I don’t know what I’m doing as I grab the microphone from Mrs. Vereen. “Aubrey? Where are you going?”
But Aubrey doesn’t respond and disappears, the door to the gym swinging closed, leaving me just . . . stunned. Why is he leaving me, deserting me in our special moment? Everyone is looking and the crowd starts to mutter.
“Aubrey!” I call out one more time, tears starting to flow. I’m so scared, and in the back of the crowd, I can hear someone start to laugh. The embarrassment starts to set in as I realize people are openly gawking, smirking and laughing . . . at me.
I turn, running from the stage to hide behind the curtain. Vaguely, I hear Mrs. Vereen directing everyone to resume dancing in honor of their prom king and queen, and the tears fall as giant sobs rack my body.
Marissa is at my side in an instant, gathering me to her and asking the question I want the answer to as well. “What happened? Where’d he go?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know. I don’t know.”
She holds me, rocking me back and forth until Declan comes running up. He skids to a stop near us, obviously not sure what to do with a crying girl. But he rallies. “I tried to catch him, Ana. I tried. But he ran out and squealed out of the parking lot. He’s . . . he’s gone.”
Chapter 23
Aubrey
“It felt like a dagger pierced my heart,” Ana says, tears falling down her face. “Marissa and Declan took me home. I called you over and over. I even went and banged on your door the next day, determined to know what happened, why you’d left me like that. It took me a long time, years, probably, to realize that something awful must’ve happened. I was embarrassed, maybe self-centered the way only teenagers can be, especially with all the drama and teasing about that night at school. But eventually I realized, maybe hoped, that something bad must’ve happened just so that it could all make sense.” She shrugs. “I don’t mean that I hoped something bad happened to you, but just that you’d been so excited about the whole prom thing . . . but when you ran out, you looked like you’d seen a ghost.”
Seeing her pain up close, I hate myself. I could have at least mitigated this with a phone call, a letter. Fuck, an e-mail, maybe. I’d even written her several times, but she deserved more, and I’d burned them instead of sending them. I left her in agony, and who knows how long it lasted?
I only hope once she hears my side, she’ll understand. I take my thumb and wipe away her tears, looking into her eyes. “I’m so sorry,” I whisper, feeling wetness on my own cheeks. “I shouldn’t have done it, but it all happened so fast and at the time, I had to leave.”
“Why?”
I sigh. “That’s gotten harder to answer in the time you’ve been here. Ana, I have to ask. When you saw me here, what did you think?”
Ana snorts, wiping her nose. “That I wanted to kick your ass. And that you were hot as hell.”
It’s my turn to snort, nodding. “Yeah . . . I knew that much. When I first realized who you were, that it was really you, I thought it was a sign that maybe it was time to, I don’t know, reset everything? I’ve been in pain for a long time, running from a lot of shit. And yeah, the past week has been good, but I want more than that. It’s why I keep hoping that we could be more again and why I’m afraid that you’re never going to forgive me. Because it’s taken me years to even look myself in the eye, and I’m not even sure if I forgive myself.”
Ana licks her lips, sighing. “Those first few days, I wasn’t interested in anything you really had to say. Honestly, I was torn between being angry and turned on. But we need this truth. I need to hear it and you need to say it. I remember checking up on you. You never came back to school, you never enrolled at Oregon, you just . . . disappeared. I checked for over a year, and then it just hurt too much to keep tearing the scab off my heart.”
I take a deep breath, my heart feeling even heavier as I think about the events that set me on the path to this cabin and all the mistakes I’ve made. “Walk with me?”
“Where?”
“You’ll see,” I say, taking her hand. Rex tries to follow, but I stop him at the door. “Not this time, boy. Stay.”
Rex goes over to his old Army blanket, lying down and looking at me. I’ll make it up to him later.
Even with my limp, we make good time. I know the trail by heart, and my flashlight illuminates any rocks as we go around the twists and turns, following the stream once we hit it until, like we’re emerging into a fantasy scene, we’re at the clearing.
“Told you it was close,” I say softly as Ana stops. “It was always here, but I couldn’t bring you back here until now.”
We walk quietly for a moment as we let the sounds of nature surround and envelope us. We reach the edge of the clear pool, and I look, seeing the same edging of ice that we’d found years ago. I spread a blanket and sit, guiding Ana to sit beside me. I hug my knees as I let the memories finally come out. “That night, I got a phone call. It nearly shattered me. It damn sure shattered my family.”
“What happened?” Ana asks. “And why didn’t you tell me?”
I swallow, my voice thick as I try to control myself. “I wish I had, then or after. But I was in shock and I had to get home.”
I glance over and see that Ana still doesn’t understand. Her face is like stone. It’s like the weight that’s been hanging around my neck for years, and I know if I’m ever going to get rid of it, it has to be tonight.
“So when you were up there, my phone rang.”
Chapter 24
Aubrey – Day of Prom
“Damn, little bro, I’m going to have to take some tips from you when I get back to the real world. You’re looking hella GQ,” Gabe says as I turn this way and that in front of the camera. It feels a little stupid to be doing it at five in the morning, but it was the only time Gabe had available to get on Skype.
“Just trying to get a head start. I know once you get back here, you’re gonna have me wearing this damn thing for your wedding.”
Gabe chuckles, shrugging. “Yeah, well, at least I don’t have to wear a tux. The Class As are good for me.”
“You’re going to wear blue for your wedding?” I ask, smirking. “Maybe I’ll have to do green and yellow for mine someday, show some college spirit.”
Gabe laughs. “Getting ready for Oregon next year already? I don’t know if I see it. Show me some duck lips?” I pucker goofily and then laugh along with him. It feels good, like my brother is right here next to me, not half a world away. “So, this girl you’re going to prom with, she’s pretty special, huh? Special enough you’re picking your college with her?”
“Yeah,” I admit, leaning in closer. “I know I’m just eighteen and everyone’s gonna call me young and stupid, but I think she’s the one, man.”
Gabe holds up a hand, shaking his head. “Slow down, Aubrey. I don’t want to just be lumped in with everyone, but you’re not even out of high school yet. You’ve barely started your life. Don’t even worry about the one right now. Look at me, I’m twenty-five, and despite the jokes, I still don’t know if Angie and I are gonna get married. We have a lot of shit to sort out when I get home, and Lord knows, she’s put up with too much with my always being gone, but we’re both stepping up to see if we can be a family. But it’s a big, complicated, scary thing. Being an adult, making that commitment isn’t as easy as it seems when you’ve got stars in your eyes and the world at your feet.”
“Yeah, I appreciate what you’re saying, Gabe,” I reply, glad that he feels like he can trust me with this sort of talk. I know Mom would shit herself if she heard Gabe say he wasn’t a hundred percent convinced about marriage. “But I don’t know. I can see myself spending the rest of my life with Ana. Actually, I can’t see myself without her.”
Gabe narrows his eyes but nods. “Okay, man. Just do me a favor—don’t worry about that right now. There’s no rush. Just have fun with her and kick ass at Oregon. The rest will come when it does. I don’t want you to limit yourself and en
d up getting hurt.”
I laugh. “Me, get hurt? You should worry about yourself. You’re the one in a warzone.”
Gabe laughs. “Just a little longer and I’m out of here. Back to my family, Angie, and my unborn son. I’ve been saving up my leave time, so I should get a good couple of weeks after he’s born.”
I smile at the thought. Having Gabe around, holding the next generation of O’Days, sounds pretty awesome. “You and Angie making plans for the baby?”
Gabe tries to hem and haw for a moment before grinning. “Actually, we are. We haven’t told anyone this yet, but we’re gonna make him a junior . . . little Gabriel O’Day Jr. But don’t tell Mom and Dad that. I wanna see their faces.”
I smile wide. “No fucking way!” I shake my head. “You know Mom and Dad are gonna flip the fuck out, right?”
Gabe’s smirk is obvious, even through the digital static taking over the screen. “I know. It’s gonna be great.”
We both laugh again, the feeling so familiar, and I realize how much I miss his being here for daily chats. “So listen, I’ve gotta go, back on patrol in fifteen, and I gotta hit the head before I report for duty. But you have fun tonight, man. Prom is a big fucking deal, so make sure you do it right.”
“Will do, Bro. Next time you see me, I’ll wear my crown and you can call me King Aubrey.”
He snorts. “Doubtful. But you should definitely wear the crown so I can give you shit. Love you, Brother.”
“Love you too. Be safe,” I answer just as the call disconnects.
After I close Skype, I shake my head, tears burning my eyes. It’s always good to talk to Gabe, but when we hang up, it hits me how long it’s been seen I’ve actually seen him in person. As hard as that is for me, I know it’s a million times worse for him.
But for now, it’s time to get my ‘A’ game going. I’ve got about twelve hours until I pick up Ana, and my day is packed with a trip to the barber’s, a stop at the florist, and a detailed wash for my truck.
But none of those places open for another couple of hours, so I fall back into bed for a short catnap, knowing it’s going to be a late night, full of fun with the prettiest girl in the world on my arm.
I give Ana’s hand a squeeze as Mrs. Vereen’s spiel comes to an end.
I’m probably the least surprised person in the room when Ana’s announced as the winner, and I give her a kiss on the cheek. “Great job, my Sweet Ana. Now go on up there and get the throne warmed up. I’ll be right behind you.”
While the DJ plays some cheesy music, I watch as Ana walks to the stage, a stupid grin on my face as I wait for my turn. I feel a buzzing in my pocket, and realize I’ve left my phone on. Whoever is calling is going to have to wait. This is my moment and I’m not missing it.
But my phone keeps buzzing, damn-near going apeshit. Finally, I pull it out to see that it’s a call from Mom . . . and she’s not taking voicemail for an answer.
My heart skips a beat, and a dark sense of dread creeps over me. Mom knows how important tonight is. There’s no way she’d call multiple times if it wasn’t an emergency. Plugging one ear with my finger, I hit the pickup button. “Mom?”
“Oh, my God, Aubrey! We need you!” she screams so loudly I can hear it over Mrs. Vereen’s blathering. “Come home now!”
“What . . . what’s wrong?” I ask, scared at the desperate plea in her voice. “Mom?”
“Your brother. There was an explosion and he’s missing! They think he might . . . he might . . . Aubrey.” She’s hysterical, crying in my ear.
Dimly, in the back of my mind, I hear Mrs. Vereen announce my name, and I know around me, people are clapping, the noise annoying as I try to listen to my mom’s sob-filled words. But all I can think is . . .Gabe. Not Gabe.
Without thinking, I turn, shoving people out of the way. I can hear someone scream my name, and I think it might be Ana, but it doesn’t even register. Nothing registers.
I burst in the front door, eyes wildly looking around for my family. I hear hysterical sobbing coming from the kitchen. “Mom? Dad?” I say, running that way.
They’re sitting in the floor, on the cold tile, I think nonsensically. Dad’s holding Mom, who’s buried her head in his chest. They both look pale and their faces are awash with tears. Mom cries louder, opening her arms to me, and I rush forward, collapsing to my knees with them too. We hold each other for a second, the assurance that we’re here, together and real, a drop of support in a tornado of ‘what the fuck’.
“What happened?” I demand.
Dad points at the letter on the table, and I reach over, my fingers trembling as I pick it up.
From the desk of Lieutenant General Donald Shaw, Commander, JFAC Afghanistan.
Dear Mr. and Mrs. O’Day,
It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that your son, Sergeant Gabriel Ryan O’Day, has been reported missing in action. His patrol was ambushed by enemy combatants at 2330 hours local time, and by the time relief units . . .
The paper slips from my fingers to flutter to the floor, where it lands half-folded, the Army crest on top still visible. My heart feels frozen in my chest, and I sit back on my ass, my head in my hands and my elbows on my knees as I stare at the letter like it’s evil incarnate. “There’s gotta be a mistake. I–I just talked to him early this morning!”
Dad shakes his head. “The chaplain team left a few minutes before you got here. They said . . .” Dad chokes out before a sob tears from his throat, “They said that there is still hope, but I asked and—”
I can read between his words and shake my head. “No. Gabe’s a fighter. He’s got Angie and the baby. He’s gotta come back.”
Mom keeps crying hysterically, muttering over and over . . . my baby, not my baby. I can see the truth in Dad’s eyes. “I’m sorry, Son. They said with the location of the ambush, they’ll likely never find his body. For now, he’s MIA.”
“Oh, my fucking God,” I whisper, feeling like this is a nightmare.
It’s gotta be. This is just a bad dream after talking on Skype, and I’m gonna wake up any minute to get ready for prom. But it’s not.
I feel the world spin but try to hold on, to be strong for Gabe. “So, what do we do?”
“We just have to wait,” Dad says. “His unit will conduct search and rescue operations, and we’ll . . . we’ll wait.”
I nod, silently disagreeing with what Dad’s saying. I can’t wait around doing nothing. Gabe’s not dead. I have to believe that Gabe made it out. He’s resourceful and the toughest motherfucker I know. If anyone could survive a situation like that, it’s my big brother. I wish there was something, anything I could do. But I’m fucking useless, sitting in the floor with my parents a million miles away from him.
I scoot closer to Mom, placing my arm around her shoulders. “Just hang in there, Mom. Gabe is gonna be fine. We’re gonna hear from him soon.”
Something about my touch seems to strengthen her some, and she wipes at her eyes. “This can’t be happening. I refuse to believe it.”
The phone rings, and all of us freeze, a hope that there’s been some mistake taking root for a split second before Dad checks the caller ID and answers, “Angie?”
Oh, God. Angie. She must be going crazy too. “Does she know?” I ask Mom, who nods.
“Yes, your father called her while I called you.”
Dad is listening intently. “Okay, yeah . . . understood. We’re on our way.” He hangs up, taking a steadying breath as he turns to us.
“That was Angie’s father. After I hung up with her, she was understandably upset. She’s having some contractions, so they’re taking her to the hospital for observation. He . . . uh . . . well, he recommended we come. Now.”
Mom gasps. “No! Not the baby too! That might be our only link to Gabe!” she cries out, giving voice to our deepest fear. That Gabe could be dead. That his unborn son might be the only piece left of him in the world beyond the memories in our hearts.
Chapter 25
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br /> Aubrey
“I’m so sorry, Aubrey. That’s horrible,” Ana whispers, shaking her head. Tears stream down her face, and she shivers, partially from the cold and partially from the feelings the story stirs up. “I–I never knew, Aubrey. Oh, God, that’s just terrible.”
I nod, feeling tears burn my eyes. “It was awful. We left right then. I remember it being such a mad rush. I dumped my school backpack in the floor and threw a change of clothes in it and ran out the door. Angie and her family were a state away, so we went to the airport and showed up to the hospital ready to help however we could.”
Ana looks hesitant but asks anyway. “Angie and the baby? Are they . . . okay?”
I shake my head, looking up at the stars and preparing myself for the next part of the story.
“No. Angie was in preterm labor, and they couldn’t get the contractions to stop. We stayed at the hospital for days, a week or two maybe. Basically, holding vigil, praying and willing everything to be okay. It didn’t work. Angie lost the baby.” The words are foreign on my tongue. I don’t think I’ve ever actually said them out loud, and the pain burns fresh at the lost piece of my brother.
Ana gasps, the sound breaking me from the memories of the past that threaten to drag me back down. “No. Oh, my God. I’m so sorry. Angie?”
“She’s okay . . . now. She wasn’t for a long time. And she had to pull away from us for a while to heal. I think she felt so much guilt even though none of it was her fault. It was just a lot of loss for her all at once, and whatever she needed to do to stay sane, we understood and gave her some space. I think she talks to my parents every once in a while. I’m not sure.”
“You don’t know? What about you in this whole story?” Ana asks.
Untamed (Irresistible Bachelors Book 9) Page 17