“See I knew you were kinky” He winked at me… God damn it he has a damn answer for everything the smart mouth idiot
“If I am then you’ll never know…I have standards” I turned on my heel and walked away
“Yeah we’ll see baby” he laughed. I thought Brit was going to pee her pants. She said something to Ryan and hurried after me as I paced in the bathroom
“Good he’s a self centered Moron” I held up my hands “arrogant doesn’t even cover it and he has an answer for everything” I looked at Brit as she pulled herself up on the side and sat down
“Yeah you know he reminds me of someone apart from the self centered part” she watched me pace “And I’m sorry Standards?”
“I know I realized when I said it but I think after the Spelling bee dropout cowboy incident anything is a standard” I rested my head against the wall “Good I miss having Ryder and Jack around to go out with”
“’Oh thanks”
“You know what I mean”
“I know” she smiled “But we can have fun and we need to find you someone you can snuggle with”
“Oh is that what you and Marek did?”
“Something like that” she broke out into a huge smile
“And I’m good with my Pillow”
“Yeah right unless it’s one of those pillows that we saw in that store we got the costumes from with the attached B.O.B. then you’re seriously missing out”
“Okay I think the sooner you and Marek get all this sexual frustration out of your body the better” I laughed “Because you’re just one horny Marine Brat” I pulled the door to the bathroom open “I swear the horniness must be genetic”
“Okay that sounded wrong but intriguing” Ryne Laughed walking from the men’s room
“Wow not only a smart mouth but an eavesdropper as well is there no end to your talents?” I shook my head at him
“Well not to blow my own trumpet of anything…” I groaned
“You probably can… and that’ll be the only thing to shut you up” I walked away as Ana smiled and shook her head while Brit groaned and hung her head.
Chapter 27
Jerks, douches, and injuries
“She always that bitchy?” Ryne looked at Brit.
“Yeah” she nodded “you have to get to know her before the wall comes down and then she can still make me cringe and I’ve grown up with her”
“So you know if she has a guy?”
“I might do” She cocked her head to one side
“Oh come on” he smiled sweetly “Throw a guy a bone”
“I don’t know you rub her up the wrong way and…”
“I wish I could”
“See smart assed comment like that will get your ass kicked by Aly” Brit shrugged “believe me don’t push her to hard and too far because she’ll put you right where you’re supposed to be. She’s not having the best start to the summer”
“How can you not have a good summer living here?” He smiled
“Okay it’s way too long of a story and I don’t know you and I’m not going to talk about my cousin behind her back” Brit started to walk away, she stopped and looked over her shoulder “one thing with you and Aly you bounce off each other gives me 5 minutes peace” Brit walked back to her friends. I carried on working till 11 Brit had already gone home to pack a bag to come and stay with my while Mom was away. I wiped down the last of the tables leaving only the few people left playing pool and some guys at the bar.
“Hey Doug I’m all done” I walked up to the bar.
“Thanks Aly and thanks for staying over”
“Its okay” I smiled “So what time tomorrow?”
“If you can be here at 3 the food’s going to be a buffet so you don’t need to serve that but you can run drinks for me” He looked over from pouring a beer for Ana and Ryne
“Sure… have a good night” I grabbed my purse and pulled the keys for my truck from it and headed for the door.
“You know you could have just said you’d be here anyway even if you are working” I groaned as Ryne called down the still busy board walk” I turned and looked at him
“Why?”
“Because I asked you to go to a party and you flatly told me no” he smiled walking toward me
“I wasn’t lying and I don’t owe people an explanation for anything especially not mouthy pains in the ass” I scowled at him I was tired and I wanted to crawl my ass into bed.
“I was trying to be nice” he stopped a foot from me “I see you and then the few times I come in here you’re not here then tonight I come in and you’re back and it made me happy”
“Okay a smooth talker you’re not” I turned away from him “and anyway who the hell has a costume party after the 31st October or after you’re 5” I opened the door on my truck
“I like to have fun and when it’s my birthday I think I should get to choose what fun I have”
“Wow if that’s the case I know a strip joint on the edge of town that might suit you better” I suggested .
“You going to be working?’ He grinned “I have some dollar bills”
“I’m out of your league remember I have standards” my phone started to ring
Me * hello
Ryder * okay I know it’s late for you but I had to take the chance to call
Me * okay what’s wrong?
Ryder * I’m sort of in hospital
I held on to the door of my truck
Me * What do you mean you’re in hospital?
Ryder * I the convoy we were in got ambushed
Me * oh god what about Jack
Ryder * he wasn’t with me he had the night patrol
Me * how bad
Ryder * well they’re flying me home
Me * Ryder please
Ryder * I got shot in the leg twice
Me * does Mom know?
Ryder * yes… they think I’m going to be out for at least 3 months
Me * when are you going to get back?
Ryder * 3 days
Me * wow
Ryder * you okay?
Me * no you’re hurt and I’m scared
Ryder * I’m safe now sis
Me * Damn Marine corps and I thought you were a crack shot
Ryder * I am but I still have to patrol I can’t just keep shooting people
Me * stop laughing
Ryder * I’m sorry but at least I’ll be home for a while and then only have a couple of months left on the tour to go I got a letter from Dad
Me * yeah
Ryder * I would have shot the son of a bitch for doing what he did
Me * he told you
Ryder * oh yeah he told me… See Marines are so much better
Me * Yeah says the guy with the bullets in his damn leg
Ryder * technically they aren’t there now the doctor took them out
Me * smart ass
Ryder * I have to go theres a nurse about to kill me for not resting
Me * okay I love you
Ryder * love you too
I hung up and put my head against my truck and took a few deep breathes
“Hey are you okay?” I felt a hand on my back. I forgot that Ryne was standing there
“Yeah I need to get home” I got in my truck without giving him a second look. I turned the key in the ignition and pulled away. The grass wasn’t greener in Texas but it doesn’t seem much greener here either. I was scared for my brother and for my Dad how can I even think of dating a Marine. I think I should take the summer just to work and not think of a guy at all with the Douche bag Cowboys and the loud mouthed jerks in the pool hall I was better off single.
Chapter 28
Walk the plank
I pulled into the driveway at home the light already on inside and Brit’s car in the drive. I walked in she just looked at me.
“I got a message from Jack” she walked over to me and hugged me
“He just called me while I was arguing with that jack ass fro
m the pool hall” I sighed hugging her back “He’s going t be home in a few days”
“What happened?”
‘The patrol he was with was ambushed and he got shot twice in the leg” I sat on the couch and pulled off my boots “You always think it’ll never be one of or Marines” She sat down next to me “You really think you could handle it if it was Marek?”
“I know I can we’ve been raised tougher than that” she nudged me “Look if he called you then it has to mean he’s okay right” I nodded “so why don’t’ we go and sort out your costume for tomorrow” She got up and pulled me to my feet “You mention to Ryder about the party tomorrow”
‘No I was more bothered with him being okay” I shook my head.
I struggled sleeping even after talking to Mom about it and Aunt Riley. They assured me it was more flesh wound that damaged tissue and bone. Brit took em to get a manicure to try to get my mind off of Ryder. And it was working to a certain degree Dad had called to make sure I was okay and Grandpa had called to tell me that our family was tougher than nails which had made me laugh. She’s got the girl doing my nails to go all out and do it to match my costume. We got home and fought to get Brit into the nurse’s outfit she’d gotten last Halloween. I walked out of the bathroom and looked at her.
“You do know the closest I can park to the pool hall is a block away” I laughed as she took a picture on her phone and proceeded to send it out
“I know and it’s 2.30 on a Saturday afternoon all the jocks from the schools and the base will be up and down the boardwalk” She groaned “You might get a call from Ryder”
‘You didn’t send him the picture of me like this did you?”
“Yep with the message Halloween all over again without the Marine body guards”
“Oh you’re so in trouble when he gets home” I smiled
“I know but he’ll have to catch me first” she giggled “ready”
“Yep… OMG you brought him a gift?”
“I can’t turn up to his birthday without a gift and it’s just a blow up sheep with vibrating holes” she beamed
“You know you’re seriously warped” I walked out of the front door and over to the truck “Seriously when I have a Bachelorette party you’re not organizing it”
“Yeah right you need to find some idiot to put up with you first” She got in and closed the door. We headed off base and had to deal with some crap from the guards on duty at the gate, but then they we’re Marines so what did we expect. I pulled into a parking space and looked at Brit.
“Okay I get one can I see your Pirate Booty gag and I’ll punch the first person I see” I groaned as we got out. We got to the pool hall with a few looks and cat calls but nothing too bad. “Okay Doug you seriously need to get parking under this place” I called across to the Phantom of the opera behind the bar.
“Holy hot hell” He chuckled “Does your Dad know you’re dressed like that?”
“No and no one send him pictures he was away with Mom for last Halloween” I walked over to the bar.
“Thank god there’s no kids in here tonight” he chuckled. I shook my head and walked back into the kitchen while Brit put her gift to Ryne on the table to the side.
“You came” Ryne walked over to Brit
“You invited me to and I had to make sure Aly didn’t get into trouble between the parking lot and here” she laughed “oh and Happy birthday and Damn I like the costume Capitan Jack”
“My sister’s idea I wanted to come as a navy seal” he laughed
“Pussies” Brit scoffed suddenly her hand went to her mouth as Ryne cocked his head to the side “Sorry automatic reaction” she blushed a little.
“You know we were never introduced” Ryne smiled at her “I’m Ryne”
“I know and I’m Brit” she held out her hand. Ryne took off his Pirate hat and bowed deeply kissing her hand
“Oh god you idiot” Ana walked over and Gibbs slapped Ryne “You’ll have to excuse him he regresses in mental age every birthday I think we’re at what a horny teen going through puberty” she laughed Ryne shot her a look
‘Sweet Costume” Brit smiled at her
‘I was thinking the same and from some of the comments coming from my friends over there they’re hoping you’ll be up to taking their blood pressure” she pointed to some guys playing pool in an array of different costumes. I walked out of the kitchen with a tray of food to put on the table
“Oh there’s Aly” Brit smirked
“Wow” Ryne whistled “That’s some pirate booty” Ana and Brit looked at him
“What I’m a man and damn thank god I’m straight” I looked up and hung my head Brit walked over to me
“Talk about matching costumes” she giggled “You should ask to see his sword”
“Yeah right and if he pisses me off tonight then he’s walking the plank” I smiled at her “I like his sister’s costume and she seems pretty normal compared to him”
‘She is” Brit nodded “but you should have seen the look on his face when he saw you it was priceless”
“Yeah hang on my ass is half out and if I bend to far over then all hell will break loose” I laughed. “I think he’s not going to be the only one looking”
Chapter 29
Under my skin
I spent as much time avoiding Ryne as I could with carrying out the drinks and refilling the food tables. I’d spoken to Ana a few times and Brit was in the middle of cleaning up at taking on three guys at pool because for some reason when she went to take a shot they seemed to get distracted.
“Hey Aly” I walked over to Doug “The guys who’s birthday it is” I nodded “his sister is in the kitchen with a cake you think you can carry it in?”
“I guess” I nodded
“Awesome and then you can take a break for a while and enjoy the party”
“Yeah I’d rather go running with the Marines” I walked away into the kitchen Ana was pushing candles into the cake.
“Hey” she looked up ‘I didn’t realize how heavy it is you think you could help me carry it?”
‘Sure you mind if I shove your brother’s head into it?’
“Hell no” a smiled spread across her face “He’s not all talk you know there’s a sweet guy underneath”
“Okay” I shrugged “I get it all brothers have ego problems hell I know mine does and now he’ll be trying to get girls with the whole you want to see my scars Line” I sighed
“Scars”
“Yeah he got shot a couple of days ago”
“Oh I’m so sorry” her hand went to her throat
“Its okay” I looked at her “Well it’s not but he’s heading home for awhile”
“I take it he’s in the Marines”
“What makes you think that?” I laughed
“Well you have that Tattoo in the middle of your back”
“Yeah he’s a Marine Sniper” I picked up on end of the cake while Ana got the other “Like my Dad”
‘Your Dad as well?” she looked in shock
“I think the Marine Corps is just filled with my family it’s like an inbreeding thing” I pushed the door open with my ass as Doug lowered the lights and everyone started to sing happy birthday. We placed the cake on the end of the pool table closest to Ryne I backed away and stood by Brit she handed me her phone
“Look at the message” I scrolled to the message
***Ryder***oh you have to be kidding I’m here in pain and Slut Pirate of the Caribbean is loose again Brit you’d better have her back unless you’re that rubber nurse again and then I’m calling in some favors from guys still on base***
I looked at her
“See what happens when you do dumb things like send him pictures half of the M.P.’s will end up down here” I swatted her
“Ow…” I snapped a picture of her and sent it to Ryder as she tried to grab the phone from me.
“Damn you know you two are what fantasies are made of” Ryne laughed holding out a p
late full of cake. Now Cake and Brit were made to be together she forgot about the phone and took the cake like she hadn’t eaten in a month. “Hot assed pirate and her nurse friend”
“You’re a jerk you know what” I glared at him.
“You want to know what I wished for”
“A personality…? Less ego…? A dick?” I cocked my head “I can keep guessing”
“Wow you have a real acid tongue don’t you” he put his hands on his hips “And what’s that a badly spelt tattoo of what you do best” he trailed his fingers over the Ryder on my ribs. I felt every muscle in my stomach clench I slapped his hand away.
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