Love

by Jaxon, Andi

  Her eyes are full too, she’s just as moved by this as I am.

  Wrapping her in his arms, he presses a kiss to her hair. “You’re welcome.”

  Charlie lets go of Avery and pulls me in for a hug.

  “I couldn’t be happier than I am right now,” I say into his chest.

  I can feel him smile into my hair before leaving a kiss.

  The title menu for Sixteen Candles starts up, surprising us both.

  “How did you?” we ask at the same time. Looking at each other, we both answer, “Katie.”

  Before the movie starts, Charlie starts arranging pillows behind us to lean against. With him in the middle, he leans back and lays down, stretching his legs out in front of him. Avery and I lay down on either side, using his chest as a pillow. As the movie starts, Charlie wraps an arm around each of us, Avery and I hold hands on his stomach, completely content in this moment. I don’t know what we did to deserve him, but we’re going to keep him.

  18

  Amber

  We all leave the house, not saying a word, Avery and I are both trying to keep smiles on our faces to make this easier for Charlie, but nothing about this is going to be easy. The entire drive is silent, no music or joking around, I can’t even look at either of them. I grip Avery’s hand tightly as we drive, to help keep the tears at bay.

  I see the bridge coming up over the horizon as we get closer to Coronado Island, my chest begins to constrict making it hard to breathe. Avery slides closer, wrapping her arm around my shoulder.

  “We got this, you and me,” she whispers as she lifts my chin to look at her, I notice the unshed tears in her eyes.

  “You and me,” I respond with a forced smile before leaning my head on her shoulder.

  We managed to live before Charlie was around, but I don’t even remember what life was like without him, nor do I want to think about it. I feel the car come to a stop, I grip tighter onto Avery.

  The car door opens, “Alright, it’s time.” Charlie steps back offering me his hand. I grab it, pulling Avery along with me as I exit the car.

  We follow Charlie, not breaking the connection toward a group of people waiting for their men to depart. There are groups everywhere, I notice Katie and Logan off to the side, lost in their own little world. Katie’s face is streaked with tears, we’re all going to need each other more than ever this time around.

  I feel a set of arms wrap around me, and then another. We are now all wrapped around each other, no one says a word. The tears begin to run down my face, I’m no longer able to hold them back.

  “I’ll be back before you know it.”

  “Soon enough, you’ll be leaving nasty ass socks on the floor,” Avery chimes in.

  I chuckle even though I want to break down into a puddle of tears.

  “Ten minutes to take off, time to load up!” LT yells.

  “Alright, I have to go. I love you both, so much. I’ll talk to you soon.” Charlie kisses both of our foreheads before turning to leave. My chest constricts from the pain, Avery wraps an arm around me for fear that I’m going to collapse.

  “I can’t do this.”

  I unwrap Avery’s arm before turning to head back to the car. I don’t make it far before I turn around, pointing a finger at Charlie.

  “Don’t get shot, mother fucker.”

  “I’ve gotten pretty good at ducking for cover.” He smirks at me.

  “Make sure Logan comes home in one piece. I don’t have time to be putting Katie back together if something happens to him.”

  “I’ll do my best.” He still has that damn smirk in place, I’m not sure if I want to kiss him or slap the shit out of him.

  “I fucking love you. Don’t die, you hear me?”

  “You got it. I fucking love you too.”

  Nodding at him, I turn toward the car to wait. I can’t watch him get on the plane and leave, I just can’t.

  AVERY

  My heart cracks as the door to the plane closes. I want nothing more than to collapse on the ground into a crying mess, but no one has time for that. I have Katie and Amber to take care of. He promised he would come back, I have to believe him. He’s not my dad; if I repeat that enough, maybe, just maybe, my head and my heart will get on the same page.

  He’s been gone for a week with no word. No clue as to where he went. Daddy went to work like normal, but never arrived. Of course, Momma called all the local hospitals, police station, jail, and even the morgue. Nothing.

  I can tell she’s worried. She’s not eating or sleeping, not going to work, but she still makes me go to school. She says that my classes are important and I need something positive to focus on. Little does she know that I can’t focus on school, on what my teachers are saying, or even my friends. I’m fifteen, I know more than what my Mother wishes I did, in all aspects of life. Yet now I’m the adult, taking care of her since she no longer knows how to function.

  “How are you doing, tiger?” Katie says as she wraps her arm around my waist.

  “Me, meh I’m fine. Nothing I can’t handle.” I force a smile on my face, no need for her to worry about me on top of everything else.

  “Shut it, bitch, you love that man, and we all know it. You can have a day, okay?”

  By the look in her eye, I know she’s serious, she won’t let this shit go until I tell her exactly what I am feeling. “Kit Kat, it hurts. I can’t breath.”

  The tears that I have fought so hard to hold back begin to fall freely. The release feels good, almost like the weight of the world is being lifted from my shoulders. Katie grips me in a tight hug, well as much as she can being shorter than me, rubbing my back as I cry. I can feel Katie’s tears soaking through my shirt as well.

  “What, we are having a crying session, and no one invited me?” Amber snarks from beside us, both of us laugh. Lifting my head from Katie’s shoulder, Amber is smiling the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen.

  “You’re so beautiful, you know that?” I tell her.

  “Girl, you need glasses. Mascara is running down my face and I probably have snot in places it shouldn’t be,” Amber responds. Katie and I both laugh.

  “Alright bitches, we had our cries. Let's go watch some movies and eat our weight in ice cream. I’m sure my nephew would like some of the sugary goodness right about now, right Kit Kat?” I say as I reach out to rub Katie’s non-existent baby bump.

  “You mean niece, Avery. Stop rubbing her like a damn crystal ball! She’s not going to give you a million dollars if you rub it the right way. Katie just smack her next time, if she calls the cops, I’ll come get you.”

  Katie is laughing so hard she’s crying, the smile on her face is contagious because I can’t help but smile as well. “You two make everything better, you know that?” Linking her arms through each of ours, she pulls us toward our cars.

  “You never know, it could be a niece and a nephew. Twins do run in Logan’s family.”

  We start cackling as we continue our trek.

  19

  Amber

  Things are slowly getting back to normal since the guys left, although the pain where my heart should be has yet to subside. Avery and I have decided to meet Katie for lunch since we haven’t had time to get together since the guys left.

  “Okay prego, what does the baby want?” Avery asks Katie.

  “Chinese!”

  Parking, we make our way inside and sit down.

  “Why do I even look at the menu, I always get the same thing,” I say as I put it down.

  “Pick something else,” Avery says.

  “What? Why?”

  “Because you never actually eat it. You order it and then eat my food. I’m not in the mood for Broccoli Beef today,” she snaps.

  “That’s ridiculous.”

  A waitress approaches the table to take our orders before I get a chance to give her my order, Avery interrupts.

  “She’ll have princess prawns with white rice, and I’ll have sweet and sour pork with white
rice.”

  “What the fuck? I’ll have broccoli beef!”

  “You don’t even like broccoli! Stop ordering stuff you aren’t going to eat!”

  Avery and I are eye to eye, breathing heavily since we’re both yelling.

  “Okay, we need a few more minutes,” Katie asks the waitress who immediately scurries off.

  “You two need to knock it off. You’ve been fighting for days, and I’m tired of it. Just admit you both miss Charlie, get off, then get over it.”

  “What the fuck does he have to do with Avery deciding what I want to eat?” Crossing my arms over my chest, I stare at her.

  “You too have been fighting over everything, and I mean EVERYTHING since the guys left. Where to eat, shoes not perfectly lined up by the door, how much coffee grounds to use, the flavor of creamer. I could go on. You guys are fighting because you aren’t getting laid, so go back to whatever it is you used to do and release some tension. Then get the hell over yourselves! I have to pee.”

  Katie gets up and heads toward the bathroom while Avery and I keep looking at each other.

  “Is she right? Are we just horny?”

  Avery shrugs, “Probably a big part of it.”

  “I miss him like it physically hurts my chest,” I admit, closing my eyes.

  I hear Avery let out a sigh, then feel her slide into the booth beside me.

  “I miss him too, so fucking much.”

  Sliding her hand up my leg, I suck in a breath. Since I have cutoffs on, she doesn’t have to work hard to get her fingers where she’s aiming for.

  Avery’s fingers make it under the elastic of my panties when Katie clears her throat, “Not the place.”

  Avery and I both roll our eyes, prude.

  Katie sits down, the look on her face has me worried. There is no other way to describe it than as if she’s plotting world domination.

  “What is that look for?”

  “I… I have some news.”

  “Okay. Don’t leave us hanging,” Avery’s aggravated at the antics.

  “I had an ultrasound to check on the baby.”

  “Oh my God! Are you two okay? What do you need Kit Kat?” My mind automatically goes to the worst case scenario.

  “Both the babies and I are just fine.”

  It takes us a second to realize what she just said.

  “BABIES?! YOU’RE HAVING TWINS!” I can’t control the volume of my voice, I’m so damn excited.

  Avery and I pull her out of the booth and hug her while jumping up and down in our excitement.

  “Twins! Two little minds that we can teach all kinds of bad habits too,” Avery says lovingly.

  We all start to laugh, we all know Avery is going to be teaching them to say ‘fuck.’

  * * *

  “Goddammit, Avery! Stop leaving your wet towel on the fucking bed!”

  Avery comes around the corner into our room, naked as the day she was born, obviously doing her hair and make-up.

  “Jesus. Sorry, Mom.” I want to smack her when she rolls her eyes at me.

  “My side is wet because of your stupid towel. Thanks.” Throwing the towel at her, I huff out of the room.

  Since Charlie deployed, we’ve been at each other's throats, like we’ve forgotten how to live with each other. Maybe we’re just sexually deprived.

  “Charlie is supposed to call soon, get some damn clothes on.” Nagging her seems to be my only release lately, but she’s snarking at me every chance she gets too.

  “Why? You think he doesn’t want to see my tits?”

  “I don’t want his entire unit to see your tits!” I let the frustration out by raising my voice.

  I hate the tears threatening to fall, I hate that we’re fighting all the time over stupid shit, I hate the part of me that is missing.

  Avery comes to me, wraps her arms around my neck and pulls me to her. Resting my forehead on her shoulder, I breathe in her clean scent and let out a stuttered breath.

  “I miss him too,” she whispers.

  Lifting my head to meet her eyes, I can see it clear as day in her eyes. Leaning forward, I place a soft kiss on her lips and wrap my arms around her waist.

  Once again resting my forehead on hers, I close my eyes, taking comfort in her.

  “I want to have babies,” the words come out of nowhere, and I’m just as surprised by them as Avery is.

  “What?”

  “I want to have babies with Charlie and you.”

  A shit eating grin covers Avery’s face, it lights up the whole room.

  “I do too.”

  We both start laughing, neither one of us has ever wanted kids. I guess it just took the right man to show us what we really wanted in life and seeing our best friend so fucking happy about her pregnancy.

  “Little Tater Tot’s and Bugger Bear’s.” Avery’s smile is infectious, I’m smiling back at her like a fool, and I love it.

  “When are you going to spill the beans on the nickname thing?”

  The happiness on her face dims, and she takes a step back, curling in on herself.

  “It was just a stupid thing my dad and I did.”

  Avery turns toward the bedroom and disappears.

  Shit.

  “Avery,” I call as I open the door. She’s sitting on the bed in one of Charlie’s t-shirts, staring at her hands with tears slowly rolling down her face.

  Kneeling in front of her, I cover her hands with mine. “Do you want to talk about him?”

  The only thing I know about Avery’s childhood is that her dad disappeared one day and she was a huge Daddy’s girl.

  “I miss him so much,” she whispers. “I just wish I knew what happened to him.”

  “What was he like?”

  A smile turns the corners of her lips up despite the tears. “He was always laughing, joking around. He gave the best hugs.”

  I smile for her. “I wish I could have met him.”

  “Me too, he would have loved you.”

  “Did he have a nickname for you?”

  Avery starts to chuckle. “A nickname? I had multiple nicknames a day, he was pretty inventive.”

  “How old were you when he disappeared?”

  “Fifteen. He went to work one morning like he always did, but he never made it. He was just gone. The police never found his car or any trace of him after he left the house, it was like he never existed.” Letting out a sob, I wrap my arms around her shoulders, holding her while she cries.

  With her head on my shoulder, she continues.

  “Mom was a mess. She stopped going to work, stopped sleeping and eating. She thought I didn’t notice, but she was terrible at hiding it. After a while, she refused to talk about him, she just checked out altogether. Suddenly, I found myself taking care of her instead of the other way around. I’ve been taking care of people ever since.”

  “I love you, Avery. I need you in every sense of the word.”

  Lifting her head to meet my eyes, she places a gentle kiss on my lips.

  “I love you too, I couldn’t do this without you.”

  Leaning in, I capture her lips with mine, showing her the truth behind my words.

  Coming up for air I say, “Alright, wipe the stress off your face. Charlie should be calling soon.”

  Walking away from the bed, I’m almost in the hallway when I hear her say my name. Turning to see what she needs, she's standing with her arms crossed over her chest.

  “If you leave another coffee cup on that bedside table, I will throat punch you.”

  With a roll of my eyes, I leave the room to let her finish getting dressed.

  CHARLIE

  It’s been a few weeks since we left for deployment and I’m already over it. I just want to go home to my girls. Exiting my tent to head to the chow hall, I bump into Logan.

  “Charlie! You need to come with me, I’m not doing this alone.”

  “I am not holding your hand while you jerk it. Ask Newb, he seems to be the one around here who likes d
ick.”

  I still have to fight the urge to beat the shit out of that mother fucker for what he said to Avery at the beach house. Honestly, I know he didn’t mean any harm, but it would have saved us all a lot of heartache if he would’ve kept his damn mouth shut. It’s no wonder he’s single.

  “Do you think of anything besides your dick?” Logan responds.

  “Not really. So what is it that you need?”

  “I got a letter from Katie, she went to the doctors to find out the sex of the baby.”

  I don’t need to hear the rest, grabbing his arm, I pull him toward his tent. “Why didn’t you say that in the first fucking place? Let’s go see my nephew!”

  As we enter the tent, I can’t help but think about what it would feel like to get a letter from one or even both of the girls telling me we are going to have a baby. I want the whole thing, white picket fence, babies from one or both of the girls, getting married, all of it. I watch Logan open the envelope from Katie, waiting to find out the news.

  “Holy shit,” Logan drops down on the bed, putting his head between his hands.

  “What’s wrong?” I yell as I rush over, grabbing the note off the floor. “Damn brother, do you have super sperm?”

  “Twins. We’re having twins!”

  The shock has worn off, and Logan is now shouting his happiness from the rooftops or as much as he can, given our location.

  “You get to have two babies, and I can’t even get them to agree to one.”

  “Are you fucking serious right now?” Logan looks me straight in the eye, freezing me in place. I didn’t think he could actually hear me over his personal celebration.

  “Yes, I’m fucking serious! I want babies, marriage, a house, damn I would even stop being a SEAL if it made both of them happy, but they want no part of it,” my voice loud with frustration.

  “You need to slow down. You have two of the most commitment-phobic females in the world in love with you. That’s a win in my book.”

  “Says the man that got the love his life to say she would marry him and found out he was going to be a dad all in the same day.”