Page 89 of The Archer Brothers

Tex shrugs. “After we got back I went and saw her, and thought, ‘yeah I can do this’. But then another guy comes around and he says the baby is his. So I ask her and she says it’s his, but his job isn’t stable and she wants us to get married so she can have benefits and all that shit.”

My mouth drops open, but honestly I’m not surprised. This is one of the reasons Ryley refused to hang out with any of the girlfriends because they’re intentions aren’t always for the best. Hearing him say it out loud, though, really turns my stomach.

“Come on, let’s get this rope stowed. I’m meeting Ryley for lunch.”

“Ah, a little lunch time nookie in the back of your car,” he jokes.

“Yeah, something like that,” I reply. Except it isn’t and I don’t expect it to be. I don’t ask what goes on at the house either. I’m just hoping she’s respecting the ring that she wears. As soon as we’re finished, I take off in search of Ryley. We’re meeting at the café near base since she refuses to even step foot past the gate.

The café is just a short jog and I find her sitting outside, waiting for me. As soon as she sees me, she stands and has a bottle of water waiting for me in her outstretched hand. I guzzle down the ice-cold water first before leaning in to give her a kiss. Our lips linger against each other’s momentarily until I pull away.

“I thought we could get some ice cream and go sit on the beach.”

“For lunch?”

She shrugs. “I thought it’d be something different. Besides, I already ate.”

“You did?” I ask, pulling her into the café. “Why are we having lunch then?”

I tell the waitress our order and pay. For as long as I’ve known Ryley, she’s ordered the same kind of ice cream and if the place doesn’t have it, she usually goes without.

Walking side by side, both of us carrying cups of ice cream, we sit down on one of the log formations. There’s a charred out fire pit which was probably done by one of my Team members or some other sailors hanging out down here.

“I had lunch with Cara today,” she says in between bites. “She asked about you. In fact, she spent the entire lunch talking about you.”

“Is that so?”

Ryley nods as she puts a spoonful of her favorite raspberry and chocolate ice cream in her mouth. “Mhm,” she mumbles.

I finish off my cup and set it down in the sand. The ocean waves are calm, but won’t be later when BUD/S training starts. I’d like to watch this new class, but I have other pressing issues to deal with.

“Ry, there’s nothing going on with Cara. I’ve spent some time with her, but she’s just trying to help us figure out what happened.”

“I know,” she says as she puts her cup down and pulls my hand into hers. “She loves you and I know you love her. I also know that you love me, but it’s not the same. She’s your Evan and we both know the only reason you’re not together is because Evan died. But he’s not dead anymore…”

“Ryley, are you trying to tell me that you chose Evan?”

She shakes her head. “No, Nate, I’m telling you to choose Cara.” Ryley slips the ring I bought for her off her finger and places it in my hand. “I don’t know what’s going to happen with Evan, but I’m not going to be the one who holds you back from happiness. This decision is made wholeheartedly, Nate. There’s nothing rash about it and I’m not hurt. It feels right. I love Cara, and she’s the one you need in your life, not me.”

Tears prick my eyes as I clutch her ring. I pull her into my arms and hold her. I don’t want to admit it, but she’s right. When we kissed earlier, the spark I used to feel wasn’t there. It felt like I was kissing my sister. Maybe that’s why I can walk away knowing everything will be okay.

When she pulls away, she kisses me, and I still only feel her lips and nothing else. “Cara’s here. She’s waiting for you in the parking lot. I came with her, but my mom is here to pick me up.”

I turn to look and there she is, dressed like she’s going to work. I take Ryley’s hand in mine and we walk back toward the street. She releases my hand and waves at Cara, but I don’t take my eyes off of her until she’s in Carole’s car.

Putting my hands into my pockets, I walk over to Cara who greets me with a smile. We both wave when Carole honks her horn, our eyes following her car out of the parking lot. Cara steps to me and it’s as if everything moves in slow motion. My head turns toward the deafening sound of metal crunching against metal, the nauseating smell of rubber on fire and the heart-shattering wail of blood curdling screams.

Carole’s car is upside down in the middle of the road with flames coming out of the engine. “Call 911,” I yell at Cara as I take off running toward the car. The explosion knocks me back and all I can do is scream.

I’LL NEVER KNOW WHAT Ryley went through when she was told that I had died, but if it’s anything like what I’m currently going through, I’m going to have to find a new way to worship this woman. Telling her I love her, or how much I want to be with her, is never going to be enough. I have never been the type of person that can describe my emotions very well and Ryley knows that but right now, pacing outside the emergency room doors that separate me from her, I’m about to use every word possible to describe how I feel. Scared, nervous, hopeful, I don’t know. My body is zinging with anticipation to see her, to hear from the doctors, anything to calm my nerves. I feel like if I sit down my body will shatter into a million pieces.

When my phone rang and I saw that it was Nate, I almost didn’t answer it. After having gone six years without a cell phone, I’ve grown used to the nice feeling of not being attached to anything. I know it’s a necessity, but it’s probably one that I could’ve lived without for a little while longer.

Nate may have come clean, twice, but it doesn’t erase the fact that when I came home he had claim on my girl. I know others are to blame and if I ever find out who has done this to my family and me, the punishment will be severe.

But I answered the call and to hear Nate’s broken voice on the other end was enough to stop me in my tracks. It was the first time since I’ve been back that I cared about what he had to say. After hearing the words, “there was an accident, but she’s okay,” I froze. I dropped to my knees and felt my axis shift. I just got her back. I can’t lose her now.

Ryley and Carole were in a car accident. Cara and Nate were there, in the parking lot, when it happened. How or why they were all together, I don’t know. I haven’t asked and right now I don’t care. What Idocare about is finding the asshole responsible for running them into the semi-truck. According to Nate, Ryley and Carole drove off and not seconds later he heard the crash. He went to them, only to be knocked on his ass when the car exploded.

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