Page 1 of A Very Grumpy Marine

ONE

Lymric

“Lilou!”I shout as soon as I step off the escalator and spot my best friend waiting for me by the baggage claim area.

“Lym!” She yells back as she races my way.

We collide together, both of us throwing our arms around the other and squealing.

“It’s been too long,” I whisper, tears stinging my eyes, and she nods against my shoulder.

“Way too long,” she agrees.

When I pull back, I can see tears swimming in her eyes too.

“I missed you.”

“I missed you too. I’m so excited for the next two weeks!” She says as she links her arm through mine, and we head over to the baggage carousel.

I snag my bag and follow her out to her car.

“It’s about a forty-minute drive down to Wolf Valley. Are you hungry? We could stop somewhere on the way,” she says as we climb into her car.

“I could always eat,” I say with a grin and she laughs.

“Burgers, pizza, or tacos?” She asks.

“Pizza.”

She nods, and we pull out of the parking lot and hit the road. We catch up as we make the drive to Wolf Valley, and it’s just like old times.

Lilou and I met in grade school, and we initially bonded over our unique first names. We became fast friends, closer than friends even. We’re like sisters. We did everything together. Vacations, school projects, first jobs.

Then we graduated. Lilou stayed with her grandfather for a few years before she left and moved to Wolf Valley. Me? I went south and wound up in Los Angeles working on movie sets. I got an internship with a film scout when I was twenty and was then hired for my first job after that. I’ve been a location scout for one of the biggest production companies for a few years now, and I love it. I get paid to travel and learn more about different places. I get to experience new foods and cultures. It’s a dream job.

The constant traveling, though, has become a strain, and I’m looking forward to relaxing with my best friend for the next few weeks. I want to do nothing, and I smile as I think about my wish for a boring two-week vacation.

“Mancini’s has the best pizza,” Lilou says as we pull into the parking lot.

“It smells good.”

We head inside, and I look around the little pizza joint. It’s cute with its checkered floors and red vinyl booths. There are kitschy items all over the walls, and I smile as I take it all in.

We slide into one of the booths, and I grab a menu.

“Want to split a Hawaiian?” She asks, and I grin.

“Just like old times.”

A waiter comes over and takes our order, asking us twice before he scribbles down our order on his notepad and heads back to the kitchen.

“I think that we might be the first people to order a Hawaiian pizza here,” I whisper, and she giggles.

“I’m seeing that too.”

“You don’t come here that often?” I ask her.

“Usually, I’m here with friends or Milo, and we get pepperoni or cheese.”

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