His phone GPS told him he was about five miles away. His telephone rang.
“Hey, asshole, where are you?” Cory sounded like he was extremely inebriated.
“I’m here. Just hold your knickers a bit. I think I’m about five-no, four—miles away.”
“Okay okay Andy. I’m putting the steaks on now. They should be ready when you get here.”
“You need anything? Do you want me to stop and get some beer or something?”
“No. Got it all. Even have apple pie thanks to Aimee. And I got enough whipped cream and vanilla ice cream to slather all over everything. So you just get your butt over here. We’ll stuff ourselves, have a chat, and then I’m going to take you out to watch the sunset.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
The traffic slowed to a snail’s pace under the late afternoon sun. In ten minutes, Andy’s GPS indicated Cory’s location was on the left. He waited for traffic to go by and then turned down the small alleyway bordering several brightly colored cottages arranged with a common yard. A two-story apartment complex sat farther down the alleyway. On the left side was a massive three-story home with a roaring fire pit in the front yard overlooking the beach.
Andy noticed a parking space designated for the address Cory had given him and pulled in. Before he could get his suitcase out of the car, he heard Cory yell, “Andy! Over here.”
A gravel driveway, made with crushed white stones and shells, crunched under his feet as he hoisted the duffel over his shoulder and walked several paces to his waiting friend. Cory wore a red apron with a bright orange lobster screened on the front. Underneath the lobster where the words ‘Don’t kiss the cook. He bites.’
And he was nearly falling down drunk.
With a beer in one hand connected to a forearm encrusted in a bright purple cast extending from just above his wrist to within two inches of his elbow and a large stainless steel spatula held in the other hand, Cory stumbled in place. Andy saw that his assessment of his BUD/S buddy was accurate. Cory could hardly stand up. He swayed from side to side, and after a brief hug, Andy was careful to make sure his buddy was firmly planted on his feet before he released him.
“Looking good, my man,” Andy lied.
“So what do you think?” asked Cory.
“Pretty fucking nice, you asshole. But I still think you’re lying through your teeth about the beach. I like the weather, though. So far pretty nice.”
“Just you wait.”
Andy was invited into the single-story, concrete block modest home bordering the Gulf. A large picture window in the living room revealed a spectacular view of the beach and the blue water beyond. Andy noted that there was only one couple walking hand-in-hand along the surf line. He was dismayed that the rest of the beach was completely empty.
Cory appeared next to him. “Pretty nice, isn’t it?”
“This definitely does not suck.” Andy put his arm around Cory’s shoulder, stabilizing him. “You burning the steaks?”
“Oh, hell yeah. I get distracted by this view every day,” Cory said as he pointed with the spatula. He finished his beer, picked up a dinner plate from the kitchen counter, and motioned for Andy to join him on the patio in the front yard.
Andy counted three huge steaks loaded on the plate, precariously balanced on the cast. “So where is she?” Andy had to ask.
“Aimee went to go pick up a friend. Thought you might like to have some female company tonight.” Cory wiggled his eyebrows up and down.
Andy felt his cheeks warm. “Well I guess I can tolerate that. So tell me about her.”
“I’ll let you introduce yourself. She’s standing right behind you.”
Andy hadn’t heard the two girls arrive. As he turned, he saw two shapely mid-twenties beach ladies in cutoff jeans and oversized T-shirts. The blonde wore a ponytail sprouting out the back of her baseball cap. The brunette smiled at him with deep lavender eyes.
She extended her hand.
“Hi. I’m Aimee. Cory has told me a lot of fun things about you. It’s nice to finally meet the legend.”
Andy glared at his friend. “Fun things? What kind of fun things?” he asked.
Cory just shrugged and disappeared into the kitchen, mumbling something Andy couldn’t understand. He turned back to Cory’s girl, aware that it was a very bad sign that he couldn’t take his eyes off her. He suddenly wished he was a legend or could miraculously disappear like a superhero. Or he could have a redo of the introduction. He stepped forward.
He felt the earth move as he took her hand and shook. He also smiled at the pretty blonde standing next to her, who was attractively shy.
“Nice to meet you both,” he said, his voice cracking like a prepubescent teen. “Maybe you don’t know it, but Cory’s one of the biggest liars I’ve ever met.”
They all laughed, even as Cory protested.
“Anyhow, he’s a really good friend and a super guy.” He tried to direct his conversation to the blonde but kept coming back to Aimee. He shrugged. “I guess I don’t have to tell you that.”
In spite of himself, he blushed. Cursing internally, he purposefully bit his lip to remove the fantasies his brain was torturing him with. Those lavender eyes were peering straight down into his soul.
The blonde, who had introduced herself as Shelley, mercifully helped him out.
“Aimee says you’re also a SEAL. Is that right?” Her cute upturned nose and inquisitive blue eyes were a welcomed relief. He searched for something about her he could find distraction in. He decided he liked the shape of her ears, and the wispy strands of hair around her forehead. Her pink cap read, ‘St. Pete.’ He also loved her faint Southern accent.
“I am. Went through initial training with Cory. That’s how we met. But I’m stationed in Coronado, on the West Coast.”
“I love San Diego,” she said, her eyes widening. “I wanted to go to school there but wound up at Florida State. That made my mamma happy.”
She followed it up with a smile, and Andy was enchanted.
“You sound like a Florida girl,” he whispered.
He took a step back because he was beginning to feel like he’d never been around women before. Cory was giving him a goofy grin behind the two ladies as he placed the steaks on the table.
“Let’s eat before these get cold,” he slurred.
Aimee pulled a salad from the refrigerator and asked him if he wanted wine or beer.
“Um, wine, please,” he said as Cory pointed to a chair next to him.
“Wine, it is then. Shelley?”
“Please.”
Aimee disappeared into the kitchen one more time, rounding the counter with a bottle of red wine and three glasses. She handed Andy a wine opener.
“Care to do the honors?” she asked. Her lavender smile gave him a sizzle down his spine.
“I’m terrible at that,” he muttered, watching her put the bottle on the table next to the three wineglasses.
“Really?” she mocked. “A California boy who doesn’t open wine? How do they let you live there?”
He glanced at Cory, who was engrossed in carving up one of the steaks for the ladies. Andy watched him carefully, ready to grab the knife from him before he cut an artery. Cory finally mastered the cut and plopped a half on each of the two other plates and gave himself and Andy the remaining two full-sized steaks.
“Yeah, Andy. How do you manage that?” Cory mumbled.
Before he could stop himself, he answered, “I buy wine in boxes or cans.”
While Cory’s jaw dropped, Aimee pulled the cork out of the bottle with a loud pop, which made Shelley jump. It slipped from her fingers, and as she bent to pick it up at Andy’s feet, he gasped.
She wore green Nike running shoes.
Chapter 2
Aimee and Shelley rinsed off the dishes and put away the remnants of dinner while Cory grabbed another beer, handed one to Andy, and agreed to meet the girls out at the beach to watch the sunset.
“He’s cute,
Aimee. Does he have a girlfriend, or do you know?” Shelley was drying the large plates, placing them back in the cabinet.
“I honestly don’t know.” Aimee had been wondering the very same thing. “You know how Cory is.” She brushed her hair from her face with the back of her hand, clutching a bottle brush in her fingers.
“Oh, I get you.”
Aimee continued. “He doesn’t volunteer much about his friends, or anything for that matter.”
Shelley sighed. “I always forget that about guys.” She walked to the living room window as Aimee watched her study the pair of SEALs.
“They’re all like that, Shelley. It gets worse when they’re together.”
“My mom tried to fix me up with somebody from Little Creek. It was one of her biggest mistakes. I mean, we had absolutely nothing in common.” Shelley wrapped her arms about her upper torso, swaying. “But oh my God, he was built,” she added rolling her eyes.
Aimee hung up the towel and joined her. “I don’t even know if I do or don’t have anything in common with Cory,” she said. “We just have fun. We laugh a lot. He’s always the center of attention at any party, or bar. When we’re not driving around or having a tickle fight or walking on the beach or other things,” she said, closing her eyes, “his favorite thing is watching movies and eating popcorn.” She felt a pang of sadness as she whispered, “And I like him better when he’s not had too much to drink.”
“Can you imagine what they carry around with them, though?” Shelley tipped her head to the side until the two friends touched foreheads. “And were you really looking for forever?”
Shelley had a knack for getting right to the point. She’d managed to bring up something Aimee had purged from her mind. “Very astute.” She sighed. “I think right now, it’s perfect. I don’t want to have to work hard at anything. It’s been a long year. Mom’s at peace, and now I’m free. I don’t want to make any plans. I just want to enjoy the beach and the sun.”
She watched the two men splash each other in the surf and generally adopt pre-teen behavior. Being here was healthy. This was good for her. She could see Andy was good for Cory, too.
“Are you ready?” Shelley whispered.
“Let me grab a jacket and some waters. Unless you want wine?”
“No, thanks. Water’s great.”
The sun had just begun to touch the blue horizon. Within minutes, it began to melt like an orange popsicle. Cory wrapped his uncasted arm around her waist when they approached. She felt coolness from his soaked shirt but didn’t complain. The smell of the saltwater on his skin was soothing.
No one said a word for several minutes as they stood in hushed reverence.
At last, Cory spoke.
“Well, Andy, my friend, this never ever gets old. I can remember wondering when I was a kid if there was some way I could grab and harness that sun. It looked to me like a great big golden cookie. I was sure it tasted heavenly.”
“Butterscotch. That’s what it looks like to me,” Andy commented.
“So how long before you grab a flight back to San Diego?” Cory asked.
“I got two weeks starting tomorrow.”
This was longer than Aimee thought.
“I think that’s perfect. But you can stay longer, if you want to, right?” asked Cory.
Andy showed his wide smile and sparkling eyes. “All depends on how you feed me, brother.”
“No worries there. And Aimee here will keep us stuffed with berry pies,” Cory added, kissing her on the cheek.
The two couples sat down about five feet from the surf. Aimee sipped her water, leaning into Cory’s muscled frame. He stretched his purple arm around her shoulder and gave her a careful squeeze.
“Happy?” Cory asked.
“What’s not to love here?” She felt him tighten his grip on her shoulder then lean in and place another gentle kiss on her lips. She melted under his tenderness and felt her toes tingle.
“You?” Aimee asked, while watching the golden sunset splashing over all their faces.
“I got everything I need. I got my girl, I got my best friend, and I got my beer.” He leaned forward and addressed Shelley, who was sitting on the other side of Andy. “I got Shelley here, too. Can’t forget Shelley.”
Shelley nodded and then smiled, her beautiful white teeth glowing in the sunset.
“I got my beer,” Cory continued, holding up a nearly empty bottle. “I got this beautiful white beach. We’ve,” he corrected himself, “we’ve got this beautiful beach practically to ourselves.”
Andy had been fixated on the setting sun. He inhaled. “I think that’s just about the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. I don’t like to admit I’m wrong, but I got to say I think you’re right Cory. This is Paradise.”
“Yep.” Cory clinked bottles and finished off his beer.
The four of them sat in silence, watching until the sun’s dying fireball extinguished into the water. Overhead, the blue sky began to darken, turning shades of deep peach and purple.
“Look, Cory. The sky is about the color of your cast.” Aimee pointed out.
Cory pulled her closer. “Did I ever tell you about that beautiful girl I saw in the yellow bikini one day who had the most awesome lavender eyes?”
Aimee was embarrassed, looking down between her knees as he fondled strands of her hair between his fingers. Finally, she looked back up at him. “Yes, but I love hearing it over and over again.”
“Ahh, Cory, I never took you for a romantic,” giggled Shelley.
“I can play nice.” His eyelids lowered as he drew Aimee closer and whispered, “I can play real nice.”
His kiss was deep, his tongue exploring. She was moved by his tender display of affection. He was often so private about those things. After, she put her head on his shoulder, and he wrapped his arm around her, this time bumping the back of her head with his cast.
“Oops. Sorry.” His eyes were playful and she knew his desire was growing.
“Okay!” Andy stood up abruptly. With his hands in his pockets, he shrugged. “Shelley, let’s you and I go back to the house. Otherwise, I’m gonna watch something I will have a hard time getting out of my mind.”
“I understand completely,” she said and took his hand.
“Oh hell. Let’s all go inside.” Cory stuck his bottle in the sand, sprung to his feet, and gave her a left hand up. He picked up his empty bottle and proceeded toward the direction of the house.
Andy bent forward, addressing both of them. “Tomorrow morning, I’d like to take a run down this beach at sunrise. Is it very crowded?”
Cory shook his head no. Aimee added, “Never crowded at all in the morning. We get more people here at sunset, but tonight, I don’t know where everybody is.” She smiled at Andy and continued, “I do it all the time, just about every morning, unless I’m here.”
Aimee was grateful he wouldn’t be able to see her embarrassment. They walked several steps farther, reapproaching the weathered wooden bridge that lead over the sand dunes en route to Cory’s backyard.
“I did not know that, sweetheart,” Cory whispered. Then to Andy he continued. “She lives just down the beach about—what would you say, hon?—a half mile.”
“I think it’s easily half a mile,” she answered. “It’s perfect. Paradise.”
The four of them made it to the backyard two by two. Cory asked Andy to help him put firewood in his poor man’s fire pit, which was a large dented barrel cut in half. She’d spent several warm fall nights there roasting marshmallows and watching the stars while lounging in two bright yellow Adirondack chairs.
“I’ll go get some pillows,” she said.
Shelley followed her inside. Aimee pulled the patchwork quilt off Cory’s bed, and picked up four beach-themed pillows from the front room couches.
Outside, she handed pillows to everyone and then slapped her forehead. “Oh darn, Cory. I forgot to get the marshmallows.”
“No worries. We got pie. How about you brin
g that out?” Cory answered.
Andy dumped his arm full of wood next to the fire pit, arranged new wood onto glowing coals, then looked up at her. “Way better than marshmallows. It’s my most important food group,” he added.
Aimee danced back into the kitchen, cut the pie into quarters, and then halved the quarters again. She carried out the apple pie and cutting spatula, along with four small plates.
“Okay, so who wants a quarter and who wants an eighth?” She held her spatula up expectantly. Cory and Andy shared a glance between them and both shrugged.
“Honey,” Andy said with a grin, “I’ll take the biggest piece you’ll give me.”
Before Cory finished his pie, he brought out his favorite bourbon. Aimee declined, but Shelley had a pinch and then another two. While the men finished their huge pieces, the rest of the bottle was consumed. Shelley began to yawn. Andy brought more wood and spread the coals evenly one more time.
Aimee watched the snapping fire splashes levitate into the night’s sky. No one said a word.
It didn’t take long before Cory fell asleep, snoring loudly.
“Andy, can you help me get Cory into the bedroom?” Aimee asked.
Before she could stand, Andy scooped Cory in his arms and effortlessly carried him into the house. As she followed behind, he dropped him on the bed. She removed his shoes but left his socks on. She folded the sheets and comforter over on him.
“So Cory is done. I’m going to take Shelley home,” Aimee told him.
Andy tilted his head, peering down at her. “Do you want me to?”
“No. I think what I’ll do is take her home and then I’ll let the two of you turn in for the night, okay?”
“You up for a run in the morning?” he asked her.
Her pulse quickened. “I thought you’d never ask.” She liked the way it felt to smile at him. “You think you can make it at six-thirty?”
“You meet me here?”
“I’ll come down the beach from the north, and if you’re out you can join me. If I don’t see you I’m gonna let you sleep.”
SEALed At Sunset Page 2
