GI Joe and Ebony, An American Love Story (10 page)

“Look,
Ebony
I
’
m
fine.
”

“Yeah,
for
now...
I
know
you
think
you
’
re
GI
Joe
the
action
hero,
but
you
don
’
t
always
have
to
run
in
to
save
the
day.
Let
somebody
else
get
some
of
the
glory
for
a
change.
”

“What?

“Look,
all
I'm
saying
is
just
play
it
safe
and
don't
take
any
unnecessary
risks.
”

“I
know
you
didn't
just
call
me
GI
Joe.
”
He
laughed.
“
Oh
my
God.
Ebony,
I
know
that
you
worry
about
me,
but
I'm
a
soldier.
Danger
and
risk
are
part
of
the
game.
I
worry
about
you,
but
I
don't
obsess
about
it.
I
’
d
go
crazy
if
I
did.
Hell,
at
least
I
have
a
gun.
In
fact
I
have
a
rifle
and
a
gun,
so
don
’
t
worry
about
me
I'm
good.
”

“I
know
but
...
”
Ebony
hesitated.
“
It
’
s
just
that
…”

“No
buts.
I
can't
do
my
job
worrying
about
you
worrying
about
me.
”

“So,
I'm
not
supposed
to
worry
about
you
now?
”

“Look,
I
just
called
to
touch
bases
with
you
about
the
wedding.
I
don't
want
to
get
into
a
big
thing
about
this
right
now.
I'm
tired,
I
’
m
hungry
and
I
’
m
in
much
need
of
a
hot
shower.
So,
I'm
going
to
get
off
this
phone.
I
love
you.
I'll
call
you
in
a
few
days.
”

“I
love
you
too.
Please
be
careful.
”

“You
too.
”

“See
you
soon.
Be
safe,
I
love
you.
”

Jay
laughs.
“
Ebony,
I
got
to
go.
You
never
would
let
me
get
in
the
last
word.
Look,
I
love
you
too.
I
promise
I'll
be
safe
and
careful-
whatever
that
means.
And
now
I'm
hanging
up.
”

Ebony
quickly
interjects,
“
Love
you!
”
She
smiles
as
the
phone
goes
silent,
confident
that
she
still
got
the
last
word.

Several
days
pass,
yet
Ebony
hadn't
heard
a
word
form
Jay.
Refusing
to
add
to
her
stress
by
worrying
she
doesn't
dwell
on
it.
But
today
is
her
wedding
day
and
understandably
his
absence
is
starting
to
freak
her
out.
Her
house
is
busy
as
people
run
in
and
out-
back
and
forward
in
preparation
for
the
wedding.

Ebony
is
in
her
room
with
her
Bridesmaid
getting
her
makeup
done
when
the
phone
rings.
“
Somebody
get
my
phone
that
has
to
be
Jay.
He
probably
needs
a
ride
from
the
airport.
”

Hannah,
her
cousin
retrieves
the
phone
and
gives
it
to
her.
The
disappointment
on
her
face
indicates
that
it
is
not
Jay.
“
It's
the
Videographer.
”

“Please
tell
him
I'll
call
him
back
in
a
few.
Where
in
the
hell
is
Jay?
I
swear,
this
man
is
about
to
give
me
a
heart
attack.
”

“Ebony,
stop
worrying.
Jay
knows
what
time
the
wedding
starts.
You
know
that
he's
doing
everything
in
his
power
to
get
here
on
time.
”
Jasmine
her
Maid
of
Honor
responded.

“Jazz,
I
know
but
I'm
starting
to
trip.
This
is
not
like
him.
He
should
have
been
here
yesterday.
At
least
by
now
he
should
have
called.
”

“Nonetheless,
worrying
is
not
going
to
get
him
here
any
quicker.
Calm
your
nerves.
This
is
your
day.
Everything
is
going
to
go
your
way.
”

Somehow
she
found
comfort
in
those
simple
words.
“
You're
right.
The
Best
Man
is
probably
picking
him
up
from
the
airport
as
we
speak.
”

The
ladies
continue
to
pamper
Ebony
and
the
photographer
sneaks
in
to
take
some
pre-wedding
shots.
Ebony
relaxes
and
enjoys
the
attention.
Moments
later,
one
of
her
co-workers
appears
in
the
bedroom
door
with
a
puzzled
look
on
her
face.

“Ebony
there's
a
couple
of
Marines
looking
for
you.
I
told
them
that
you
were
getting
dressed.
They're
waiting
downstairs.
”

“Oh
Thank
God.
It's
Jay.
He
must
have
brought
a
friend.
Tell
them
I'll
be
down
in
a
second.
”

Ebony
quickly
slips
on
her
bedroom
slippers,
gathers
her
robe
together
and
heads
downstairs.