CHAPTER FIVE

CHAPTER FIVE

JOSH

The only thing worse than a wedding is a funeral. My ex-Seal team members and I promised to attend each other’s funerals or weddings after we got out. Didn’t expect to come to one so soon after leaving. We had all joked that it would be decades before we would have to attend either one. I wish that were true.

I’m shocked when I get the call that Tom committed suicide. He was the most levelheaded member of our team. Had a family to come home to, and a nine-to-five job lined up. How could this happen?

The funeral is in California. I’ll spend the night and go back in the morning. The guys will want to get together after the service. I figured I could do that. I like being with them, but when they reminisce about old missions, it’s time for me to go. I don’t like going back there because it stays in my head.

I’ve been thinking way too much about the girl at the engagement party. There’s something about her. I wanted to ask my brother who she was but didn’t. Don’t need him getting in my business.

I hoped to run into her by chance, but I haven’t. It doesn’t matter. The last thing I need is to get involved with a woman.

I receive a text from Mike telling me everyone is at the hotel coffee shop. I text back that I’ll be down shortly. I take a quick shower and change into a suit. Head downstairs to meet up with the guys.

I can hear them before I see them. I turn a corner and see them all sitting in the restaurant. Scary bunch of guys, if you don’t know any better. They’re all huge, and half of them have beards and tattoos splattered over their arms. A few of the guys now wear them on their necks. I shake my head when I walk up to them. “Hi, guys.”

They all rise, and we give each other back slaps and bro hugs. They sit back down, and I follow suit. They all seem happy, despite the situation.

I get right to the point. I need to know. “What happened to Tom?” What happened just makes me sick.

“Don’t know for sure,” Larry speaks up. “Heard his wife was leaving him and taking the kids with her.”

Tom’s whole life revolved around his wife and kids. He was always talking about them and planning out things for them to do together. Had tons of pictures of them in his room on base. He was such a proud dad.

“How? I thought they were tight?”

“Guess the wife was happier when Tom was on missions. She could go out and live it up. He didn’t know all she was doing while he was gone. The wife wanted out.”

“Shit,” I say.

The guy makes it through all those missions, then this happens. Damn. I hope his fuckin’ wife shows up. I can’t wait to see her and give her a piece of my mind.

“We better get going,” Mike tells us as he rises to his feet.

There’s a lot of grumbling as the guys grab their coats, and we head out to the funeral home. There is even more grumbling along the way about having to wear monkey suits.

We pay our respects to Tom’s parents and his kids. His wife decided to skip. Good move on her part.

I’m surprised when Mike gets up front and offers a few words about Tom. It’s nice.

After the funeral, I give Tom’s dad my card. If they need anything, I want them to call me. All the other guys do the same thing. We made a pact to watch out for each other. That’s why I can’t believe Tom didn’t reach out to me. Sure wish he had.

I plan on paying for his kids’ college once they get old enough. It’ll be a few years, but I want to help them out.

As expected, the guys and I meet up that night at the local bar. Do some more catching up. As great as it is seeing them, I’m ready to get back home.

On the plane ride back, I think about the funeral and us guys getting together to remember Tom. We all felt bad that he wouldn’t be around to see his kids grow up. It was his big reason for getting out of the Navy. Just goes to show that Tom was a fool to love a woman. They lead to nothing but heartache.

Then I start dreaming about the girl from the engagement party again. It’s been happening more than I’d like to admit. And there’s a reason. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.

“Can I get you anything?”

I blink. The stewardess is leaning over me, offering a good view of her breasts.

She looked me over suggestively when I boarded the plane. By the way she’s eyeing me now, she wants to introduce me to the mile high club. But I’m not interested. Because of the blonde. No one can hold a candle to her.

When we land in Chicago, the stewardess slips me her number. I leave it on the seat and deboard the plane.

My driver is waiting for me, and he takes me to the office.

My mind wanders back to Tom ending his life because of heartbreak. I don’t need anything like that happening to me. I’m happy with the way my life is now. Don’t need any entanglements. But if that’s the case, then why can’t I get that girl off my mind? Doesn’t matter. I’ll never see her again anyway.