fell quiet. After a while, she smiled, "Okay. I'll remind you to book a flight for me before I leave."

Her smile was so sweet, but Wesley wasn't fooled. The sadness behind her expression was obvious. "No problem," he said.

Blair decided she needed to get out of there, but needed a way to make a graceful exit. She didn't run away.

She walked straight to the door and then stopped. Without turning back, she asked, "Wesley, the kisses we shared...were those...just punishments?"

That question caused him to think of so many things—his future, her future, their future...

Blair left his place without waiting for an answer. If that were true, she didn't want to hear it. Being rejected again and again would finally break her heart. She might be a confident, skilled woman, but underneath she was just a girl with a fragile heart, after all.

Wesley eventually had to go back to work. Once he was back on base, the hellish days for his soldiers began. He was merciless—the slightest mistake meant a harsh punishment. Meanwhile, Wesley wasn't easy on himself either. He put himself through strenuous training exercises: hiking up mountain trails with a loaded backpack, kicking a tree to toughen his feet until he could barely walk, thrusting his fists into ice-water, and lifting weights until he dropped from exhaustion, shuddering from muscular failure. Seeing him like this, the soldiers started wondering what was bothering him.

One day, during a break, Talbot found Wesley, who was gulping down a bottle of water. He spotted one or two drops of water spilling from the corner of Wesley's mouth and streaking down his neck. He looked extremely masculine at that point. Talbot couldn't help but marvel at this man, who seemed like the iconic soldier—square-jawed, well-developed physique, rugged features. He looked for all the world like he had been made up for a commercial.

Talbot was in a daze for a while, lost in reverie. Wesley noticed it and glared at him. Talbot came back to his senses and asked, "You okay, Chief? I know you're a ruthless taskmaster, but you should treat yourself better. You're pushing yourself harder than anyone. What's wrong?" Wesley shot him a stern look. "Hey, hey, don't take this wrong. The men are worried. These exercises are kicking our collective asses, and you end each day looking like something the cat dragged in. Is there something going on?"

Wesley threw the empty plastic water bottle into the bin. "Mmm hmm," was his only reply.

"Mmm hmm what? Something's going on?"

"Mmm hmm."

'My God, something's bugging the tough guy.' Realizing something, Talbot followed behind Wesley excitedly and asked, "What is it, Chief? Girl trouble? Let me guess—Blair, right?"

As soon as he finished talking, Wesley shot him a cold glance. "Go do a hundred burpees. Miss one and get two hundred more. And grab a few other guys to join you—anyone you think is worried." He said that last word with a sarcastic sneer.

The grin on Talbot's face died. "No way! " All he had done was ask a few innocent questions.

He wanted Wesley to reconsider his punishment. But he knew him. The more he talked, the worse it would get.

Talbot went back to the training field in misery. What surprised him was that Wesley was right behind him.

Under his confused gaze, Wesley began to do burpees.