by Kaylee Ryan
“It’s none of your business what I am or how I feel about her. What you need to worry about is not disrespecting her.”
“Looks like it’s just the two of us,” Jeffers intervenes, no doubt trying to diffuse the situation. “And then there were two,” he jokes.
I don’t get a chance to reply because my phone vibrates in my pocket, taking my full attention. Digging it out, I see her name on the screen.
Austyn: Just wanted to say hi. I hope you had a good day.
Me: Hey, angel. It’s better now.
Me: How was class? Work?
Austyn: Just another day. Nothing exciting. You?
Me: It was a long one, but it’s finally over.
Austyn: I won’t keep you. I just wanted to say hi.
Me: I miss you.
I wait for her reply. I see the little bubbles appear and disappear several times before finally, her message comes through.
Austyn: I miss you, too.
I read her words over and over, and will my heart to slow its rapid pace in my chest. I know the guys are watching, well, except Combs; he’s still on the phone with Savannah. I want to call Austyn. I want to her hear her voice and not just rely on the memory of her sweet Southern drawl. I’m just about to when I overhear Combs tell Savannah that he’s sure I’m up for it and that he’ll text her later and let her know. He now has my full attention.
“What’s up?” I ask as soon as he pulls the phone from his ear. I sound eager as fuck, and I am.
“Savvy was asking about the girls coming to visit in a couple of weeks.”
“No shit?” I ask. I try to keep my cool to not let my excitement show.
He laughs. Apparently, I failed. “Yeah, I guess they wanted to surprise us and then realized that they weren’t sure if we could have visitors or were sure where to stay really.”
“Here, on base.”
“That’s what I told her. I told her I’d see how you felt about Austyn coming and then I’d book them a room. They just need to tell me when.”
“You know damn good and well how I feel about Austyn coming, and we’re going to need two rooms.”
“Yeah, I don’t want Austyn to have to suffer through Savvy and me spending time together and not have a place to go. You know I’m going to need some alone time with my girl.”
“Two rooms because I need some alone time with mine.” I wait for him to give me shit. It doesn’t happen.
“I’ll get the dates and then take care of the room.”
“On second thought, let me take care of mine.”
“Yours?”
“My girl and my room. Just give me the dates, and I’ll handle it.” Excitement courses through me knowing I get to see her, hold her, touch her soft skin and taste her sweet lips.
“We’ll book them at the same time. I’m sure the girls will want to be close for the times we can’t be with them.”
I nod. I want this trip to be something special for her. I want to dote on her and spend as much time with her as I possibly can. I’m not going to let her out of my sight for a single fucking second.
Unable to table my excitement, I grab my phone and send her a quick text.
Me: Can you talk?
Austyn: With you? Always.
Standing from my bed, I walk outside. I hear the guys call out for me, asking me where I’m going. I raise my hand and wave, not bothering to turn around and give them an explanation. I walk to the side of the building where there’s a row of picnic tables set up. I take a seat, pull up her name, and hit Call.
“My knight,” she answers.
“My angel,” I counter, making her laugh.
The sound washes over me, settling in my bones. What I wouldn’t give to make her laugh like this every damn day. “I hear you’re planning a road trip.”
“More Savannah than me, but she asked me to come with her.”
“I don’t know where I’m going to be stationed once we’re through training so I don’t know when I’ll get to see you.”
“Slade Reeves, you act like you miss me or something.”
“I’m not a very good actor,” I tell her, relieved she can’t see my big-ass grin. She laughs again. “So you’re coming with her? Do you know when?”
“We were thinking around Thanksgiving. We have a break from school. Savvy said you get a long weekend.”
“We do, but we have to be here on base.”
“That works for you guys, then?”
“Yeah, that works for me. The only issue I see is that it’s too far away.” I hear a guy say her name and she tells him she’ll be right there. I open my mouth to ask her where she is when she beats me to it.
“Sorry, I’m at work and they’re getting backed up in there. I need to go.”
“Okay. We’ll talk soon?”
“Yeah, Savvy and I will get the dates to you, and we can go from there.” I hear her name called again. “I really have to go.”
“I know. Can you text me when you get home?”
I hear her moving and the sounds of the restaurant growing louder. “It might be late.”
“Don’t care.”
“I can do that. Bye, Slade,” she says softly. It’s so soft I almost don’t hear her over the roar of the restaurant.
“Bye, angel.” The line goes dead and although I wish I had more time to talk to her, maybe even a video chat, I’m still stoked she’s coming to visit. It’s more than I expected would happen. It gives me hope that she and I can do this. We can be together despite my career path and the distance between us. We can still fall even further into this and come out happier, together.
When I get back, Combs is still on the phone talking quietly, and I know he’s still chatting to Savannah. I’ve never been one to talk on the phone, but I can see the appeal, especially being this far away from her. I can’t help but wonder if we’ll ever get to that point? Better yet, do I want to be?
Grabbing my laptop, I pull up our last e-mail exchange. I feel like I know her, yet there is still so much I don’t know. Without overthinking, I hit Compose and begin to type.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Time: 20:03
Subject: You
Although I feel like we know each other, there’s still so much to learn. We jumped into this head first, and I’m glad we did. I have no regrets, but I want to know all of you.
We’re new, but I know that I want to see where this goes. I know that I don’t want either of us to see anyone else, which we agreed to before I left. I also want to know your favorite flower, your favorite movie. What do you do when I’m not there taking up all of your time besides school and work?
Who are you, Austyn Michelle Wilson?
Slade
IT’S LATE BY THE TIME I get home. Work was crazy tonight, and clean up took longer than it normally does. We had customers still inside well past closing. Margaret never turns anyone away. No matter if they walk in one minute before closing, the grill is still hot and we still serve. It’s a good move business wise, but for me, on a night when I just want to go home and fall into bed, not so much.
Now I’m home, all I want to do is fall into bed, but I can’t. I have to wash off the stink of fried food. Stopping in my room, I grab some clothes and then head to the shower. I rush through getting the restaurant smell off my skin. I dress quickly and leave my hair in a towel. I’ll let some of the water soak up then tie it in a knot on top of my head. I’m too exhausted to worry about going to bed with wet hair. We were short a waitress the second half of the night. Autumn left right after I talked to Slade; she was sick. The only upside is I killed it in tips. That will go a long way to my trip to North Carolina to see Slade. To say that I’m excited is an understatement. We’re really doing this. We’re making it work. I want that more than anything. When I dream about the future, it’s always Slade I see. The weeks are going to crawl by until then.
In my room, I grab my laptop and sit on the bed.
I’m going to send him a quick e-mail telling him goodnight. I know he’s probably already in bed as his day starts before the damn chickens wake, but at least when he gets my e-mail, he’ll know I was thinking about him. That’s all that matters.
Once I’m logged in, I’m surprised to see his name sitting in my inbox. Quickly, I double click, and his message fills my screen. It’s short and to the point, and my heart soars. He wants us to get to know each other, even more than we do. I find that refreshing. He’s unlike any other guy I’ve ever met. I hit Reply and begin to type.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Time: 23:54
Subject: RE: You
Hey! I just got home from work. It was brutal. Autumn called in and I was left the only waitress. Sorry I had to rush off the phone. It was good to hear from you. How was your day?
So you want to know me, huh? I hope you know that goes both ways. We did happen really fast, but I don’t regret it.
Now to answer your questions:
Favorite flower: Lilly
Favorite movie: That’s harder. There are so many. I’m going to have to go with Sweet Home Alabama.
What do I do? School and work are it. Savvy and I go to the occasional party someone from school is throwing, but that’s a very rare occasion. We do go to the movies a lot, go shopping. I love to read, and then there’s Dawson. I help my parents with him on the days I don’t have to work.
I’m just your average girl, leading a boring life. Nothing exciting ever happens here or to me. Well, until the day I met you.
I’m exhausted and calling it a night. Have a good day tomorrow. I can’t wait to see you. Savvy and I are going to get some dates together tomorrow. She’s going to send them to Brandon. Do you want them, too?
XOXO
Austyn
I hit Send, close my laptop and climb under the covers. I think I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow. I sleep all night and am woken by my alarm at eight for my nine o’clock class. I want to lie here in bed, but I know my hair that I forgot to take out of my towel, is a hot mess. Reaching up, I run my fingers through it, and it’s knotted chaos. Feeling around I find the wet towel and reluctantly climb out of bed.
I’m ready with a few minutes to spare, so I pull up my e-mail, hoping to see a reply from Slade. When I see his name, my stomach flutters with excitement.
To: [email protected]
From: [email protected]
Time: 05:02
Subject: RE: RE: You
Austyn,
Sounds like you had a rough night. I crashed early. We have to report at five thirty for our morning run, then off to class. I don’t know your schedule yet, but I think maybe you have class early today?
I don’t regret a single second of the time I got to spend with you. It was fast, but it feels right. The only thing that could make it better is if you were here with me.
I guess turnabout is fair play. I’ll tell you anything. All you have to do is ask.
Favorite flower: Lilly because it’s yours. I’m not much of a flower kind of guy.
Favorite movie: Tombstone. Grams had a thing for Kurt Russell, and you know cowboys are badass. At least when I moved in with her, that’s what I believed at the age of twelve. Now, it’s a good movie, but the best part about it is that it reminds me of her.
What do I do? Work, the Marine life is not my own. I work hard, follow the rules, learn how to be the best marine I can be. Wash, rinse, and repeat. We stay busy, and up until I met you, I was good with it all. Now, I worry that the time and the distance will be too big of a factor for us. I worry that now that I’ve found you, I’ll lose you.
Enough of the sappy.
I can’t wait to see you. Yes, send me the dates too. Not that Combs won’t tell me, but it gives me an excuse to hear from you.
Missing you.
Slade
I close out of my email and shove my laptop into my bag. I don’t have time to reply before class. Rushing downstairs, I grab an apple and a bottle of water out of the fridge and hurry out the door. I can’t keep the smile off my face all the way there. When I pull into the lot, I reach for my phone and send a text to Savannah.
Me: Hey, we still meeting up this afternoon to talk dates?
Savannah: You know it. Are you are in class?
Me: Just getting ready to go in. You?
Savannah: I still have thirty minutes. Getting ready to leave the house now.
Me: Be safe. See you at my place around two?
Savannah: I’ll be there. I’m so excited about this trip!
Me: Me too!!!
Shoving my phone down in my purse, I grab my bag and head inside. I barely pay attention in class, thinking about our visit to the guys in NC. I hope we can work out a date that’s sooner rather than later. I know the time we’ve been away from them is short, and in reality, I know that’s nothing compared to how it will be if and when he gets deployed. It’s not like I can just fly to wherever he is across the world for a weekend getaway. I hate it, but I get it. I need to squeeze in as much time with him as I can before that happens. It’s still a few months away, maybe longer, but that thought still lingers. It scares me a little how much I care for him already, and the fact that he’s putting his life on the line every day. It’s overwhelming. We’re both in class. I’m learning how to teach kindergarteners; he’s learning how to clear land mines.
Big difference.
After back-to-back morning classes, I can’t tell you what was covered in either one of them. I need to get my head together, or I’ll be flunking out of college, all because I can’t stop thinking about seeing my maybe boyfriend. We didn’t exactly label what we were, just that we both agreed to not see other people. Great, something else to think about. Maybe I should just ask him. That will be a lot easier than face-to-face rejection. Not that I think he would reject me, not in the slightest, but the fear of rejection still lingers. We’re so new, and with the distance between us, it’s hard not to have fear about pretty much everything.
I swing by the store on my way home and grab a huge bag of pizza rolls. Dawson will be home from school not long after Savvy is supposed to come over. It’ll be a good afternoon snack for all of us.
I’m just sliding the pan into the oven when I hear a knock at the door. “Come in,” I yell out, knowing it’s Savannah.
“Hey, I’m a little early. Class ended early.” She grins. It’s always a good day when class lets out early.
“I just put some pizza rolls in the oven. Daws will want a snack when he gets home.”
“What time does the bus drop him off?”
“Two forty-five, but I’m starving. All I’ve had today is an apple. He won’t care that they’re cold or he can pop them in the microwave.”
“I had a granola bar before class so yeah, I’m starving too.” She takes a seat at the island and pulls out her phone. “Dates!” she says excitedly. “Have you thought about what works best for you?”
“Not really. I’d prefer not to miss class. My dumb ass will fall even further behind.”
She tilts her head, studying me. “What’s up with that? You’re the most ‘on top of things’ person I know.”
“That was me pre-Slade.” I laugh. “I couldn’t tell you what we talked about today in class. Neither one of them. I drifted through the entirety of both lectures thinking about this trip.”
She throws her head back and laughs. “Welcome to my world. That’s how I was a few days before they came home. That’s all I could think about. It had been too damn long since I’d seen him.”
“You went to his graduation,” I remind her.
“I did, but it’s not the same. He was all professional marine graduate the entire time, which I get. I wanted him here. Just Brandon, hanging out, no prying eyes.”
“And the truth comes out.” I snort.
“Oh, hush. Just you wait.”
I don’t say anything to that
. If I did, it would be my admission to her that I’ve thought about my first time being with Slade. Of course, since she’s my best friend, she can see right through me. Doesn’t mean I have to confirm or deny, though, so instead, I evade.
“So when were you thinking?” I ask her.
“I don’t really want to miss class either. I’m thinking the parents might have something to say about that since they’re paying for our educations.”
“Good call.”
“So, Thanksgiving is our best bet? I know it would mean we’re away from our families, but the guys get a four-day break. No class, no training, nothing. However, they can’t leave base.”
“What about his parents? Are they going down at Thanksgiving?”
“No, which is another reason that’s the best time. I talked to his mom last night, and they’re going to go down at Christmas. They were thinking of doing both, but decided against it.
“They could go too,” I say, feeling guilty keeping them from their son on the holidays.
“I told her that. I guess some friends of theirs want to go on a cruise. They need one more couple to get a group rate, so they’re going.”
“Good for them.”
“Do you think you’ll go with them at Christmas?” My heart constricts thinking of Slade being alone at Christmas. He’s been through so much and to think of him being alone, it breaks my heart.
“Maybe, I guess if they offer me a ride.”
“You know they will.”
“Probably. So, what do you think?”
“I think it sounds good to me. I’m sure my parents will understand.”
We get lost in planning, even though we’re not sure the dates work for the guys. Savvy assures me they will. We also talk about the pitch to Mom and Dad about me being gone. Legally, I’m of age so they can’t stop me, but I would rather them be on board with my decision. It just makes life easier.
