by Lisa Shelby
While telling them all the things we talked about I think back to sitting on the beach listening to him talk about his mom. It was beautiful. I know all about mama’s boys, since I do have a brother, but this was different. He and his mom seem really close. I remember him saying, “I love my friends and my brothers in the Marine Corps. I would give my life for any of them but my mom is truly my best friend. She’s always there and she never judges me. I can tell her anything and I know that her love is unconditional and will always be there. She’s my rock, Emily. It may make me sound soft but I just don’t care. She is the greatest woman I know and I am so glad I got to spend last week with her before I head out to Afghanistan.” He drops his head down to his knees, that are pulled up tight to his core with his arms. “I feel so guilty leaving her sometimes. I know she wants the best for me, and most importantly for me to be happy but I still feel horrible leaving her. For some reason this time more than before. I just know that she’s all the reason I need to make sure I make it home safe and sound.”
Cami’s voice pulls me back to the present.
“Em, I’m so happy for you. He sounds really great and if his friends are any indication, he truly is a nice guy.”
“He is and that’s why this is so wrong. It isn’t fair of me to spend time with him and not let him know everything. Don’t you think?”
“Em, you don’t have to tell him anything that you don’t want to tell him. We’re only here for a week and he’s leaving to go away to war for nine months. I think you both deserve a week of fun and who knows what else,” Alex says while Cami nods her head in agreement.
“He did say he wants to see me again today,” I say as a grin overtakes my entire face and I roll over and bury my blush in my pillow.
“Well, that’s good since we already have plans to meet up with the guys in an hour. So, you better get that skinny little ass of yours out of this bed and into the shower!” With that she jumps out of the bed, rips the covers back off of me and runs through the door to the living room of our suite. I can hear Alex yelling to me to have fun through the phone.
“Shit!” I whisper to myself, not sure if it is because I know I shouldn’t take this any further or because I have less than an hour to get ready. I think it’s the latter because just the thought of him and those butterflies are back. I feel like a giddy little school girl.
We’re back at Ole’s again today but this time we’re hanging in the back where the pool tables are. Sam and I are beating the pants off Steph and Cami in the longest game of pool in the history of the game. None of us are any good at this game and we talk in between turns so often we may never finish it.
“So, you are seriously going to stick with your story that nothing happened last night with Jonathan?” Steph says as we lean back against the end of the bar.
“There isn’t anything to tell, Steph. We just talked all night and he was a perfect gentleman. Sorry to disappoint.” I say as I bump her shoulder with mine.
“Hmmm…”
“Did you guys have fun without me last night?” I ask.
“We did. We had a blast and ended up dancing all night long,” Steph reports.
With her usual sass Cami adds. “Sam, had a lot of fun, didn’t you Sam?”
As Sam leans over to take her shot her eyes look up to mine with a little sparkle in them and a nod of her head that says she indeed had some fun last night.
“Don’t hold out on me, Sam! Tell me!” I squeal.
Before she can even open her mouth Steph interjects. “Sam and Matt were stuck together like glue! Oh, you should have seen it, Em. He may be quiet but that Devil Dog can dance! The bumping and grinding those two were doing was epic,” she says as she does her own little bump and grind on her pool cue. “We won’t even get into the make-out sessions they were having on their breaks from the dance floor.”
Sam finally speaks when she says, “I guess the old saying is true. It’s the quiet ones that you gotta watch out for. Oh, Em, he is so sweet and so hot and he kisses like…like…oh, there are just no words.”
“So, it sounds like you like him? That’s great, Sam,” I say and I really do mean it. Sam is a sweet girl and she deserves to meet a sweet guy, not the usual type she attracts. Sam and Steph are both perfect tens and they don’t often meet guys that want more than one thing from them, so I think this is great. From the bit of time I spent with Matt, he seemed like a really nice guy.
“Well, we only have today, so I am trying not to get too excited,” she says with a shrug and a sigh as she continues. “Not only do they leave next week but his family is getting here tomorrow and then he’ll be spending his time with them. So, no need to get all excited, Em but I will enjoy it while I can. Like we always say, you only live once.”
This reminder of only living once and not living with regrets has me wondering where the guys are. Every time I notice the door to the bar open I catch myself looking to see if it’s them. I can’t remember the last time I felt like this. Especially over a boy.
“Your turn, Em.” Steph yells after another unsuccessful shot from the other side of the table. We really are horrible at pool. But right now, I’ll do anything to pass the time.
I make my way over to the other side of the table where the cue ball has landed, and just as I do I see a group of guys coming to play at the table next to us. I take my shot, and miss of course, and as I turn around there is a cute guy with red hair and a smirk—that says he’s up to know good—looking me up and down without even trying to hide it. He extends his hand and says, “Hey, I’m Paul. Who are you?”
Even though he says it while looking at me like I am his next meal, that part of me that is always nice to everybody extends her hand and says, “Emily, nice to meet you.”
As soon as I take his hand I see Paul’s eyes trained on something behind me. Before he even reaches me, I feel him. Jonathan is here and I feel the smile uncontrollably stretching across my face while the butterflies in my stomach kick it up a notch.
A few seconds later I feel his arm around my shoulder. He pulls me into his side and with a gentle kiss to my temple he says, “What’s up, Gracie?”
Oh God, he smells so good. I. Can’t. Breathe. Not only is he touching me but on natural instinct my arm goes around his waist, and we’re holding each other like we’ve done it a hundred times. Oh, and he kissed me…and called me Gracie again. It feels like he’s stepped up his game from last night and he’s staking his claim. I should mind, but I don’t. I want him to stake his claim and I want Paul and every other guy in San Clemente to see it too.
Confused, Paul says, “I thought you said your name was Emily?”
“It is, my friend here just likes to annoy me,” I say and I can feel Jonathan looking at me. I can sense the big grin on his face and can just imagine what those dimples look like right now.
And with that Jonathan starts walking us away from Paul and always the polite person that I am, I turn and say over my shoulder, “It was nice to meet you, Paul. Good luck with your game.”
“I would say, Paul’s game was going pretty well until I arrived.”
“He was creepy. Thanks for the rescue.”
“Anytime, Emily. Anytime.”
Day turns to night as we all hang out and enjoy another great day of fun and laughter. We stayed at Ole’s for quite some time, walked around town, stopped and ate when somebody came across something they just had to have. Since we’re all such supportive friends, we would all have to try whatever everybody else was eating too. I mean that’s just what friends do; we sacrifice. If I have to spend my day eating street tacos, corn dogs, kettle corn, pizza by the slice and oh yes, cotton candy then that is just what I’ll do to support my friends, old and new.
With seven of us in our group you would think there would be clashing personalities, but there isn’t. We all get along really well. Matt and Sam stay pretty close all day and there is never a time during the day that Jonathan isn’t at my side. The day is spent laughin
g and having fun as we get to know each other better.
We’ve learned that Devon has a serious girlfriend, Gabrielle, and it’s clear that without a doubt he is completely devoted to her. It’s so sweet to watch him text her throughout the day. He relays messages from her to the guys and vice versa. After one such text where Devon is smiling from ear to ear Jonathan walks up to him and puts his arm around his shoulders and says, “You lucky bastard.” This one moment shows me two things; Jonathan is clearly happy for his friend and that he wants the same kind of love and devotion that Gabrielle and Devon share. This is the only time during the day that I let that scared feeling back into the pit of my stomach. But it doesn’t last long when Jonathan looks over at me with a smile and a wink as he walks with his arm around his friend.
Watching these three big tough Marines not afraid to show emotion with each other is quite a sight. Just like Matt said yesterday, they really are as close as brothers. These three are tight and it’s kind of a beautiful thing to see.
After our day of fun, we wind things down at Nick’s Mexican Kitchen and it is sooooo good. I could eat Mexican food every day, so I know good Mexican food. This is not good Mexican food—this is amazing Mexican food. I can’t eat another bite and as I lean back at our cramped table to let my food settle I can’t help myself as I lean into Jonathan’s side and he instantly brings his arm around the back of my chair and lightly rubs circles over my shoulder. I feel so content in this moment, like right here next to him at a table of our friends, laughing and enjoying myself is exactly where I was meant to be. He takes my worries away, makes me feel calm, and not like the mess I truly am.
I lean my head on his shoulder and can’t help the yawn that escapes me.
“Hey guys, Emily and I are gonna call it a night,” he announces as he throws some money on the table and stands. “She can barely keep her eyes open and I need to get her to bed so that she can get up early tomorrow morning to go on our hike.”
“Oh, so now I’m going on a hike? Early in the morning, no less?” I say following his lead by standing and putting money on the table. I pick up half of the money that he’s left, to pay for my meal, and turn to face him as I reach around and put the money in his back pocket.
“Yes, you are and I’ll be at your hotel at seven am so make sure you get some sleep. I hope you packed some hiking shoes? If not, we’ll figure something else out but I would really love to take you on a hike,” he says sweetly as he pushes a stray hair from my braid behind my ear.
Completely under his spell I simply look him in those beautiful hazel eyes that almost look green and whisper, “Okay.”
Cami chooses this moment to stretch as she fakes a yawn and says, “It has been a long day. I think I am ready to go back to the hotel and relax a bit. Why don’t we all go back, ladies?”
“You guys go ahead,” Sam says. “Matt’s parents will be here tomorrow and I want to spend a little more time with him before we say goodbye.”
We’re all starting to leave when Matt yells, “Irish! Why don’t you and D just take the jeep back to base and I’ll have Santiago give me a lift home in a bit? He’s down at Knuckleheads and it shouldn’t be a problem.”
“Only if you’re sure, Shell?”
“Of course I am, the jeep’s yours for the rest of the week anyway. Just take good care of her. You know how much Scarlett means to me,” Matt says with his hand over his heart.
“Will do. You have a good night, Shell. Sam, we’ll see ya soon.” Jonathan says as he turns to leave with the rest of us.
We walk out into the ocean air and start our walk to the hotel. While we walk I look straight ahead as Jonathan walks beside me. I know he’s waiting for me to speak.
I can’t take it anymore. I stop walking to finally ask the questions that I am dying to ask. One of those I know Jonathan is waiting for.
“Two things…One, Matt’s jeep is named Scarlett?” I ask finally looking at him and holding one finger up.
He stops walking as well and now we’re standing in the middle of the sidewalk while he looks at me like I’m a crazy person and that this shouldn’t even be a question. Straight faced, with his arms crossed in a give-me-what-ya-got sort of way, he replies. “Of course she is. Guns and cars always get names. His jeep is named after Scarlett Johansson. He’s always had a thing for her and the jeep is red so it’s perfect. What’s your next question?” he says with a devilish grin that says he knows exactly what I am about to ask him.
I feel my cheeks turning pink before I even speak. I blow out a breath and hold up a second finger. “Two, did Matt just call you Irish?”
“He sure did,” he says as he lifts up the sleeve of his t-shirt and shows me a tattoo on his upper arm.
I can’t help but reach out and touch it. There’s a castle with a lion on each side each holding gold chains. There is much more intricacy to it but I am not taking all of it in because my eyes go to the word Kelly at the bottom of his beautiful tattoo.
“What is this?” I ask quietly memorized by the art on his arm.
“This is my family crest. My last name is Kelly. My dad’s side of the family is Irish.”
“It’s beautiful.”
“Thanks.”
I take my hand away and he pulls his sleeve back down. “So, this is why you were laughing at me when I said, ‘I love all things Irish, right?” Now my face is in my hands as we stand in front of the hotel.
I feel his hands on mine as he pulls them off of my face.
“You’re here.” He says pointing his head in the direction of the hotel. “Now get in there, get some sleep and I will see you at seven o’clock.”
Without answering my question, he takes my face in his hands and lifts my eyes to his face, and then leans forward and kisses my forehead. The heat from the feeling of embarrassment leaves me as a different kind of heat fills my body.
With a lift of his hand he says, “Night ladies,” over my head to Steph and Cami. Then he brings his attention back to me and says, “Night, Gracie.”
It’s now that I notice that Cami and Steph are waiting for me to go inside and Devon is waiting for Jonathan just a few steps away. Once again, everything seems to fade away when he’s around. As I stand there staring at those beautiful lips that just kissed my forehead and called me Gracie, he removes them from my view. He and Devon turn and walk away to head back to Scarlett, leaving me high from this touch and wondering how I will ever get to sleep now?
Chapter 4
Jonathan
At seven o’clock I’m standing outside the Pier Side Inn, leaning against Scarlett with my coffee in my right hand and Emily’s in my left. She walks out of the hotel at 7:01 and, as always, takes my breath away. She’s always beautiful but this morning with her hair high on her head in a messy bun, in her purple yoga pants that stop just below her knees, a simple dark gray tank, a gray hoodie tied around her waist, and her Nikes…she is simply breathtaking.
“Morning. You ready to get your hike on?” I say when I start to hand her the cup in my left hand but change my mind. “You may want to put your hoodie on, the ride can get a bit cool this early in the morning with the top off.” She slips it on and then reaches out to take her coffee.
“Ready as I’ll ever be,” she huffs as she takes a sip of her coffee and smiles to acknowledge that I got it right. “You remembered?” she says quietly, almost embarrassed.
“I remember everything about you, Emily,” I whisper in her ear as I reach around her to open the jeep door and I hear her inhale a shocked breath.
She quickly jumps into the jeep and says, “Thank you.”
I’m not trying to make her uncomfortable by whispering in her ear or leaning just a little too close to her, but I simply can’t help myself. The last two days have been amazing but not touching her is killing me. I’m trying my best to be a gentleman, and I won’t push for anything until I think she feels the same way and she’s ready. But it’s getting harder with every moment that passes in her pr
esence. And when I say things are getting harder that is certainly in more ways than one.
I can feel her eyes on me as I go around the front of the jeep and hop into the driver’s seat. “I wasn’t sure what you would want so there are two croissants and some fresh fruit in the bag. I figured a croissant for each of us and then if you’re nice, I’ll share my fruit with you.” I say with a smile then take my sunglasses off my head, put them on and place the bag in her lap.
“Thanks again, Jonathan.”
We drive in comfortable silence eating our breakfast and drinking our coffee. As soon as we arrive at the parking lot for the Las Ramlas Trail I can tell by the look on her face that she isn’t feeling so sure about this.
“Don’t worry. There are a couple hills but it’s really not that hard at all and we’re going early so that we beat the heat. From what I hear, the views are great and worth the work.”
“I’ll be fine. Sorry for the lack of conversation, I’m just not a morning person and take a little bit to wake up. I’ll be fine though.”
She doesn’t sound sure though. She almost looks like she’s going to be sick. God, I hope I don’t make her that nervous or that she’s that out of shape. I hope I haven’t planned this wrong, but we’re here now so let’s see what happens.
I grab my ruck sack out of the back seat and we set out for the trail. She’s quiet and seems to be answering all of my questions with one-word answers. Did I do something? Is she okay? Does she not want to be here? Was this a bad idea? The lack of conversation is making me anxious and I don’t do anxious.
“So, you have a brother?” I ask to try and get her talking.
“I do, he’s two years older than me. He is a royal pain in my ass but he’s the best big brother a girl could ask for. He’s the one that got me my necklace,” she says as she rubs the dragonfly between her thumb and forefinger. “That’s not why he’s the best brother, because he bought me a necklace.” She stutters and it is so freaking cute. “That sounded terrible, sorry,” she says blushing.
