“Well I’m not leaving you,” Katie declared, “There's just no way in hell that's happening. I’ll see if we can get a later flight. Let me just go tell Jason, I’ll be right back.”
Chelle caught Katie’s arm as she was turning to head back inside, “No Katie, don’t.” Chelle didn't want to be the cause of Katie's plans getting derailed. That would only make her feel 50 times more miserable than she already did. But Katie was in “determined mode” - Chelle needed to think of something...and fast!
“Look, I was already planning on taking off an entire month for my wedding. Since I won’t be needing to do that, I think I'll just see if I can get my shifts covered and take the time now. Maybe I'll head out of town for a while. You know...just take some time for myself and figure all this out, far away from the mass of prying eyes and gossipy talk that is Harper’s Crossing.”
Katie still looked slightly skeptical, “Okay, well. That does sound like a decent plan. After my conversation with Douchebag David, I guarantee you won't have to worry about him touching your stuff while you're gone, or changing the locks. Where will you go?”
“Um, I’m not sure. I haven’t thought that far ahead,” Chelle answered honestly.
Katie thought for a moment before her expression filled with excitement, “Well, I have the perfect solution. My lease isn’t up for another two months, so my apartment is just sitting there. It’s still furnished, and you’ve been saying you always wanted to see San Francisco.”
Tears started forming in Chelle’s eyes again, this time springing from sheer love and appreciation for her friend. “Thank you, Katie. That sounds perfect. You are the best friend a girl could ever have.”
“Diamond friends,” Katie began.
“Forever!” They finished in unison.
Chapter Three
Riley was a free man. He had just left Camp Pendleton, the San Diego Marine base where he received his discharge papers. It was a little bizarre looking down at his DD214 - the paperwork that said he was no longer the property of the U.S. Marines Corp. He was really out.
Damn. It was a strange feeling.
He had served his country for the last twelve years, and had served it well. But now he was free to do what he wanted. He could go where he wanted, when he wanted. There was no one to report to, no one to check in with, and no one’s life was depending on him.
He took a deep breath, reveling in the smell of the salty ocean air as he drove up PCH. He didn’t have a care in the world. He felt lighter and happier than he had in years. Hell, maybe ever. He was ready for the next chapter in his life.
Riley had invested in a bar with some guys from his division who had gotten out a couple years earlier. They had presented him with an investment opportunity that he just couldn’t pass up.
They were opening a bar in New Orleans and he had put up one-third of the start-up capital. Up until now, he had been a silent partner, letting the other two completely control the day to day operations and merely reaping the financial rewards. The strategy had paid off. They had made the bar, Freedom, extremely successful, and Riley had already doubled his initial investment.
Landon and Dax, his business partners, had been sending him monthly reports, and Riley knew they were doing great – but, he couldn't help it, he was itching to be a more hands on part of the business. He had been studying marketing online and had some great ideas he wanted to implement.
He turned on the Pandora feature that came with his rental car and was in the process of searching for a station that sounded good when his phone vibrated loudly in the console beside him. He wanted so badly to ignore it. To just drive without interruption. To take this well-deserved slice of time just for himself and to shelve any intrusions.
But Riley was who he was, and when duty called (literally), he couldn’t bring himself to dismiss it.
Checking the screen of his phone, he saw his brother Jason’s number. With a wide smile, he answered, “Hey Bro, if you are taking time out of your honeymoon to call me, then obviously you're not doing something right.”
“Where are you?” His brother did not sound amused.
“In California.”
“Where?”
Riley narrowed his eyes, thinking maybe the sun, sand, and sex had drained Jason's mental capacity. He repeated slowly, “In California...”
“Where in California, numb nuts?”
Okay, that was more like the Jason that Riley knew and loved.
“On PCH headed up to Oakland. I’m going to see a buddy of mine who just had a baby, then I’m flying home. Why, what’s up?”
He heard his brother say, “He’s headed that way baby, don't worry. It’s all going to be okay.”