Somewhere Along the Way

Copyright © 2022 by AR WallsCover and interior graphics created using Canva.All rights reserved.No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents in this book are either the product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. DedicationTo tomorrow and all its potential. Content WarningHey everyone,I wanted to quickly say that I’m very excited about this novel. The idea of it isn’t new, but hopefully the execution of it is. This book isn’t for everyone, though. It’s a dark story about being dealt a terrible hand and still choosing to play the game.This is a romance, but I really wanted to write a struggling heroine who saves herself and learns how to ask for help. If you’re looking for a white knight, or even a dark knight, this isn’t it.So, what is this story?Well, first it’s a reverse harem. And there’s a fair amount of language, violence, and other things that minors shouldn’t be privy to. So, if you happen to notice that you’re not yet 18 years old as you’re reading this, now would be the time to exit stage left. As in, don’t read this if you’re a minor.For everyone else, here’s a quick run through:This book has MM, MF, and MMMF. It’s a slow burn. The relationships build throughout the book, but there’s no cheating. This will be a standalone, so there’s a HEA (I promise!) and no cliffhanger.While I think it’s important to understand the harder sides of life so we can be advocates for ourselves and others, I also 100% believe that some material only pushes us into darker mental traps. If the following topics aren’t safe for you, then please don’t read this book. I won’t be offended. :)- Language (I throw the ‘F’ word around like it’s confetti)- Parent/sibling death, car accident fatality (drunk driving)- Graphic depiction of death/violence (military related and other)- References to suicide and suicidal ideation- Self-harm (not cutting)- Stalking, kidnapping- Severe PTSDFlashbacks Nightmares Lack of appetite Lack of libido Again, the plot of this book is dark, but the story is about our FMC making her own happiness. If you’re still with me, then I hope you enjoy!All my love,AR Table of ContentsDedicationContent WarningChapter OneChapter TwoChapter ThreeChapter FourChapter FiveChapter SixChapter SevenChapter EightChapter NineChapter TenChapter ElevenChapter TwelveChapter ThirteenChapter FourteenChapter FifteenChapter SixteenChapter SeventeenChapter EighteenChapter NineteenChapter TwentyChapter Twenty-OneChapter Twenty-TwoChapter Twenty-ThreeChapter Twenty-FourChapter Twenty-FiveChapter Twenty-SixChapter Twenty-SevenAfterwordAbout the AuthorContact Me Chapter One“What’s your problem?” I knock Kodiak’s shoulder with my own. Well, I try to. In reality, my five-foot-six frame bounces harmlessly against the side of his body and I focus on not ricocheting off the opposite side of my bar stool. Kodi’s mammoth hand clamps down on my seat, steadying me before I have a chance to topple too far.The rest of our team is spread around the bar, shooting pool, throwing darts, generally trying to forget the past forty plus hours that we’ve spent stomping through the less than savory parts of the UAE. We’ve been training for weeks now, stuck in a restless pattern as we’ve been waiting for our next assignment. All of us are feeling antsy, but we usually try to keep our spirits up.Kodi looks like he’s waiting for a dentist to perform a root canal. His typical MO is to recon the available women. Tonight, his frown lines are warding off any potential company.“Nothing’s wrong, Red,” Kodi grumbles.I harrumph into my beer, both to show my obvious disbelief that he’s fine, and because I have been living with every redhead’s least favorite nickname for years now. I refuse to lie down and take it, but if I kick up too much of a fuss, it only spurs the guys on. It doesn’t matter that I only let my natural color show while we’re stateside. The name lives on.Pounding on my chest in a fake cough, I mutter, “Bullshit.”My mama does not love the mouth the military has given me, but after six years in the army, she’s too happy that I’ve kept my head attached to care what’s coming out of it.Kodi stands up, and his giant frame casts a shadow across the table. I tip my head back and meet his gaze, wondering what’s up. Lifting an eyebrow in silent question, Kodi shrugs in answer and tosses his head toward the back of the bar.“Dance with me?” He holds out one of his calloused hands and I crack a grin, giving him one of my own. All the guys and I have close relationships. We’re friends, family, and everything in between. What we’re not is romantically involved. I’m sure some teams may struggle with keeping the lines of professionalism drawn, but not us. So, I let Kodi tug me from my seat easily, not thinking twice about anything else beyond letting him lead me around the five-by-five area that we like to call a dance floor.God’s gift to man, Eric Church, is playing through some beat to shit speakers, and I try to decipher the look in Kodi’s eyes as we two step.“Nah,” I drawl. “You’re lyin’.”Kodi huffs and pulls me tighter to him. Again, I fall into him willingly, even if I try not to breathe in the sweet scent of his sweat that clings to his clothes despite going through endless spin cycles; the weather here could compete with Hell’s climate and our deodorant doesn’t put up too much of a fight. And sure, I might be in denial about those romantic feelings. It’s not like I can do anything about them.I do consider these men family, and we have one particular family member, a certain Uncle Sam, who would thoroughly shame