UNBREAKABLE (ABLE SERIES) (31 page)

“Okay, I can do this. I get to spend the night with Jake?” I’m trying to boost my confidence, but looking at the map is already giving me a headache.

“Don’t get carried away, girlie. I said ‘evening’, as in after dinner; no spending the night. Don’t push your luck!” Roxy says, staring me down.

The thought of spending the evening with Jake puts a smile on my face. As Roxy opens the door to get to the maze, the same tingling sensation runs through my body. I force myself to concentrate on the task at hand. If there’s one bet I can’t afford to lose, it would be this one. I miss Jake like crazy, and spending a couple of hours with him is what I need to get me through until our wedding day.

“Set your timer, Trish! Remember, twenty minutes, nothing more! Open your eyes; let your inner kitty get in touch with nature, and let your vajayjay serve as your compass,” Roxy states, while grinning like a fool.

I zig and zag while racking my brain, thinking of something that’s tall, hard, sweet, and enticing. Thank God, no one is here, yet, to witness me bobbing up and down, looking for this stupid thing. At the center of the maze are hedges that form the intricate pattern of a pineapple. I’m walking, really slowly while reading the darn confusing map. I see a deck of card on the ground that has a picture of Jake and me.

I call Roxy to see if I’ve found what I’m supposed to look for. “Hey, is it a deck of cards?” I ask as I walk faster.

“Trish! Is that enticing?”

“Well, it could be. It’s hard, and it has a picture of a pineapple which could be sweet and enticing!” Whoever said you can do two things at the same time is surely crazy since I’m having a hard time walking and finding my way.

“But is it Looooonnnngggg?”

“What? You never said ‘long’. You said ‘tall’.” I correct her and continue to walk.

I can hear Tami yelling in the background, “Same thing, Trish. Now, go!”

I hit a dead end, so I turn around and stop, trying to decide if I should make a left or right. Why didn’t God bless me with a good sense of direction? With my luck, I’ll end up where I started. I turn right, another left, a couple of steps in, and I hit the sixth station….jackpot. Right in front of me on a wooden trellis is a red Mustang matchbox. This is it! I’m sure of it. I stop and speed dial Roxy.

Tami answers. “Is it a red mustang?”

“A red mustang?” Tami says then I hear Roxy’s voice.

“If anything, that’s short not tall! Keep on searching. Hurry! You only have ten minutes…times a ticking!” Roxy tells me in a singsong manner and hangs up.

I’m getting frustrated, then I start thinking, it’s not the cards, and not the car. It hit me. The two clues point me to Jake! If I’m right, then he has to be waiting for me at the center of the maze; the problem is how to get there. Ha! I know what to do now. Since Jake has a phone tracker on his phone, I go to my app, and lo and behold, his phone is flashing on my screen. All I need to do is follow the map. Bingo! I’ll be there in no time. I almost want to kiss my phone…Thank God for it. When I figure it out, I walk as fast as I can to hunt down my tall, sweet, hard and oh so enticing soon-to-be-husband. I’m positive I’m going the right direction, because the same feeling I get when he’s around is too strong, now. An undeniable spark starts creeping up my toes to the tips of my hair, letting my heart know I’m getting close to my other half. As I make the last turn, straight ahead is Jake, standing there wearing his sexy smile, holding a Hawaiian flower, waiting for me. I walk to him as fast as I can, and embrace him as if I haven’t seen him in years.

Jake

Why I agreed to Roxy’s stupid plan is idiotic. If it were up to me, I’d kidnap Trish and we’ll show up tomorrow, for our wedding, together. I hate being apart from her. Even though I’ve been cleared, I still feel as though I have an invisible timer on my neck. It’s not like me to think negative thoughts, but sometimes I can’t help it. It’s hard to fight against something unseen…

Driving with the top down is liberating, especially since I’ve been cooped up in the hospital for a while. I still haven’t figured out what Trish’s hiding from me. She can deny it all she wants, but I know something’s up.

Cody playfully pushes me. “You’re too quiet. Are you missing your ball and chain? Don’t worry, it’ll be securely attached to you forever after tomorrow. Don’t look at me, B. I haven’t said shit! I never told him, he could see Trish, right now.” Brian back hands Cody, and we swerve a little. “Hey! Watch it! No cliff diving on our agenda, today!”

“I’m gonna see Trish, today?” I look at Brian for confirmation, but decide Cody is my best bet. “Cody, is she gonna be here?”

Brian huffs out loud, “Great Cody, nice! Oh, now you decide to stay quiet. Yes, Jake. She’ll be here, but act surprised, will you since pussy mouth just flapped his trap, again.”

By the time we arrive, Trish is safely inside; she’s out of my sight, thanks to Roxy. “How will I see her?” I impatiently ask.

“Oh, you’ll see her, alright. Here’s the kicker, if she finds you.”

I look at Cody, confusion covering my face. “If she finds me? What do you mean?”

“Simple, man. You’ll be waiting for her at the center of the maze. Roxy will give her a set of clues to find you,” Brian says casually, while I get nervous since Trish’s sense of direction is nonexistent.

The pineapple maze is huge! There’s eight stations, and even with a map, Trish will be lost; there goes my time with her….killed by a damn pineapple maze. I almost wish she had installed a low jack up my ass so she can find me.

“Will she at least have a map?” I ask though hope is slowly slipping away.

Cody laughs as soon as he hears the word map leave my lips. “Map? We’re talking about Trish here. Unless it’s a kiddie map, you’re shit outta luck.”

While I take my spot waiting for Trish, I’m hoping she’s turn on her phone tracker app because that’s the only way she’ll find my ass. I can hear Roxy and Tami talking to her, and I’m almost tempted to pummel the two and grab the phone.

As I stand here waiting, I remember the day I visited Dylan at the cemetery two days before leaving for Hawaii. I didn’t have to do it, but in my heart, I knew I needed to.

“Hey, D, it’s been awhile. I haven’t really thought of what I wanted to say. I don’t know if a thank you is enough, or it’s an insult. I can’t thank you for dying, man. It’s not something anyone would wish for, but I’d like to thank you for bringing her into my life. She’s made my life worth living. I’m a better man because of her. I give you my word, I’ll make her the happiest woman; I’ll protect her with my life. She’ll always come first, always. I kept my word, D. I waited…I waited for her. You were right, she’s worth the wait. I love you, man.”

As I walk back to my car, I stop and open the letter Dylan gave me the night he shipped out. Why I was insecure before, even with this letter, is beyond me. The only thing I could think of is self-doubt can cloud one’s judgment, dilute the truth, and enhance one’s flaws. In my mind, Dylan was sure of what he wanted, while Trish was left in the dark. I don’t want to cloud her judgment…I want her to want me, too, just as fiercely as I want her to be mine…Thank God, she does.

Jake,

I’m leaving her in your care. Make no mistake, I love her more than I’ve ever loved any woman in my life, but maybe not enough to give up serving my country. It’s not an easy life for me, Jake, doing what I do, but it’s what I want. I’m not trying to be a hero, just doing what I’m called to do. I wasn’t man enough to let her go when I had the chance because I don’t want her to hurt…I DO NOT want to hurt her. Me joining the service, it’s not a life I want for her, and it’s not a life I know she’ll survive. I guess, you’re a better man than I am. You are willing to let her go, while I hold onto her. I don’t want to break up with her and have her feel I left her behind. I’d rather death break us, and…death will eventually win. Quit punishing yourself, thinking what if I don’t die, what then. Death will find me, brother. With what I do, death is inevitable. I remember the first time you saw her, I felt it, just as strongly as you did…the connection you both have. Right then, I knew I was making the right decision. Protect her from the pain when I’m gone. Wait for her, she’ll come around. She constantly talks about her one…you are her one…I just led her to you. Thank you for loving her more than I’m willing to.

Semper Fi, Dylan

I’ve buried my insecurities a long time ago, but questions still come up from time to time. Am I mad he didn’t break up with Trish when he had the chance? NO. Just like me, he didn’t have the heart to break her heart…not like that. He wanted to protect her, just like I do. The only difference is he walked away when I couldn’t. I couldn’t leave her behind, not a chance. I’m not that strong. How can I possibly walk away from my heart? My heart is tethered to hers…as hers is to mine….
unbreakable
.

The sight of her running toward me breaks my thoughts of Dylan. I focus only on her, and each step she takes toward me is like a missing puzzle piece completing me.

“I’ve missed you, so much,” She whispers as I grab her thighs and move her legs around me.

“God, I can’t stand not being with you. I love you, baby.”

We both pull back a bit to stare at each other. She holds my face as I stare at her lovingly. “Tell me again why we listened to Roxy? This will be the last time we’ll be separated, you got me?” I blurt out.

“We can make a run for it. I’m game if you are.”

“Nah, Roxy will dismember me. Besides, I get to spend the evening with you. I’m just happy you found me. Did you use a map?”

She giggles. “I sure did! But, I also used my phone; it’s my secret weapon. Even without it, I just knew I’d find you. My heart always leads me back to you.”

“Because my heart calls out only for you, Trish. No one else, just you, and that’ll never ever change plus I have that charm you can’t resist.”

Then, I kiss her tenderly. As my tongue mingles with hers, the way she holds my face, firmly, I can tell she wants to let me know her love for me will never falter.

“Alright, Trish, your PDA session is over. Let go of that tall, sweet, hard, and oh, so enticing specimen you got yourself attached to,” Roxy says, tapping my shoulder.

“Let’s grab some food and hang out at North Shore, so I can enjoy looking at the babes running around in their tiny bikinis,” Cody says, smirking at Roxy.

I slowly put her down and pin the flower behind her left ear. “You should wear this always, while we’re here. I want everyone to know you’re taken.”

She raises her left hand, showing me her engagement ring. “This isn’t enough?”

“Nope, not until I see my ring on your finger.”

She scrunches her brows together. “But, isn’t my engagement ring, your ring?”

I stop walking and lift her chin so that she can look at me. “Yes, it is, but it’s not
the
ring, your wedding ring is forever.”

Since Trish won the challenge, I ask my dad to pick up their car so we can all ride together, just like old times. We eat at a shrimp truck by North Shore and enjoy watching the surfers get pummeled by the waves. Knowing we wouldn’t be able to spend the night together, I’m constantly holding her hand, and kissing her.

Chapter 36

Trish

Driving back to the hotel for dinner, I notice Jake is quieter than usual, probably knowing we’re not going to be sleeping together is the reason for his silence. After dinner, he asks if I want to walk along the beach with him. I immediately say yes, while hoping Roxy won’t time us.

“Hold up love birds, before you make your escape, please know that I’m timing your asses. If her…” she points at me while looking at Jake, “ass isn’t back in the room by 10:30, I’ll call a male stripper who has a
Nui Ule
to dance in front of your-soon-to-be-wife. Don’t doubt me, because I’ll do it,” Roxy says with narrowed eyes aimed at Jake.

“What the hell is a
nui ule
?” I ask, beating Jake to it.

Tami laughs out loud while Roxy tries her hardest not to lose it. She finally says, “Someone who has a big dick.”

I start laughing, but Jake gives Roxy a dirty look, enough to make her stop laughing.

“Fine! Can we go, now?” Jake answers, irritation clearly etched on his face.

That little exchange sours his mood. Ever since his bout with cancer, he hates it when someone puts a limit on the time he spends with me. We walk in silence toward the beach, his strong arm around my shoulder, as mine snakes around his waist. He tips his head, signaling for me to sit down. He takes my hand, immediately, as soon as he sits down next to me.

He looks straight ahead with a somber look on his face. When he gets like this, I know he’s going back and reliving every single moment when he was in the hospital. It makes me sad when he does this, but at the same time, it makes me happy as well; knowing he survived….we survived.

I poke him slightly. “Hey, why are you so quiet?”

He takes a deep breath and blows it out slowly. “I’m just thinking how far we’ve come. Sometimes, I fear the cancer might come back, and you might…” He stops and turns to face the water again. His face tells me he’s conflicted about something.

“I might what?” I ask softly, wishing the waves would wash away his fears.

He shrugs his shoulders. “You might get tired of me.” He faces me, again. “You know, get tired of taking care of me.”

I strongly tug on his hand. “I.Will.Never.Ever.Leave, Jake. If I’m your everything, you’re my life. I don’t think I could love you anymore than I already do, but each and every day, you give me a reason to love you more. Our love is
unbreakable
, remember?”