Page 6 of Sloane

Chapter Four

Ashley

My heart was beating a mile a minute when I pulled up to the guard gate at Miramar, and worst-case scenarios popped in my head along with a mental note to work out more, so I didn’t drop dead from a heart attack.

Like I said, worst-case scenarios.

Along with the heart attack was, what if I’d come all this way and Ryan forgot to add my name to the list? Or worse, because I’d sounded like such a loser on the phone yesterday, he purposefully didn’t add it.

I handed the man my driver’s license and held my breath. He quickly skimmed the sheet of paper on his clipboard, then looked at me with a smile as he returned my identification.

“You’re here for Alpha Company’s arrival.”

My mouth felt like the Sahara, and I gulped a drink from my water bottle before nodding. “I am.” Even though I had no idea if that was who Sloane was arriving with.

“Congratulations. I’m sure it’ll be nice to spend an early Thanksgiving with your Marine.”

My Marine.

My hand shook slightly as I raised the water bottle to my lips again. After quickly swallowing, I replied, “Thanks. It will be.”

The guy didn’t need to know we probably weren’t going to be spending any time together after today. Cue the next round of doomsday scenarios in my head.

He gave me a map of the camp, then gave me directions to the hangar where the Marines would be meeting family and friends.

I hoped Ryan had already arrived. I’d done another search on Sloane’s Instagram last night and found “Ryan Kennedy” in a lot of the photos, so I assumed that was who I would be looking for today. Although, seeing the pictures of all the beautiful people had only made me feel more ill at ease.

I cringed when I felt the sweat drip between my cleavage and the fabric of my dress cling to my underarms.

Oh god, did I put deodorant on?

I turned the air conditioning on high, held my elbows out at ninety-degrees, and let the air from the car vents blast onto my armpits as I drove in search of the parking lot where the Marine at the guard gate had told me to park.

Slowly pulling into what I thought was the lot highlighted on my map, I noticed people dressed in civilian clothes, carrying balloons, flowers, and signs, so I felt confident I was in the right place.

Not shutting the car off, I continued to let the cold air blow on me as I took deep breaths and watched a woman pushing a stroller with a “Welcome Home Daddy” sign taped to the front.

This is for family and close friends.

A feeling of panic overtook me.

I don’t belong here.

What am I doing? This is a mistake.

I almost put the car in reverse but then chastised myself for even thinking about it.

If nothing else, Sloane was my friend, and I told him I’d be here. Granted, that was supposed to be around the twenty-seventh, but I was a woman who kept my word, even though I knew he was going to take one look at me and try to figure out how to let me down easy.

My best defense was a good offense. I’d greet him with a handshake and a smile so the friend zone would be established upfront. I’d be sure to convey I didn’t have any expectations, that way he wouldn’t feel bad about not spending any more time with me during his brief time home.

We’d have a pleasant interaction—I had no doubt he’d at least be polite after meeting me. Then I’d be gracious and understanding when he’d have to work the entire time, so he was unavailable, and we’d go back to being pen pals.

No harm, no foul.

I shut the car off and reached for the platter of cupcakes sitting on the passenger seat of my Toyota Camry before getting out of the car. Glancing down at the red, white, and blue frosting through the plastic cover, I groaned internally.

God, are these stupid?

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