Cameron’s Homecoming: The North Avenue Live Guys, #6

By Sophia Nixs

I knew that coming home and heading back to reality was going to be challenging for me.

I never expected that I'd find a hot, sexy stress release waiting for me in the airport.

Who even thanks to fate followed me high into the sky… for that matter.

He was meant to be a one time thing but in the end became more like my obsession.

Until tragedy hit; igniting a deep, crushing pain in my heart.

I should have seen it coming…

I should have recognized the signs…

Can I save him and help him rebuild his life before he ends up as broken as I am? Will he allow me to even be a part of his life in the process?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sophia Nixs
• Release date: Aug 20, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215647400

Book preview

Chapter One

Cameron

I’d always been a numbers guy, ensuring my mind kept active at all costs. You never knew when the time may come, and you’d have to be quick on your feet using one of the skills you had acquired in life. I mean life and death in the army could happen in the blink of an eye. It could be the simplest mundane thing that could save you—that slight twenty-degree angle change when administering an injection or precise counting when trying to keep someone alive long enough to reach a makeshift trauma bay.

The use of one of my skills in the evening probably would have been seen as useless—the mindless tally as I added another tick in my notebook as I counted down the days and hours knowing that my latest deployment in Germany was finally coming to an end. I couldn’t help but smile as I reached that point in my day when I opened that page up and saw that count. It was a victory that I’d soon be home; that I’d survived the turmoil and pain out here.

 I was glad to finally be able to say I was returning to USA soil. It was the one thing that ensured I made it through the harsh reality of what I saw each day knowing that I had that one family member at home to see—my cousin—Rebecca. I couldn’t wait for this homecoming to finally be here.

When I signed up for this life, I never expected it to be like this. The life of a trauma medic in the army being deployed place to place wasn’t what the movies portrayed it to be like. It was the complete opposite. I’d been naive as a youth when I dreamed about serving my country and should’ve listened to what my elders had told me—warned me about. I thought it would be a dream to explore the world when I enlisted; that the horror stories of what I’d see out in service would not be as severe as what people told me about and that being a medic, I could aid in saving people from the pain. I was wrong. The images I’d seen would remain with me forever.

I suffered in the dreams, in my nightmares and especially when first returning to the civilian reality. I’d come to think since being in my post that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was a diagnosis that should have been given more awareness than it had been to people serving. I soon realized when serving for my country that many of my fellow soldiers around me could potentially be suffering and dealing with this without the knowledge of what was happening to them. I learned the hard way to ask for help eventually recognizing that what was happening to me was nothing to be ashamed of. I just wish that I could give others the guidance, telling them support was available for them too if they wanted it and that they weren’t alone in the pressures they faced moving forward in life.  

It didn’t stop me from being relieved though when I walked into the airport holding my two pieces of luggage thrown over my shoulder. It was a strange sensation of relief knowing I was safe now but also a fear overcame me—one I was becoming strangely aware and used to. I’d learned it was normal to feel the paranoia and confusion at first through my support network. My life focused on trauma, pain and suffering as I fought to save others. I always had those thoughts that I’d end up not being able to leave or that something would stop me heading home. I let out the huge breath I’d been holding when I held my passport and boarding pass in my hand before kissing the dog tags I wore around my neck, heading straight for the terminal home.

That’s you all checked in and complete for boarding, the attendant nodded at me as I stared blankly at her. I was unsure how I should react or the way I should thank her for her help. If you just keep an eye on the screens and wait for more information about your gate number and boarding times.

Understood Ma’am, I replied as she blushed back at me. I ended up realizing my mistake and shook my head, the military terminology wasn’t that easy to shift from. I’m sorry. Thank you.

I forgot how easy it was to slip into the formal terms and presence of being on base. It was one of the hardest things I struggled with when returning to everyday life. It wasn’t like I could snap my fingers and change my thoughts and processes the moment I stepped outside of base and onto my transfer. I wish it was that easy.

It was hard how each of my friends and family's life had continued moving and changing while I had gone, and I’d instantly been made to feel disconnected from their lives. I had to make that effort to learn what's new with them all, and get to know them all over again when I came back. I sometimes wondered if I didn’t reach out would they care and even be bothered. It was only Rebecca, my cousin who took the time to care and keep in touch. I loved her letters and insight into the latest in what was happening with her. It was a huge breath of fresh air to unwind allowing your words to flow onto paper to someone who took the time and effort for you. It just showed me I was actually on someone’s mind and cared about so much. Not a forgotten memory. It was why I’d allowed her to plan this homecoming party in a few weeks’ time for me. I just needed a few weeks to get myself back on track and more settled.

I didn’t want people to start treating me or her differently due to the way I acted when I first returned home. I knew the fatigue would hit fast and it would be a huge change in pace to what I was used to on the field. Some people could find that I was a nightmare to be around, and I didn’t want to lay that burden on her, that’s why I was glad I’d never settled down and found someone to stand by my side. I knew the adjustments to