Irons (Norfolk #1) (3 page)

“Fuck you, Deuce!”

“No, man, it’s the best part of the story, tell him, come on. I promise not another word after that.”

“She was the first one to say yes? Is that what you’re talking about?”

Deuce was laughing so hard he couldn’t speak. He nodded and then shook his head no.

Layes rolled his eyes and serious as shit looked at me and said. “I like to fuck a woman’s ass. Whenever I asked before, I always got what I wanted, fuck, look at me.” He pointed to himself. “But it took persuasion. I asked Sally and she said yes…”

“Bullshit, that’s not the way you told it before,” Deuce roared.

“I was pissed before, dick!”

“He wasn’t here, you gotta tell him.” Deuce wiped the tears from his face.

“She said, ‘Yes, please, oh yes, fuck my ass, Layes.’ All throaty and shit.” Layes’ face was fire engine red. “We done, here. Conversation over. I don’t want to revisit it.”

The conversation stopped when the three girls walked over and sat down. The drinks kept flowing and I was wasted. Tally was on my lap dry humping me and Deuce was going from one girl to the other, kissing them each. When Layes’ phone rang, he smiled when he looked at the screen. I looked over at him and he showed it to me. A family picture: him, Sally and three kids.

I smiled, and picked Tally up off my lap and sat her down in her chair.

She groaned in protest. “Listen Red, my dick has denim burn. Give me a couple minutes with my boy and I promise I’ll have you screaming my name soon.”

“Promise?”

“I promise a good time, not a long time.”

She laughed. I smiled and turned back to Layes.

“You happy, man?”

“Fuck yeah, I’m happy.”

“I can tell. Good for you, man. Good for you.”

“I gotta head home, can I give you all a ride?” he asked.

“That would be perfect.”

*     *     *

I jumped and
sat up in my bed. Will, every night I had dreams of him. About the crash, about the academy, about the last six fucking years that we had accomplished every goal we set, and how in a split second it was all gone.

I leaned over the warm body beside me, and grabbed the half empty bottle of Jack sitting on the night stand and took a swig. I looked down at the red head and took a deep breath. What the fuck was her name?

Her eyes fluttered open and she quickly covered them, shielding them from the sun.

“What time is it?”

“No idea.”

“You don’t have a clock?” she whimpered, holding her head.

“Not unpacked yet.”

“My phone.” She sat up and then held her head and moaned.

“No idea. I don’t even know where mine is.”

I stood up and looked around. Our clothes were not even in the room.

“I’ll look.”

I walked out in the living room and found my jeans and her skirt.

She walked out wrapped in a sheet. I noticed her looking me up and down.

“Sorry if this offends.” I was naked.

She smiled and shook her head no.

“I have no fucking clue where the rest of our clothes are.”

I looked at the front door that was still half opened and walked over to close it.

“Found underpants,” I said as I stepped out on the enclosed porch.

I picked mine up and threw them on.

I looked over and she was looking out the screen.

“Looks like two shirts and a bra out there on the sidewalk.”

Fuck! What the hell was I thinking? I bent down, and grabbed her thong and went to hand it to her.

She giggled. “No sense in trying to fix these.”

I squinted as I looked at them. The strings were popped. “Sorry about that.”

I ran out the door, and grabbed her bra and shirt and kicked my shirt up into my hand as I ran back in, hoping the neighbors wouldn’t see me.

She laughed when I shut the door behind me and handed the chick her clothes.

“What’s so funny?”

“You not like under clothes?” She held up the ripped bra.

“Apparently not.”

We threw our clothes on as we walked into my place. Then we stood silently for a moment and she smiled.

“I don’t have a car here.”

“I can take you home, um…”

“Tally. My name is Tally.”

“Right, sorry about that as well.”

“You explained last night. No strings.” She held up the underwear and smirked.

“That’s me.”

“Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Who’s Frankie?”

“Excuse me?”

“Well if you’re bi or….”

“Fuck no, I’m not bi.” I laughed out loud.

“Okay, well, you called me Frankie so I just thought…”

“Didn’t know your name.”

“Okay, that’s cool.”

We were silent again.

“Look, I have a lot to do today…”

“Right, me too.” She nodded and grabbed her phone off the couch. “It’s noon.”

“Shit!”

“Yeah, right?”

“So you wanna ride or a cab?”

“Cab’s fine.”

Thank Fuck! “Cool.”

*     *     *

After she had
left I laid in bed, staring at the ceiling. Frankie? What the hell was I thinking? Whatever it was, that shit needed to stop.

Francesca

I
t had been
three years since my brother, Lieutenant William Cruz, had died at sea. I missed him terribly but was proud of how he lived the life he had, regardless of how long he spent here on earth. I sat on Norfolk Beach, needing to feel close to him on the anniversary of his death. It was a beautiful day in May and I was cutting class. I had done the same every year since he passed.

Mom and Dad were coming down for dinner. A short three hour drive. A drive they took monthly to check on me.

Joel, my boyfriend, was here until about an hour ago. We had dated now for three years. He was going to school at Duke and we rarely saw each other but for some reason, we stayed together. We fought like crazy, he was as stubborn as I was but it was something normal in a now abnormal life.

When Will died, everything changed. Mom and dad tried to make everything appear normal but the hole I felt in my chest was never filled. The emptiness never went away.

I was never a great student. Will was the brains in our family and I was the constant entertainment. I always thought I just liked to be the center of attention and if I couldn’t gain attention the way Will did, through achievement, then I would be the funny one, the loud one, the pain in the ass little sister that Will fawned over.

I hugged my knees and looked out at the sea as three helicopters flew into view. I used to love hearing Will and Jax talk about their missions. I loved listening to them talk with passion about their chosen careers. I suppose that’s why I was going to school for Physiology, minoring in exercise science.

When we received the autopsy report, a month after the Navy had, we found out that although Will was in top physical condition his heart failed him, which was what caused the crash. I now wanted to find out what caused it and hoped that my life’s work could help others realize the dangers of putting chemically engineered substances into their bodies that caused perfectly healthy young people to die. It wasn’t just happening to pilots, it was happening to athletes and otherwise healthy people.

I lay back on the blanket and watched as the Seahawks came into view. I smiled as I watched them. I wasn’t angry anymore. I wasn’t afraid to fly, or pissed at the Navy. I was empty because I missed my brother. I was empty because I missed Jax.

Jaxson Irons was only supposed to be in Pensacola for a year. The last time my parents spoke to him he, was staying another year and then he would be on sea duty with the USS Truman for another year. The Truman was docked here but I had yet to hear from him. Mom and Dad said that a man like Jaxson needed to grieve in his own way. That we should let him heal and, if and when he wanted to see us, he would.

I looked at my watch and realized I had been sitting here for three hours and that my parents would be arriving in a little less than an hour.

I jumped up, grabbed the blanket and shook off the sand. I kicked off my flip flops and walked out into the water one last time before I would head back to my apartment to get ready to meet my parents at Ship’s Cabin for a five o’clock dinner.

I turned around and saw a man running down the shore line. He had on basketball shorts, sneakers, sunglasses, and an arm band holding what I assumed was an iPod. When he came closer I looked away, hoping he wouldn’t see me staring. He was built very well. It was obvious he took care of himself. His dark hair and light scruff was sexy and sweat drenched. I loved watching a man sweat, nothing turned me on more than watching muscles work together in unison.

When he passed I noticed a tattoo on his left shoulder. It was the same one Will had. It hit me then.

“JAX!” I yelled behind him.

He slowed but didn’t stop.

“Jax!” I yelled again and he turned as he continued running in place and pulled out one ear bud.

“Can I help you, ma’am?”

I walked quickly towards him. “Don’t you ma’am me, Jaxson Iron.”

“Do I know…? Frankie?”

I nodded as a smile spread across my face.

He stopped running and his head tilted as he looked at me.

“You gonna just stand there or are you gonna come give me a hug and say hello?”

He pulled out the other ear bud and smiled as he walked towards me.

I was about ready to hug him when he stuck his hand out.

“Sweaty, girl. Wouldn’t want to dirty you up.”

“Are you serious right now?”

I jumped at him and hugged him tight around the neck.

“You sure are sweaty.” I laughed and kissed his cheek. I stepped back and looked up at him. “We have missed you so much, Jax.”

“Been busy.”

“I know, I know. Hey, Mom and dad are coming into town for dinner. Come with us, Jax. Please!” I jumped up and down.

He smiled, “Night duty, Francesca. I can’t tonight but we’ll catch up again soon, okay?”.”

“When?” I asked, a bit louder than I intended.

“Soon, okay?” He looked at his wrist and then at me. “I’m running behind. Take care, Francesca.”

I didn’t respond with words. I forced a smile and then waved. He waved back and took off down the beach.

I stood and watched until he was gone.

Thump, thump
. I placed my hand on my chest as I felt my heart beat again for what felt like the first time in three years.
Thump, thump
. I felt the blood moving quickly through my body. It’s heat once again present.
Thump, thump
. I looked up at the sky and let out a breath. A breath that I had been holding forever.
Thump, thump
.

I felt tears fall down my face as I raised my hands in the air and laughed out loud. Just then the clouds parted for the first time in forever. I saw the sun smiling down on me.

*     *     *

I walked up
the sidewalk and saw my parents sitting outside on the deck overlooking the ocean. I stopped and smiled when I saw mom look up at dad and kiss him. He always looked at her like he adored her and she looked the same way at him. They were truly an amazing couple. Growing up, I had never seen anyone like them. So rare, like a blue diamond.

“Francesca.” My mom jumped up and walked quickly towards me.

I ran to her and we hugged like we always had.

“You look beautiful, Francesca.” Mom grabbed my hand and dragged me to the table.

“Thanks, Mom, you, too.” Dad stood and hugged me. “Hey, daddy.”

“Hermosa, chica.”

“Apuesta, padre.”

He hugged me tight and then kissed the top of my head before pulling out the chair for me.

“You look happy.” Mom watched as I took a drink of her wine.

I wanted to tell them I had seen Jax, but I didn’t want to hurt them. I knew they missed him too.

“School is going well. I just completed my orientation on base so that I can start my internship.”

The waitress came over and took our orders as we chatted about the internship.

“Your smile looks genuine.”

“Yeah.” I couldn’t hide it. “I was on the beach before coming here to meet you two. The clouds opened up.”

I looked up at them and they both looked at me peculiarly.

“It’s been a long time since I noticed the sun, that’s all.”

“That’s good Francesca.” Mom smiled and choked back her tears.

“You’re still taking your medication?”

“Dad…”

“I’m just asking. Things were dark for a while.”

“Yes dad, I am. But I don’t think I’ll need to for much longer.”

“But if it helps, Francesca …”

“Mom, I’m doing well, I really am.”

The darkness they talked about was over. It was a change in life. I didn’t play sports while attending community school. I didn’t hang out as much with my friends. I spent time at home. I slept a lot. I gained the typical freshman fifteen and when Joel was home I spent time with him. If they knew how Joel and my time was spent together, they would have been more concerned about the
darkness
as they called it.

We finished dinner and said our goodbyes when they dropped me off at my shared apartment, off campus. When I walked in, Mary and Renee were getting ready to hit Thirsty Thursdays at Bar Norfolk.

“You wanna come?” Mary asked as she applied lip gloss to her full beautiful lips.

Renee laughed. “Why do you keep asking her every week?”

I smiled and hung up my sweater. Every week they asked and every week I declined. I wasn’t into the bar scene. The one time I went, it hurt so much to feel the vibe the amped up Sailors gave off. It made me miss Will… and Jax.

I drove all the way to see Joel at school and when I got there he was having a party at his place. He, his four roommates and an apartment full of under dressed, over made up girls. He hadn’t heard me come in and he appeared awfully chummy with three blondes sitting too close to him on the couch.

I turned right back around and walked out the door. I heard him call after me and kept walking. When he grabbed my arm a little too forcefully, I turned and slapped him across the face. He dropped my arm to cup his face and I took off running. When he caught up to me, he apparently tried to grab my shoulder but caught a fist full of my hair. I was so angry that I tried to slap him and he caught my hand.