The Way We Were by A.T. Brennan

Allie Chase and Ben Egan have been best friends since they were eight years old and after ten years of friendship Allie is having a hard time keeping her love for Ben a secret. On the night of her eighteenth birthday, Ben confesses how he feels and they are finally able to give in to the moment and each other.
Just when Allie thinks her life is finally looking up, Ben drops a bombshell on her; he’s joining the marines and they’ll have to try to keep their relationship alive as they live apart. Things aren’t perfect but they are determined to make it work. Then Ben is deployed overseas and Allie’s world is shattered.

Fourteen years later Allie still isn’t happy. Her life hasn’t shaped up to what she envisioned and she’s lonely. After leaving the military riddled with mental and physical scars, Ben doesn’t know who he is or where he belongs and on impulse reaches out to the only woman he’s ever loved.
Will Allie be able to forgive Ben for breaking her heart? Will Ben be able to let go of his demons and completely let Allie in? Or will they be doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past?