Page 11 of You & Me: Part One

“It’s just us, Em. No judging,” Alex says encouragingly.

“Alex, there isn’t really anything to judge. Nothing happened. He didn’t even try to kiss me.”

“Wait, you come strolling in here at seven in the morning like a whore just getting off the night shift and he didn’t even kiss you? What’s wrong with him?”

Leave it to Cami to lighten the mood by insinuating I’m a whore. I love these two girls and have no clue what I would I do without them. Just having Cami here and Alex giggling on the phone is enough to get me talking.

“It was perfect. We went for ice cream, we walked along the pier and then we just hung out on the beach and talked for hours. I feel like I’ve known him forever. It was so easy and comfortable.”

“What did you talk about?” Cami asks.

“Well, if you are asking what I think you are, no, I didn’t tell him that. But we talked about our favorite music, food, our bucket lists, my grandparents. He told me about losing his dad when he was five and how his mother is the most important person in his life and that it’s just been the two of them all these years.”

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.

---