GI Joe and Ebony, An American Love Story (9 page)

A
little
more
than
six
months
had
passed
since
that
day.
Ebony
and
GI
Joe
’
s
love
continued
to
flourish
and
grow.
Their
wedding
day
was
quickly
approaching
and
the
couple
couldn
’
t
be
happier.
The
planning
the
entire
wedding
alone
had
been
extremely
stressful,
but
it
kept
her
busy
and
Ebony
was
grateful
for
that.
Nonetheless,
she
was
ready
for
everything
to
be
over
and
done
with,
so
that
they
could
get
on
with
their
happily
ever
after.

Ebony's
cell
phone
rings
as
she
effortlessly
navigates
the
busy
Baltimore
streets
on
her
way
to
the
Bridal
Shop.
Praying
that
it
was
Jay
she
presses
her
Bluetooth
to
take
the
call.
“
God,
please
let
this
be
Jay.
”
She
thought
before
nervously
saying,
“
Hello.
”

“Hey
what's
up?
”
Jay's
deep
sultry
voice
asked,
sounding
like
and
Orchestra
playing
sweet,
soothing
contemporary
music
to
Ebony's
ears.

“Hey
yourself.
”
She
casually
replied
as
she
sighed
a
gentle
sigh
of
relief.
“
Not
much
I'm
on
my
way
to
the
seamstress
for
the
final
fitting
of
my
wedding
gown.
Where
are
you?
”

“The
same
hell
hole
I've
been
in
for
the
past
six
months.
God
I
’
m
so
sick
of
this
damn
place.
I
wish
I
was
home
with
you.
”

“Yeah,
I
figured
that
much,
but
where
are
you?
I
mean
are
you
on
the
road?
Are
you
on
base?
Are
you
working
…
what?
”

“Actually,
I'm
just
getting
off
duty.
I'm
on
my
way
to
get
something
to
eat
and
a
couple
of
hours
of
sleep
before
I
go
back
on.
I
just
called
to
see
how
you're
holding
up.
”

“What
do
you
mean?
”

“The
wedding
is
in
a
week.
There's
still
time
to
back
out
gracefully
or
just
turn
tail,
haul
ass
and
run.
You
sure
you
want
to
go
through
with
this?
”

“Of
course
I
do.
Don
’
t
even
start
that
bullshit.
What
kind
of
question
is
that?
”

“And
honest
one,
that
deserves
an
honest
answer.
”

“Okay,
then
yes.
I'm
absolutely
sure
about
this.
Why
would
you
ask
me
something
like
that
at
this
late
date?
”

“I
don't
know.
I'm
just
making
sure
that
everything
is
still
on
track.
I
haven
’
t
been
able
to
get
a
hold
of
you
in
a
few
days.
I
just
wanted
to
make
sure
everything
was
still
cool.
You
haven't
had
a
change
of
heart
have
you?
I
don't
want
any
surprises
when
I
get
there.
”

“I
don't
want
any
surprises
from
you.
Please
tell
me
that
you're
going
to
make
it
in
time.
”

“I'll
be
there.
I
told
you
I'm
flying
out
of
Saudi
Arabia
a
couple
of
days
before
the
wedding.
Did
you
order
my
tux?
”

“Yeah,
of
course
I
did.
You'd
look
silly
standing
at
the
altar
naked.
”
She
laughed.
Don't
worry,
everything
is
all
set.
Your
tux
and
shoes
will
be
here
when
you
arrive.
”

“Is
there
anything
that
you
need
me
to
do?
”

“Yeah,
get
here!
No
excuses
Jay.
Don't
have
me
walking
down
that
aisle
alone,
looking
like
a
damn
fool.
Do
you
hear
me?
”

“Calm
down.
I'll
be
there.
So,
find
something
else
to
worry
about.
It
’
s
too
early
for
all
of
that
nonsense.
How's
everybody?
”
Jay
asked
in
an
attempt
to
change
the
subject
and
lighten
the
tension.

“We
’
re
all
fine,
other
than
worrying
about
you.
Things
are
a
little
hectic
because
of
the
wedding,
but
everyone
is
great.
We're
all
praying
for
you.
”

“Thanks.
I
need
all
the
prayers
that
I
can
get.
But
I'm
good.
I
mean
it's
crazy
here,
but
it's
crazy
there
too.
Actually
it
has
been
pretty
tame
over
here
lately.
The
quite
before
the
storm,
I
guess.
”
He
laughed
somewhat
uneasy
as
the
gravity
of
his
own
words
rang
true
in
his
ears.
“
Yeah,
it
’
s
been
fairly
uneventful
for
a
change.
”

“Jay,
promise
me
you'll
be
safe
over
there.
”