Covertly Strong (The Strong Series Book 1)

by N. A. Alcorn

  He was always an outdoors kind of guy—a guy who spent his days surfing, running, and doing anything that made him one with the elements. And even if he was a computer-nerd kind of guy, Sloan knew that the quality of Internet on base in a foreign city was shoddy at best.

  Her nose brushed softly against his as a sentimental smile spread across her lips. “Just letters. Letters and pictures and care packages and anything else I can think of. Plus phone calls. I need to hear your voice whenever I can.”

  He returned her smile. “Pictures? Like naked pictures?” he asked with a raise of his eyebrow.

  She pressed her lips to his in a smacking, playful kiss. “I have a feeling John Walker wouldn’t be too thrilled with me sending you naked pictures or receiving pictures of your…” her voice trailed off as her eyes glanced downwards.

  “My dick? My cock?” he threw out friskily.

  A blush immediately covered her cheeks, and she couldn’t stop the giggle that poured from her lips in response to his crass mouth. She always got a kick out of the colorful language he used without remorse. For some reason, Nix’s frequent swearing had her picturing him in a Navy uniform in the future. He sure as hell would make a great sailor.

  “I’m going to miss that blush, Meli. I’m going to miss it so fucking much.” His thumb brushed her cheek in an affectionate way. “I’m going to miss so many things.”

  “Like what?” she urged.

  “Oh, you want a list? I feel like you’re just looking for compliments,” he answered with a small tickle to her rib cage.

  She squirmed under his flirtatious touch. “C’mon. Give me the list, Nixon West.”

  His fingers tucked errant strands of hair behind her ear as he rested his chin on her shoulder, his lips mere inches from her neck. “I’m going to miss every little thing that makes you my girl,” he murmured into her ear. “Your smile. Your gorgeous eyes. Your lips. God, those perfect, kiss-me-now-Nix lips. And your laugh. Fuck, I’ll miss your laugh.”

  Tears began to well in her eyes again.

  “Your feistiness. Your sass. The fact that you always let me know when I’m being an ass,” he remarked with amusement.

  “That seems to be a daily occurrence for you,” she retorted with fondness in her voice.

  “That’s only because most days you are being a pain in my ass.”

  “Excuse me!” she shouted.

  He chuckled loudly as he gently pushed her back onto the sand, his strong body hovering over hers. Nix stared down at her as his fingers gently traced the features of her face. “You will always have my heart, Meli. Always. I know we’re young, but fuck, I know with every inch of my soul that I will never love anyone else the way that I love you. This right here,” he continued on as he pointed to his chest. “This right here is yours. It will always be yours, and no one else will ever have this part of me…” he trailed off as he looked at her with an odd expression. “I’m going to show you something, but you have to promise me you won’t get pissed.”

  She sighed heavily in response as she tried to decipher his current change in mood. Nix was notorious for his spontaneity, for always shocking her in the most ridiculous ways.

  “Okay. I promise,” she conceded.

  “Are you sure? You promise you’re not going to give me a dose of that sass you’re so famous for? No cursing my name in Spanish or giving me the middle finger with those cute little hands of yours.”

  “Yes,” she replied in exasperation. “I promise that I, Sloan Walker, will not give you any sass or throw Spanish curse words at you or flip you off for whatever you’re about to show me.”

  He adjusted his position so that he was on his knees before his fingers pulled his T-shirt up over his head. A white gauze bandage covered the left side of his chest.

  “Since my heart is yours, I went ahead and branded it for you,” he whispered softly as he pulled the bandage off, revealing a tattoo of black script.

  Meli

  Her nickname.

  The Hawaiian nickname he had jokingly given her on that very sand—the nickname that had eventually turned into the affectionate, loving name he frequently called her—was etched beautifully into his tan skin. It was placed exquisitely right over his chest as if he were proving that his heart, his love, was hers and only hers. It was the sweetest, dumbest, most ridiculous and impulsive thing anyone had ever done for her.

  And she loved it.

  She loved what it meant. She loved what he did… She just loved him in that moment.

  “You are the most ridiculous person in the entire world! Who in the hell put that tattoo on you?! You’re not even eighteen!” she shouted in pure shock.

  A nervous chuckle left his lips. “Don’t worry about who tattooed me. Just know that I did it because I wanted to.”

  “I love you, Nix. I fucking love you,” she declared in astonishment.

  “I can’t believe I just got Sloan Walker to throw out an F-bomb—a loving F-bomb for that matter,” he declared with a laugh. “I mean it, Meli. I mean it when I say that my heart is yours.”

  She grabbed his hand, placing his palm directly over her chest. “And my heart is yours, Nixon West. No one will ever have this piece of me.”

  His eyes hovered over her, gazing down at her prone form with pure emotion flowing from their cerulean depths. “God, I love you. I love you so fucking much.”

  Before he knew it, his lips found hers as his body pressed against her soft curves. He communicated every ounce of emotion, every layer of intensity that was his love for her with every inch of his body.

  On that night, under the soft glow of the moon, with the whisper of waves crashing into the sand filling their ears, Nix and Sloan gave each other every piece of themselves. Their love connected them in the most intimate way as they held on to that poignant moment in time with everything they had.

  A moment that would eventually seem like a distant, heartbreaking memory…

  An excruciatingly bittersweet memory that neither would let go because—no matter how much pain it caused—it was the one time in their lives where both of their hearts were overflowing with an intangible kind of love.

  AUGUST 15TH, 1999

  My Nix, My Wild Man, My Wonderfully Cocky Boyfriend:

  I can’t believe it’s almost been three months since the last time I was in your arms.

  I miss you like crazy.

  Actually, crazy doesn’t even begin to describe it…

  I know you’re probably laughing right now because you love to think of me as your crazily sassy girlfriend, but in this instance, crazy is definitely the right word.

  I’m crazy for you, Nixon West.

  Crazy in love. Crazy in lust. Crazily missing you every second of every day.

  I miss watching movies at the drive-in with you from the bed of your truck. I miss making you laugh when I recite lines from Monty Python. I miss so many things that I’m honestly beginning to lose count of them all. I keep trying to remind myself that this is temporary. That one day soon we will be back together.

  Maybe if I say it enough times it will make the time go by quicker?

  Let’s pray that theory is right.

  So to my pleasant surprise, Italy is wonderful. It’s definitely no Hawaii, but it’s great in its own way. I’m actually shocked that I’m enjoying Naples as much as I am. And I’m happy to report to you (my awesomely overprotective caveman) that I have managed to make some new friends. You were right! (For once in your life.) Honestly, I’m relieved that it took less than a week after starting classes.

  And this will surprise you… I actually went out the other night with a few people from my class to see a movie. We saw There’s Something About Mary and it was entirely in Italian. Thank God for English subtitles!

  Who knows? Maybe one of these days I’ll actually pick up the language?

  I bet me speaking Italian would have quite the effect on you…

  How’s Honolulu? How’s Steph and the gang?

  I
miss everyone and it makes me so freakin’ sad when I start to think about all of the things I’m missing out on right now. If things were different, I would be in Hawaii with you, having the time of my life, and enjoying our senior year of high school…TOGETHER.

  Well, it’s almost midnight here and I’m barely staying awake.

  I hope you like the Italian-themed items I’ve included in the box I sent you.

  I love you.

  Yours Always,

  Meli

  P.S. Remember the night we stayed out until 3 a.m. drinking boxed wine on the beach with the old guy who owns The Lei? God, I miss nights like that with you.

  August 30th, 1999

  My Sloan, My Meli, My Sassy Little Latina:

  I miss you too, pretty girl. And don’t worry. I love when you’re crazy. I especially love when you’re crazy and cursing my name in your sexy little Spanish accent…

  I’m glad you’re not completely miserable in Naples. Of course, I want you to miss me and remember that this “caveman” refuses to let you go, but I also want you to be happy, baby. I want you enjoying the experience of living abroad in a foreign city. That’s pretty fucking cool in my opinion.

  And just the thought of you speaking Italian… FUCK. FUCK. FUCK.

  That might make me die of a heart attack right on the spot. I’m not sure I can handle you fluent in any other languages. Your Spanish might be all I can handle.

  So tell me about your new friends. Are they all from the naval base or are some locals?

  Any guys I need to be concerned about? I’m kidding! Put the sass away, sweetheart! Meli, I have no doubts or jealous worries when it comes to us. I know our love is real and there is no doubt in my mind that we are 100% right, and eventually…someday sooner than later…we’ll be back together again.

  Everyone at McKinley misses you too, babe. Our senior year isn’t the same without your fire and sass and beautiful heart. The gang is good. The girls are up to their usual beach days while the guys are busy surfing and finding creative ways to get into trouble. Nothing new really.

  And I fucking loved the package you sent. The pastries were so good!

  I tried to talk my dad into booking me a plane ticket so that I could come visit you, but apparently, even with the benefits of being a commercial pilot, the ticket is still over four hundred dollars. I guess I’m going to need to start saving! But don’t worry. One day soon I’ll make that trip to Italy and spend time with my favorite girl.

  And this time you can show me the ropes… Wipe that cheesy smile off your face.

  Wait… No… Leave it there. Your smile is one of my favorite things in the entire world. It’s right up there with those gorgeous eyes and that little birthmark above your cute ass.

  Speaking of your cute ass and my favorite birthmark…

  I hope we’re getting close to naked picture time…

  Are you blushing? Fuck, I hope you’re blushing right now while you’re reading this.

  And how could I forget about that night we hung out with the old guy who owns the least classy strip club in Honolulu. I’m pretty sure he offered you a job (even though he knew you were underage) and you just sat there smoking cigars like a fucking mafia lord.

  God, you were so damn sexy…

  I’m not sure how I’m going to survive this next year without you, but I’ll just keep reminding myself that this time next summer we will be together again… Somehow…someway…it will happen.

  I love you, Sloan.

  Nix

  P.S. Remember when we went skinny-dipping at Lulumahu Falls? By far one of the best days of my fucking life.

  P.P.S. Enjoy the chocolate chip cookies courtesy of Mrs. West.

  October 31st, 1999

  Caveman,

  I need another Momma West chocolate chip cookie fix! Please make that happen ASAP.

  And I need to hear your voice again. More than I need my next breath.

  Let’s make that happen ASAFP. Like that little F-bomb I threw in there?

  I hate that long-distance phone calls cost so much! I keep thinking that maybe we should consider starting email accounts, but then again, I don’t think I can give up seeing your ridiculous handwriting and holding your letters to my chest. It makes me feel closer to you in some weird, hopelessly-in-love sort of way.

  Does that make sense? Or am I talking crazy again?

  I keep trying to talk my parents into letting me fly out to Hawaii to see you. Initially, they were all for it. Then my dad saw the cost of a plane ticket. Needless to say, I’m not going to be making the trek to Honolulu anytime soon. (Insert my pouty face that you love so much.)

  Naked pictures? Hmmmm… You probably should remember that my dad is the one taking all of these letters to the post office on base, AND he also brings your letters/packages home to me. I really doubt John Walker would appreciate finding pics of me in my birthday suit. Eeeeeek! I’m mortified at just the thought of that!

  Anyways, I hope you like the pictures I sent you along with this impossibly sappy letter. I know they weren’t naked pictures, but at least you get to see my face.

  I just wish you were here to experience Naples with me.

  I guess pictures and letters are what we have to settle with right now, but baby, I can’t wait for the day to show you around Italy. There are so many amazing things I want you to see! Pizza and gelato I want to feed you! I have a ridiculously long list that I’m keeping track of, and one day, I’ll be able to put it to good use.

  So the homecoming dance is coming up soon at McKinley… I hope you’re going to go.

  I won’t be mad if you take a date. I just want you to have fun and not miss out on anything during senior year. Like you said so many times before, what we have is real and there is absolutely nothing that could change that ironclad fact.

  I saw an older couple walking the streets of Naples, hand in hand, and it made me think of us. It made me feel hopeful and excited. I know one day we’ll be doing just that wherever we may be. I don’t care where we live or what we’re doing, I only care that you’re the one I’m living my life with. See? I told you this was a sappy letter. I can’t help myself. You stir something inside me that I just can’t deny.

  I know in my heart that you are my future and nothing will ever change that.

  I really do love Naples, but I miss Hawaii. Surf some waves for me, baby.

  And don’t ever forget how much I love you.

  Yours Always,

  Meli

  P.S. Remember that crazy party Steph threw when her parents were out of town after prom? I’ll never forget how we snuck away from everyone with a cheap bottle of wine and sat in Mr. Munn’s office getting drunk and making prank calls to everyone within a ten-mile radius. I have never laughed so hard in my entire life.

  P.P.S. You have a serious obsession with my Spanish-speaking abilities.

  November 15th, 1999

  My Meli,

  Baby, I miss you.

  I keep looking at the pictures you sent and they make my chest ache. I love seeing your smile and those big, brown eyes of yours, but I can’t stand that I’m not there with you. I wish I were the person behind that lens making you laugh and flash that cheesy grin.

  Homecoming wasn’t the same without you there.

  Yes, I had fun, but I refused to go with the wrong girl on my arm, because, Meli, you’re my girl. No one else. Not now. Not ever. So it just didn’t feel right taking someone else.

  The guys give me shit all the time in regards to you, and you know what?

  I fucking love it. I love that I’m so caught up in your sassy little spell that I can’t see anyone else. I know you’re smiling right now, and, babe, you should be. I know what everyone thinks… We’re young and naïve and that our feelings for each other will change. No one thinks we can make this last, but I know we can. This will last because there isn’t any other option for me. I don’t want anyone else. I just want you. I want you. All day. Every day. On goddamn repeat. How�
��s that for sappy?

  I got a job helping out at Murphy’s Garage on the weekends. I’m hoping this will fund our need for frequent phone calls. My first paycheck is going to long-distance calling cards for both of us. And don’t even think about refusing it. I need to hear your sexy voice more often than once a goddamn month.

  Enjoy the ridiculous amount of chocolate chip cookies my mom made for you. And the pictures I threw in from homecoming. I also added one of my favorite pictures of us. Remember that day? The day you demanded that I teach you how to surf? I’ll never forget that day.

  I love you,

  Nix

  P.S. I drove by Old Man Kamaka’s place last week… Does that bring back any memories? I know it does. I’ll never forget watching you hop that crazy-high fence and kidnap his dog because you were pissed that he’d left his little mutt out in the heat too long. Watching him attempt to chase you down while I waited to drive you away in the “getaway car” was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen in my life. But I will say… You taught that old guy a lesson. Every time I drive past his place, I never see his dog lying outside nearly dying from heat stroke. You are so crazy in the best kind of way, baby. I fucking love it.

  MAY 1ST, 2000

  Nix,

  I keep hoping that you’ll respond.

  I keep praying that my dad will come home from the post office with a letter from you.

  Please. Please. Please. Just give me something. A phone call. A letter. Anything.

  I can’t sleep. I can’t eat. I feel like I’m in perpetual night.

  I keep reading through all of your old letters and I just can’t understand why.

  Why?

  My heart refuses to accept that this is the end. Please don’t let this be the end of us. You were such a big part of my life. You were my best friend. Goddammit, you ARE my best friend.