“What the hell do you think you’re doing you idiot” I struggled fruitlessly against him as Ana ran out of the restaurant
“Ryne”
‘Will you make sure Ryder gets home and tell him not to worry I’m going to make her a little less stressed
“Ryne you can’t”
“Listen to your sister Marine I’m going to kill you” I screamed. Ryne dug into his pocket and pulled out keys for his truck and opened the door and put me in, somehow managing to hold me in place and put the seat belt round me so I couldn’t get my hands free He climbed in behind the wheel I was so mad with him right now I couldn’t form words.
“ know you hate me right now” he chuckled and I’m good with it but you’re wall needs to come down to new people”
“Got to hell” I hissed
“I promise you can take it all out on me as soon as we get on base”
“On base do you know how many Marines have my back there?”
“Yes I have a good idea” He looked over at me “But I’ll risk it” he looked back to the road I sat staring out of the window finding myself checking every passing vehicle seeing if it was Justin. I never even noticed we were on base till he stopped his truck. He got out I knew we were at the gym. Ryne opened the door and undid the seat belt holding on to my hands. “Right are you going to walk or do I need to carry you again?”
“I’m going to punch you as soon as you let me go” I growled
Okay shoulder it is then” he laughed throwing my over again and kicking the door closed ignoring the pounding I was giving his back.
“Sgt” a voice laughed
“Hey Gunny I need the ring we have someone that’s ready to kill or explode” Ryne laughed a face appeared
“Hey Aly what are you doing now” One of My Dad’s friends was grinning at me.
Chapter 38
Walls come tumbling down
Ryne put me down.
“Come on Aly” the Gunny smiled at me and pulled me with him “Sgt you’re in there with her”
‘Yes Sir I know” Ryne laughed walking to the locker room door and pushing it open
“So… you want to go bare knuckle or with gloves?” Gunny said sitting me down on a bench
“That damn marine is going to wish he never hit on me Gunny and I swear to god if Dad was here…”
“If you’re Dad was here you wouldn’t be this up tight honey” he started to wrap my hands “Look I’ve known you all your life nearly and you’ve always been one of the worst ones when it’s deployment time… I know you’re worried for them and with what’s happened to Ryder it makes it worse but you’re one of the toughest Marine brats I’ve ever seen and running off to Texas ain’t for you” I cocked my head and looked at him “I was talking to Flynn the whole family was worried for you”
“I’ve seen sense Gunny cowboys suck… well some of them” He clipped my chin and smiled “No more running”
“Good” he grinned picking up a pair of boxing gloves “That Marine I think may have come up with the way to get the stress out of you”
“He’ll need a damn doctor when I finish with him” I muttered as Ryne walked from the locker room wearing just a pair of shorts he picked up a set of gloves.
“She any calmer Gunny?” he laughed making my blood boil even more
“She was till you appeared again” Gunny got and pulled me to my feet “I hope you know what you’re doing Sgt”
‘I can handle it” Ryne smiled
“Well I hope you can because I’m on duty in 20 minutes so turn off the lights when you’re done” he laughed “Or get the EMT’s to” I looked at him and smiled “When you talk to your Dad tell him I said hi”
“I will” I nodded I watched as he walked out.
“See I don’t think we need this you’re calm already” Ryne lent on the ropes of the ring and smiled at me. I turned and looked at him.
“Really” I kicked off my shoes and climbed into the ring he raised his eye brown and looked at me.
“Yeah you know you want to get hot and steamy with me” he goaded “Aly you should just…” he hit the floor as I punched him “Damn I wasn’t ready?”
“Oh so you need to be ready to take a punch from a girl Hollywood” I laughed “What happened to Mr. Arrogant?” he shook his head and swept his leg round knocking me off my feet he moved to pin me to the floor.
“You hit like a girl”
‘Get off me right now and fight fair” I struggled under him as he laughed
“Oh so its okay if I’m not ready but now you’re not on top you want a fair fight” he cocked his head “do you know what the hell you want”
“Yeah you to get the hell off me hot or not you’re heavy”
“Ha see I knew it you think I’m hot” He threw his head back and laughed giving me the chance to tip him he rolled and got to his feet the same time that I did
“Slip of the tongue I didn’t mean hot” I snapped
“Oh you so did” he smiled. There was a slight split on his lip where I’d caught him. I swung my leg up to catch him across the ribs. He caught my leg and held it making me hop and get more annoyed with him. He flipped me quickly and Put me on the canvas and stepped back “You know you think I’m hot I saw you look at me in Uniform”
“You are full of it” I gasped getting back to my feet. The smug look on his face was infuriating I swung at him he blocked it and moved his leg sweeping me and dropping me on to the canvas again.
“I came top of my class in hand to hand” He chuckled standing over me and grabbing my elbows pulling me back to my feet. “Instead of trying to kill me talk to me or beat the crap out of the pads and get out whatever is crawling up your ass”.
“I’m having a bad summer that’s it” I pushed the hair from my face. Ow my ass hurt from being on it so much
“Anything to do with Texas and Cowboys” that word was like a flame to built up gas as Jordan’s words from the phone call screamed into the front of my mind. “Oh Shit” Ryne put up his gloves in time for my punch fest to start.
I couldn’t see him all I could see was Justin’s face the night in the barn and the totally dumb tattoo… which brought me back to him saying the Corps didn’t matter. I had got Ryne backed into a corner and was swinging at him. I was aching all over, my heart was feeling like it was about to explode and my lungs were on fire as I stopped and took two steps back and dropped to my knees the tears streaming down my cheeks. I was angry and spent. I was embarrassed I’d been takne advantage of. My Breath came in huge gasps Ryne sat down and threw his gloves out of the ring and pulled me in to his arms and held me while I sobbed out the last of my frustration.
Chapter 39
Worn down... Almost
I was drained more than I think I’d ever been I leant on Ryne as he untied the gloves and pulled them off throwing them in the same direction as his own. He slowly un wrapped the tape not saying a word the only noise was the sobs that still shook me when I breathed. He moved so he was behind me his arms still holding me.
“You want me to take you home?” he murmured softly
“You knew” I sniffed “You knew this would…”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d go for it sorry for goading you but I don’t like seeing people holding things back” He sighed “Especially when they’re as cute as you” I looked back at him “Okay shutting up” He smiled “So you want me to take you home?”
“I can walk” I Moved away from him and struggled to my feet I was more exhausted then I realized as I grabbed the ropes my arms and legs feeling more like Jello.
“Whoa you can’t go throwing out as much energy as you just did and expect to be okay” He got out of the ring on offered me a hand down. I took it and sat down on the floor my head was spinning now the blood still racing round my body was making me light headed. “Okay head between your knees and deep slow breaths” he coached “Wow I wouldn’t like to take you one without warning” his hand was resting on my back “I�
��m going to be sore tomorrow”
“Shouldn’t piss me off” I groaned with my head between my knees
“I know I’m a glutton for punishment and it meant you we’re touching me” I glanced up at him “Head down and breath” he turned my head back. “You still mad at me?”
“Uh-huh”
“You kinda like me though don’tcha?” I felt him nudge my shoulder
“Okay give me a minute and the gloves” I croaked making him laugh
“It’s all sexual tension baby” he rubbed my back “See I felt it the night I tipped beer down your back”
“Oh hang on my sides are splitting from the humor in that” I stretched out and reached behind me and pulled myself up on a chair. He grinned at me.
“Let me go get some clothes on and I’ll take you home” he stood up “Don’t move don’t even think of leaving” he ordered.
“You want me to salute you” I groaned
“No it’s okay” he pushed the door of the locker room open “I’ll let it slid this time” I rolled my eyes and looked down at the soreness that was now my arms. I managed to get to where my phone was sitting on the bench. I dialed Ryder
Ryder * okay so what did you do now?
Me * I broke down
Ryder * wow he’s good
Me * yeah right I can’t walk right now
Ryder * EW… that’s just too much information for me in my delicate state
Me * you delicate yeah right… we got into an all out gloves on fight
Ryder * he’s hit you
Ryne * no I dropped her on her smart ass a few times that’s all
I looked round as he walked over pulling his t-shirt over his head
Ryne * your sister has pissed me off a few times but I still wouldn’t hit her
Ryder * I would
Me * okay I’m hanging up
Ryder * fine by me you’re disturbing a good date right now
Ryne * date?
Ana * Ryne call Mom and take care of Aly
The phone clicked Ryne and I looked at each other
“Okay if I was you I’d be worried” I sighed
“Worried why?”
“My brother thinks he has game” I got to my feet and forced my knees to lock
“He’s a Marine he’s good in my books” Ryne smiled. “Okay I know you’re going to hate this but…” He scooped me up and carried me easily across the gym to the door “Flick off the lights and I’ll take you home”
“My truck’s at the boardwalk and I’m not leaving it there”
“God will you just let me do something for you” he groaned
“I am you’re carrying me albeit unnecessarily”
Okay if you can walk straight to the truck then I’ll take you home and not bug your ass again” he smiled “But if you don’t then I’m taking you to dinner this weekend” Okay I can be naughty right now
“Deal” I nodded He stopped walking and put me down I took a deep breath and fixed my eyes on the truck I managed threes steps before my knees buckled Ryne was there his arms under mine
“Ha dinner with me on Saturday night”
“If you’re in South Carolina then hell yeah” I tipped my head as he picked me up again and walked with me to the truck
“Oh shit you’re going to the Island aren’t you” He grumbled
“Yes I’m going to check out a Marine that thinks he’s good enough to date Brit” I nodded
“Are you ever going to let me take you out?” He closed the door and walked round to the drivers side “I mean I’m going to come right out and say this… I find you hot as hell and I want to get to know you hell of a lot better, even if I’m only a Hollywood Marine”
“I’m struggling right now” I leant my head back as he turned on the engine
“The cowboy?” I looked away from him “So why don’t you let me take you out now and you tell me all about it?”
“I don’t know”
“Okay is Ryder going to the Island with you and Brit this weekend?’
“I don’t know. He wants to but I don’t think the doctor will let him” I shrugged we pulled up outside one of the admin building
“Wait here” Ryne hopped out and disappeared, what the hell was he doing now?
Chapter 40
Parris Island
Ryne came back out with a stack of files and climbed int his truck.
“Look what I have to deliver to Parris island in the next three days” he grinned “So dinner on Saturday night”
“You got then to send you to South Carolina?” I shook my head at him
“Come hell or high water you’re going to at least give me dinner at some point” he turned the key in the ignition
“Fine” I sighed leaning my head against the window
“What?”
‘I said fine” I glanced at him “Dinner on Saturday night”
“Yes I broke down the wall” he punched the air
“Dude it’s dinner and you’re paying” I wanted to close my eyes and sleep right now.
“I’m good with that” he nodded “When are you and Brit leaving?”
“It was going to be Friday but I’m going to get her to leave here by lunchtime tomorrow” I rubbed my arms
“You trying to escape”
“Yep” I nodded
“This summer must be really bad if you’re running from it so much” He settled back in his seat “and are you sure you want ot go get your truck?”
“I need it for tomorrow” I nodded “and bad doesn’t even begin to cover it”
“Anytime you get wound up you can call me and I’ll take you on in the ring” he dug into the pocket of his pants and pulled out a slip of paper
“Oh my god you had your number already written down”
“Yep I was going to get it to you sooner or later”
“Cocky aren’t you?”
“Hell Yeah I’m a Marine”
Ryder was beyond pissed that the doctor wouldn’t let him come to the Island especially after I told him about the call from Jordan. Brit had agreed that we should leave as soon as we could if there was any chance of Justin showing up at Lejeune. On the trip south I filled her in on the details of the night before with Ryne and the fight and the whole crying an ocean deal.
We pulled up to the gate at the Island I habded over my I.D. and waited.
“So Ryne’s here already or is he coming later?” Brit asked fidgeting in her seat.
“I don’t know?’ I shrugged
“You have to give him a shot Aly… he’s been the only guy other than Ryder and your Dad that can make you give in”
“I didn’t give in I…” She looked at me “Okay he got me so worked up I could vent” I looked at her “What do you think of him?”
‘He’s a good guys from what I’ve seen and if he can put up with your shit then hell you need to marry his ass” she started to laugh as I drove onto the base, as group of Marines running down the street as we passed by. Brit smushed her face up the window like an idiot.
“Okay you want to keep your Marine stop acting like a totally dork” I pulled her back from the window “Oh and you can so clean the slobber from the glass when we get to Uncle Logan’s” Brit started to laugh.
“You hungry?”
“Yes” I nodded you wouldn’t let me stop to pee let alone eat” I muttered
“Yes well if you hadn’t seen the guy that rocked your world for 4 weeks then you’d want to get here”
“Okay we’ll lets go and see if Uncle Logan is in his office and get him to take us to lunch” I turned the car and parked it outside of the Admin building a place we knew so well after all these trips to visit the Family at different stages while they were working here. Uncle Logan was walking out talking on a cell as we got out of the truck. He looked up and smiled.
“You see the gate even called me to warn… I mean tell me you were here” he hugged both of us “So judging by the time you got here and the call B gave
me you didn’t stop to eat”
“No we didn’t she wanted to get here” I pointed to Brit
“Well lets go see what they have cooked up for us in the mess hall” he offered both of us his arms “Oh and Brittany no sneaking off to the back of the ranges with that Marine you seem hooked on” he chuckled. Brit turned beet red “because young lady I could have kicked his ass out of Boot camp for what he did and I don’t think you’d have been out of your Dad’s sight till you were 90” I was laughing so hard. “Oh and you young lady you don’t get away without getting in trouble for even thinking about not dating a Marine”
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