Page 46 of Stone

I wish Elise was here.

Mutters and soft laughter filled the air around me. I sank to my ass, shoulders slumping with relief as the pain in my legs eased slightly.

My eyes lifted and caught sight of Mendez, who seemed to be having a silent conversation with Morley. I watched in awe as all tension left him, and he beamed a smile, nodding proudly as his stare went over us men. “Good job,” he called out, for once, his tone at a normal level. “You beat Mount Motherfucker, Marines. You should be proud.”

Silence fell over the group, every stare slashing toward Mendez.

He’d always called us recruits. This was the first time he’d ever referred to us as Marines, and it spoke volumes.

As the DI’s words hung in the crisp mountain air, another wave of emotion swept through me. His acknowledgment lifted the weight I’d been carrying since the day I rode away from my sweet girl. I glanced around at my fellow Marines, their faces etched with exhaustion but eyes shining with pride.

We’d conquered Mount Motherfucker together, as a team, as a unit, and our bond was forged in sweat and determination. A wide smile spread slowly across my face, and a feeling of camaraderie washed through me. At that moment, my connection with these men was unbreakable.

I turned my face to Isaiah, who swiped a sleeve across his moisture-filled eyes. “We made it,” I whispered.

My darling John,

I hope this letter finds you well and your drill instructors aren’t giving you too hard a time anymore.

Things here are okay. The weather’s turning cooler now, and fall is starting to grip the town. Though, I guess you don’t get a change of seasons in San Diego.

Everybody here is okay. I saw your mom again last Sunday at your house, and we had a lovely time. Iris joined us, too, and it was nice to chat with another ol’ lady. She’s only four years older than me—can you believe it? She seems so much more confident and mature. The way she feels about Abe reminds me of how I feel about you, like she’d fade away if she couldn’t hold him close. Sometimes, I wake up and feel like I’m slowly dying without you, but then I remember what it’s all for, and I’m proud to be yours, even though being without you feels like I’m drowning.

It's just a few weeks until I hold you again. I’m marking every day off my calendar and dreaming about the moment we’ll finally be together.

Guess what? I’ve got fantastic news.

It took some doing, but Dad finally gave me his blessing to fly to San Diego with your mom. I’ll be there for Visitor’s Sunday up until when you graduate. I get to see you and be proud of you all over again, just like I am every day whenever I witness you being kind or helping somebody in town. I get to be there at your proudest moment and say, that’s my ol’ man.

Good luck in your final weeks, honey. I know you’ll do it because you’re John Stone, and you can do anything you put your mind to. Write soon and tell me what you’re doing.

Love you all the world.

Elise.

I flopped back on my bunk, a slow grin spreading across my face and my heart bouncing inside my chest.

“What’s got you mooning around like a lovesick puppy.” Isaiah laughed. “You look like a big old tom cat who got the cream.”

I smirked. “My tom cat days were over the day my duchess agreed to give me a shot.” I held my letter in the air before banding it together with all my others. “She’s coming to Visitor’s Sunday with my mom and staying until we graduate.”

Isaiah grinned. “That’s awesome. My woman’s coming by herself. Can Bianca sit with your gang?”

I waved a nonchalant hand. “No problem. I’ll write Elise and my mom tonight and tell ‘em to look out for her.”

“Much obliged.” His dark eyes took on a dreamy look. “Can’t wait to get a hold of my woman. Anca’s beautiful. Tall, exotic, polished skin. She’s a Broadway dancer. Moves like a dream.”

My eyes slashed to my friend. “A dancer? Really?”

He nodded, waggling his eyebrows. “Wait until you see her. She’s fuckin’ incredible.” Isaiah cocked his head slightly, studying me. “You don’t really talk about your girl. What’s she like?”

It was suddenly my turn to go all dreamy. “Elise is beautiful. A blonde-haired, green-eyed pageant princess. Sweet as candy and so fuckin’ innocent. She’s the town’s sweetheart who’s never been touched by the bad shit in the world. Gonna make it my mission to keep it that way.”

One corner of Isaiah’s mouth hitched. “Sounds as if you’ve fallen hook, line, and sinker.”

I lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “I grew up in a biker club full of groupies, had more than my fair share of women, and even played the field with some of the girls in town. When my Leesyturned sixteen, she looked at me with her big, green eyes, and I got struck by lightning. I’ve never looked at another girl since. I never wanted to. I’m going to marry that girl one day.”

“I may put a ring on it after we graduate,” Isaiah murmured, looking into space.

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