Semper Fi (An Erotic Romance)

by Laura B. Cooper

  “Thank you Miss Steinburg, here is your boarding pass.” She grinned with the faux friendliness that she’d been trained to give.

  “What’s the envelope for?”

  “Oh I can’t be sure of that.” As if passing notes via airline attendants was a normal form of communication. Or maybe it was a fine for having sex at the airport?

  I took the ticket and envelope from her hand and turned to walk away from the counter. My first instinct was to open it right that minute. I examined the envelope, just a plain white business envelope. My name written on the front was the only print. I held it to the light as I walked towards the security check point. There was something bulky inside that felt like a credit card. Unable to distinguish what was inside I crammed it into my jacket pocket. I’d open it in a minute, while I was waiting to board.

  Fatherly Security Guard saw me removing my shoes at the end of the conveyor belt. He waved to me and smiled as he passed a wand over the chest of an elderly woman. He motioned her to pass and moved in my direction. As he adjusted my back pack and shoes in the gray bucket, he asked, “How are you young lady?”

  I smiled as broadly as I could, “Fine. I mean, okay.”

  “Good! Good to hear it. You know your Marine was through here the other day. Guess he had to get to work keeping us safe, eh?” I followed him down the conveyor belt feeling the envelope in my pocket. It was from Logan!

  “Guess so.” I mumbled, my mind elsewhere.

  “I tell ya, I spent twenty four years in the Marines you know. But not once did I ever envy those RECON guys. Don’t get me wrong, I sure appreciate what they do, and somebody’s gotta do it, but damn glad it wasn’t me.”

  “Yeah.” I agreed but I wasn’t real clear on what I was agreeing to. I didn’t know exactly what Logan did in the Marines. I certainly didn’t know what RECON was; I was seriously in need of some computer detective time. He’d already had a bunch of shrapnel in his back, surely that was enough to give our country? I assumed with his family heritage that he’d be behind a desk somewhere running things. But he’d mentioned being in third world countries. None of it made sense to me. Research was needed. I walked through the metal detector.

  “Alright pretty girl, try not to miss your plane today, huh?” The Security Guard patted me on the back as he dismissed me. He was already on to the next person in line as I turned to walk towards my gate.

  I sat down in the boarding waiting area and pulled the envelope from my pocket. I opened the back flap and pulled out the contents. It was a piece of plain printer paper and on it was written, “Locker’s at end of concourse D #23.” Nothing else was on the paper, only a stiff plastic card that undoubtedly would open a locker. I quickly checked the time on my phone. They wouldn’t even start boarding for another fifteen minutes. I stood and flung my backpack over my shoulders and took off down the concourse.

  My heart was pounding as I found the small room that resembled a post office lobby. All four walls were covered in various sized lockers. I scanned the numbers and found locker number twenty three on the second row. A small sized locker. I quickly plugged the card into the slot next to the handle, immediately the lock opened, the card stuck permanently into the slot. I peered inside sheepishly. What was that? A mass of green fabric? I pulled it out.

  A deep green sweatshirt unfolded in my hands. On the front, the Marine logo, the same one that was on Logan’s chest. I stared at it blankly. There it was again, Semper Fi. What did that mean? I was looking it up. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and flung the sweatshirt over my shoulder so I had both hands free to Google. But as it hit my back something hard hit me. Was something in the pocket? I pulled it back over my shoulders and felt it all over. The shine almost blinded me. Tied to the drawstring around the hoodie was a ginormous diamond ring. I felt my knees go weak. Was there a note? I checked the sweatshirt. Nothing. Just the ring. I untied it from the drawstring and held it to my eyes. It was the largest diamond I’d ever seen: one single two carat diamond in a white gold setting, a classic. I leaned against the lockers and held it to my lips. What did this mean? Was Logan asking me to marry him? It sure seemed so. I pulled it from my lips and studied it again. Wait…there was an inscription in the ring. Close to my eyes I read in tiny letters, Choose Me. LM.

  I slid against the lockers down to the floor. My brain was playing a mental game of tennis, Travis, and then Logan then back to Travis, then back to Logan. Something had to give.

  I made it back to my gate in time to be the last person to board. I settled into my seat Logan’s ring on my left hand, Travis’s ring on my right. I was holding them out in front of me still, staring at them both as we lifted from the ground headed for Charleston.

  “If you ask me, I’d pick the cluster.” The elderly lady in the seat beside me smiled.

  I looked at her and smiled back, holding up my right hand. “It’s really pretty isn’t it?” saying it more to myself than her.

  “It is! And it reminds me of the jewelry designs that were popular when I was your age.” She gently took my hand and examined the ring.

  I studied my hands, “But the other one is nice too!” I defended.

  “Yes it is, and much larger. However you must see it as I do. One holds its beauty on the outside; the other holds it on the inside. Look, see how the single diamond sparkles in the light? It’s as though it has a life of its own, constant explosions of light. The other is old fashioned, comforting even. Oh it still sparkles, but in a more secure way.” She shook her head, “Both are wonderful dear.” She went back to studying her copy of SkyMall.

  I sat stunned at her analysis. She was right of course; it was the perfect analogy to my situation. Did I take a chance on the sparkly giant diamond, or the one that was more secure and definite? Both were expecting an answer I was sure. I reached over and hugged her arm with my hand. “Thank you.” I said.

  “We are talking about the rings right?” she questioned, sensing my emotions.

  I shook my head, “Not really.”

  “Oh my! Two men?” she asked.

  Again I nodded, this time in confirmation.

  She laughed, “I can’t say I’ve ever had that problem.” She sat thoughtfully for a moment, “But I still stick by my analogy.”

  We talked the rest of the flight; I showed her photos of both Travis and Logan. Two completely different men, both of them claimed they wanted me. As I helped her down the boarding tunnel I saw Travis waiting at the end. I leaned over and whispered in her ear, “That’s Travis.” I slipped Logan’s ring into my jeans pocket.

  She nodded, but was concentrating now more on her footing than my love life. I held her elbow as we walked towards Travis. He was waving at me wildly as if to say come on, come on. We approached him slowly. Finally he rushed up to me grabbing me and planted a firm kiss on my cheek.

  “Hey baby! Your plane’s late! Come on, we need to be at my parents in twenty minutes!”

  I smiled, “Good to see you too, Travis! This is Mrs. Galloway. She and I have been talking about you.”

  Travis’s charm flickered on, “Nice to meet you Mrs. Galloway.” He nodded at her. “But Mattie we REALLY need to go.” He pulled my elbow and started pulling me away from Mrs. Galloway. Irritated at his rudeness, I said, “Travis what’s going on? Are we late for something?”

  He shuffled staring at his feet. “Well, okay… it’s a surprise engagement party. My parents…your parents. They had it arranged without my knowing I swear.”

  “Oh well!” Mrs. Galloway cut in. “You go on dear and enjoy your party!” She waved me off. “I’ve got it from here, but thank you dear for your help. And it was sure nice talking with you.”

  I warmed and kissed her on the cheek. “You too Mrs. Galloway. Add me on facebook now.” I urged.

  “I will do that shortly!” She smiled and dismissed us.

  Travis grabbed me and swung me around in a circle. He was unreasonably happy about all this. When we were halfway down the corridor I glanced bac
k at Mrs. Galloway. Her eyes caught mine. She shook her head from side to side. Travis clearly wasn’t her choice. I winked back at her.

  “She’s really cool!” I informed Travis as we jogged out of the airport.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Come on slow poke, we’re in a hurry!” Travis urged me on teasingly.

  He lifted me into his truck and sped out of the short term parking area. I arranged myself in the seat and hooked in my seat belt. I don’t recall Travis ever acting like this. He was back to being twelve all over again, downright giddy. As if getting to this party was a matter of life and death. I reached behind me to shove my back pack into the small back seat. Something purple caught my eye. Travis had thrown my suitcase on top of it but it looked familiar.

  I reached back and pulled it from beneath. I held it in my hands and examined it. “Travis? What are you doing with Marlene’s sweater?”

  “What?” Travis looked at it like he’d never seen it before.

  “Oh didn’t your Mom tell you? They asked me to drive her home from school.”

  He seemed off guard, as though he would’ve preferred it if that detail hadn’t come to light.

  I leaned back against the seat of his truck, “No, I hadn’t heard that.”

  It made perfect sense. They went to the same college, were coming home to the same town during the exact same time period. This was normal, I assured myself.

  My phone buzzed. It was Logan. I held the screen away from Travis’s view.

  Logan: 7:45pm Today-How was the airport?

  I‘d like to respond that it was terrifying, confusing, romantic, breathtaking, and surprising and I started to respond. Travis looked at me curiously. “Who’s that?”

  He startled me, “Oh! No one just Kelly.” I lied.

  Chapter 15

  I hugged everyone standing throughout the house at least once. Monica and Mandy instantly resumed their place on either side of me as ‘co-pilots.’ Triplets are a curious breed. Apart we’re like everyone else, together we’re a pack. It wasn’t something we were even conscious of; it just was the way it was.

  Monica finally cornered me near the buffet table. “Something’s off with you tonight, Mattie.”

  I pulled her close to me, “I’m alright, I swear. I have some stuff to tell you all later though.” I planned on telling my sisters about Logan. They could help me work through this. In times of trouble, the Steinburg women always gathered in their room with popcorn and ice cream and worked things through. When Monica had broken up with her first boyfriend we spent three days locked in there. A year later when Mandy broke her leg, we all stayed home from school with her for the entire week, it was the normal way we solved our problems. A problem of one of us was a problem for us all.

  Mandy and Monica giggled and whispered obscene comments in my ears, poured far too many glasses of wine for themselves, and rambled on and on about wedding ideas they’d found on Pinterest. I mused at how if merged together the three of us would make a full person. Monica could take a scrap of fabric and turn it into a decorative family photo album that was a perfect gift. Mandy could tell you what designer any movie star was wearing at just a glance. I suppose I’m the athletic side of us. And then there was Marlene. Where was Marlene?

  I’d seen her when I got here. She’d hugged me almost apologetically, I’d whispered. “We need to talk.” I don’t recall seeing her in a while though. It didn’t surprise me that she was somewhat under my radar tonight. Given her recent near fling with my supposed fiancé it’s a wonder she hadn’t come up with an excuse to be here at all. I scanned the room for her. My baby sister was nowhere to be found. I had to go to the restroom though; I’d check the kitchen when I was finished. Mom was in there chatting politics so I felt sure that’s where she was hiding.

  I took a step. Monica and Mandy stepped with me. “Lord, I’m going to pee! Can I go by myself or do I need escorts?”

  Both of them stared at me blankly. Then they shrugged and went back to their conversation about colored M & M’s in clear vases on desert tables.

  I’d practically grown up here in this house; it was my second home of sorts. A large house, sort of Bradyish in design, but Travis’s Mom had kept it stylish in a retro kind of way. I felt comfortable here, except for the downstairs guest bathroom. It was underneath the main staircase and right in the path of everyone at the party. It was awkward, I hesitated going in there. Instead, I jogged up the stairs to use the bathroom off Travis’s room. I’d seen him heading out to the back yard a while ago to drink bourbon in the garage with the men. I imagined them all patting him on the back and congratulating him as they drank gallons of the brown liquid. I was sure he hadn’t mentioned to anyone that I hadn’t actually accepted his proposal. He just let them assume as they wished.

  I moved fast through Travis’s room as I had to pee really bad now. The bathroom door was shut but a light was on inside. I heard Travis’s voice. Oh hell, he was groaning, probably already nestled onto the toilet puking his brains out. One day I sure hope he learns a lesson. I pushed the door open. I was prepared for a pretty grisly scene of toilet hugging. I’d probably have to spend the rest of the night holding his head so he didn’t drown in his own puke. Lovely Travis, just what I wanted to do, I thought sarcastically.

  My motion kept me moving further than I wanted. I took two full steps into the bathroom before I ingested my surroundings. Travis’s pants were below his knees and his cock was firmly inside Marlene. She was on the bathroom counter with her dress pulled up over her waist, her hair flung behind her as shock covered her face.

  “OH FUCK!” Travis yelled.

  Marlene’s hands went from holding Travis to her to covering her face.

  I stood unmoving in front of them. Finally my voice came back to me. “You’ve GOT to be fuckin’ kidding me!” I turned and slammed the door shut.

  Storming down the stairs, I saw my mother’s face change to horror as she saw the expression on my face. I pulled the front door open, snatched Travis’s keys from the hall table and ran outside. Mom was racing behind me. “Mattie! Mattie! Where are you going?”

  “I’m going home Mom!” I yelled to her across the manicured lawn as I climbed into the driver’s seat of his truck.

  “Wait! Wait! What happened?” she yelled to me as I put the truck into reverse.

  I leaned my head out of the window and yelled back, “Ask your fuckin’ daughter!”

  Mom didn’t deserve that. At some point she was going to threaten me with a bar of soap for it. I laughed, and I continued laughing hysterically all the way home.

  Chapter 16

  When I pulled up to my childhood home I parked Travis’s truck along the street in front. I took Grandma’s diamond off my hand and slid it onto the driver’s key on his key ring. I laid the set on the dashboard in full view of anyone interested in robbing him. Then I climbed from the truck and locked the doors. That shithead would need another set of keys or a locksmith to get his truck and the ring.

  Right on cue as I settled my bags onto the floor of the bedroom I’d shared all my life with Monica and Mandy, my cell phone went off. It was Travis. I ignored it. It continued three more times before I finally picked it up and checked it. Three calls from Travis, but the other was a text message.

  Logan: 9:47pm Today-I love you.

  Every night this week Logan had texted me, not once had I returned his text. I hadn’t known what to say really. I was pissed beyond understanding that Travis was screwing my sister, and that he’d lied to me. That he just hadn’t come clean about his feelings. That was on one hand. On the other hand I was breathing the biggest breath of fresh air that I’d breathed in a long time. He’d made it easy for me. One day I needed to thank him for it, but right now I wanted to strangle him. I looked back down at my phone and typed a message to Logan.

  I love you too.

  I sat down on my bed and waited for a reply. It was true; I saw it all in a different light now. Travis was my past, Logan was my future. I
held my breath then gave up and let it out countless times as I waited staring at my phone. It looked like he wasn’t going to reply, I deserved that. I leaned back on my bed and stared at the ceiling of my room. The phone buzzed.

  Logan: 9:57pm Today-Are you okay?

  YES! I typed and hit send. But as I heard the car doors slamming in the front yard notifying me to the return of my family I failed to finish. My answer was YES! To everything!

  The front door opened downstairs, I heard the rustle and bustle of my family coming home. Matching footsteps on the steps told me that my sisters were headed my way. I turned my phone off and sat it down.

  They stood in the doorway of our room. “Come on, family talk time.”

  I shook my head; no way was I going into that viper pit, especially since I was the viper.

  “Come on. Resistance is futile.” Mandy said, pulling my arm.

  Mom and Dad were already in their individual chairs, and Marlene sat on the fireplace hearth nervously picking the paint off her fingernails. Mandy and Monica took a seat on the sofa but, spread apart so that I could fit between them; my constant protectors.

  “Where’s Travis?” I asked accusingly at Marlene.

  Dad held his hand up as Marlene burst into tears. “Alright girls! Calm down here. We’re going to handle this maturely. As for your question Mattie, I doubt Travis will be coming around here again. I punched him.”

  I caught my breath and put my hand to my mouth to cover the smile bursting forth. “What? You punched him?”

  Mandy chimed in beside me with a giggle. “Flat on the floor.”