24
Paul
“So, have there been any celebrity photos with your girlfriend released today?” Will asked. We were sitting in the food court on base with our friendly neighborhood lance corporal, Chase Mitchell.
I shook my head with a laugh, swallowing a bite of beef taco. “Nope, not yet. But it’s early there.”
“It’s still crazy to think she’s out there rubbing elbows with the rich and famous and you couldn’t figure out a way to get them to let you go with her,” Will said with a shake of his head. “That barbecue she was at over the weekend blew my mind.”
“I’m not really into that stuff anyway, so it’s fine.” I took another bite as I checked my Instagram feed, looking to see if something had been posted since the last time I checked. I may not care about celebrities, but it was cool to see all the stuff she was doing through her posts and stories online. She looked like she was having a ton of fun.
“When does she come back?” Chase asked.
“Tomorrow,” I replied, putting my phone away when I didn’t see anything new.
Even though I could tell she was having a blast, her trip had totally dragged for me. We’d quickly settled back into a long-distance routine, but with a slightly different tone to our texts and phone calls. Before, being away from her had felt so normal. It was the way things were. We were best friends, separated by great distances, but still managing to stay up on each other’s lives. Since we talked all the time, and I wasn’t used to being around her, it didn’t really feel like Imissedher.
Now, it was like I’d lost a limb or something. Okay, maybe it would be less melodramatic to say it felt like walking around with that feeling you get when you know you’re forgetting something but can’t figure out what it is. Like something’s missing and you feel off. Time crawled, the only things that went by fast were the chats we had when it was convenient for her schedule.
Will frowned. “Ah, crap. I thought she didn’t come back until Sunday.”
I shrugged. “It was supposed to be Sunday, but they made good progress so they’re wrapping today. Why?”
“I bought us passes to go up to Charleston to jump,” he replied, slapping a hand on Chase’s back. “We’re gonna kick this guy out of a plane and see if he survives.”
Chase looked a little green. “Can’t wait.”
I smirked. “Ah, man. I’m sorry I’ll have to miss it. I don’t want to leave town right when she gets back.”
“No, yeah, I totally get it. I’ll have an extra ticket, though.” Will wiped his face with his napkin. “Do you think your dad would want to go again?”
“Maybe. Or maybe try Aria. She’s been wanting to go.” If I couldn’t be there when my sister jumped out of a plane for the first time, I couldn’t think of anyone better for her to go with than Will.
Will’s head snapped back. “Aria? Your sister, Aria?”
“Do you know another Aria?” I quipped.
“No. But just… no.” He frowned, looking at his food. “It’s all good. I’ll see if they’ll let me keep it on my account for next time or something.”
“Or ask my dad,” I reminded him.
He bobbed his head up and down. “Right, yeah. I’ll do that. I don’t want to have two first-timers on one trip, is all. Too much responsibility.”
“Makes sense,” I said, reaching for my phone when it buzzed on the table. “I’ll catch you guys later. Shelby’s calling.” I picked up my tray and left to go throw my trash away, answering the call on my way. “Hey, hang on a sec.”
“Okay.”
Marines weren’t allowed to talk on the phone while walking when we were in uniform, so I dumped my tray and hustled outside, taking a seat on a nearby bench. “Okay, sorry. I’m back.”
“Hey, how are you?”
“Good. Just finished eating. Are you on a break?”
“Nope, we just wrapped, actually. Oh my goodness, Paul, I can’t even handle how much fun this was.”
I grinned while putting on my sunglasses. “That’s awesome. You’re not going to leave me to stay out there and become a television choreographer or anything, right?”
I’d said it as a joke, but my stomach flipped when she laughed and sighed at the same time. “Funny you should mention that.”