“Well, you see that’s my tree,” he says with all seriousness.
My eyebrows furrow. “Excuse me?” This guy has to be joking.
“Yeah. I know it’s weird, but I come here to study since my roommates are always partying. It’s the one place that is quiet.” He adjusts his backpack on his shoulders.
“There’s a place called a library,” I say sarcastically. “Usually, colleges build them for students to do research and to study.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, he chuckles. “Yeah, I’m aware of those. They give me the creeps. Plus, I always feel like I have to turn the pages in my book quietly or close my book without a sound. I’m far too paranoid to get any studying done in an atmosphere like that.”
“You’re serious?” I get to my feet when he nods. “You know this is giving off serious Gilmore Girls vibes.” I brush off my leggings. I get having a routine and wanting to keep it. This is a nice tree, and I wouldn’t want to impair his studying time.
“Yeah, I know. Believe me, the irony isn’t lost on me. My sister would love to hear me copying something from that show she made me watch with her.”
“At least the guy in the show got a twenty when he gave up the tree to Rory.” I get my AirPods out to turn on my music again for my run home.
“Well, at least let me buy you coffee.” He puts his hands up when I begin shaking my head. “No, I insist. You’re giving up a comfortable tree so I can study. I must repay you.”
“I don’t know.” I scan the park, at the people getting their steps in or walking their dogs. There are even people in the field close by doing yoga. I face the man in front of me. I want to accept, but I don’t know this guy. However, my therapist told me I need to get out and start making friends. This could be the start. He’s handsome and seems harmless, but apparently so do serial killers.
“How about this? I’ll leave the ball in your court. I’ll be at Cafe Dulce tomorrow morning at eleven.” He puts his backpack on the ground and takes a step closer. “I usually meet up with a few friends. If you join us, your coffee will be on me. Okay?”
Without realizing it, a smile pulls in the corners of my mouth, and I nod.
32
CLAYTON: THEN
Clayton:19 years old
“Ooh-rah!” the group of guys and I all yell as we clink our glasses. We drove to a tavern in LA to celebrate graduating from training camp. It’s been long and excruciating, but it feels good to be part of something. The four guys at the table have my back like I have theirs.
“Alright, Daniels. It’s been months. Time to spill the beans about your life in Georgia. You’re the tightest-lipped guy here.” My buddy, Trey, nudges my shoulder. He has black hair and is a little shorter than six feet, but he’s one of the strongest guys I know. I swear, no one benches more than he does.
I shake my head and take a sip of my Coke. Tracing the rim of my glass, I shrug my shoulders. “Nothing to say.” I don’t like to talk about my life before I enlisted. There are too many old wounds.
“That’s such bullshit,” Mikey scoffs. He has bleach-blonde hair and looks like one of those lifeguards on Baywatch. Every time he talks to a woman, his teeth sparkle. “We all have baggage, but most of us aren’t sealed up like a vault.” He throws the rest of his beer back. He’s older than the rest of us, joiningthe Marines in his early twenties rather than joining right out of high school. We tease him sometimes and call him daddy, but we all look up to him. He’s one of the hardest-working men I’ve met.
“Okay. Leave him alone,” Mitch says next to me. I’ve gotten the closest to him after meeting him at the airport. His baggage is different than mine, but we all have some wounds that only a lost love can make in your life. He has brown hair and was a toothpick when he first joined. He’s filled out, but he’s the smartest one in our group. I know he’s going to be in a type of tech position. “We finally get him to come out with us, and you guys are ragging on him.”
I lean back in my chair, watching the guys grumble before moving on to argue about a game playing on the TV. They’re always making bets. I’m content sitting and watching them bicker. They know this isn’t my type of scene, but I came to humor them after shooting them down dozens of times. I prefer to spend my nights running around the base. I also don’t feel right about going out drinking, even though this bar will always serve anyone in the military.
Laughter rings through my ears, making them perk up at the sound. My spine straightens as my eyes frantically scan every table before landing at the bar.
Theresheis.
Rylee sits on a stool with a green low-cut tank top and jean shorts. Her flip-flops dangle from her toes, and her hair is longer than I remember. It also looks slightly lighter, maybe from too much sun. Her smile takes up her face as she looks at the guy across from her. My body locks up while my mind runs through every question possible. Who’s this guy? What’s she doing here? Who’s this guy to her? Is she here on vacation? How did she meet this guy? How long has she been here? Who the hell is this guy?
She seems comfortable with him but not overly herself, and I can tell she still has a few guards up. She keeps her hands to herself, but I’ve caught him on more than one occasion touching her in some way. A small graze across her back, a small touch on her elbow, and a graze on her thigh. I continue to watch her because she still hasn’t seen me. I don’t even know what I would say to her, or if she’d even talk to me. It’s been—god, I don’t even know how long it’s been since the last time I’ve talked to her.
Being without the best friend I’ve had for the majority of my life feels like a piece of me is missing. Now that she’s right here, twelve feet away, I can’t help but want to move closer. Let my body be whole again.
“You okay?”
I startle, realizing that Mitch is talking to me. My lips press into a firm line, and my heartbeat thumps loudly. The sound echoes in my ears as my fists clench at my sides, and a cramp starts in my shoulders from them being shrugged into my neck.
“Yeah.” I glare at the guy Rylee is with again.
Mitch turns his head in the direction I’m looking. “Know her?”
