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“Kind of all over,” he says quietly.

I glance at him to see unease written all over his face. “What the hell does that mean?”

“I want to join the Marines,” he replies.

I’m shocked, so shocked that I’m speechless.

Being a Marine takes a lot of dedication as well as the danger aspect of the job.

It’s honorable, that’s for damn sure, I just didn’t expect that answer.

Jovi has never mentioned or showed interest in the military before.

I make the last turn and see Bowie’s house up ahead.

“Well…that’s good Jovi. Listen, why don’t we talk more about this later. ’

Jovi nods and hops out of the car as soon as it comes to a stop. I sit for a moment staring at the street trying to wrap my head around the bomb that Jovi just dropped on me. How will Sadie react to this? Eventually, I get out of the car and head inside.

We’re just about to eat when Ace starts to make a speech, “So, originally you guys know that Kynlee and I weren’t doing the whole bachelor and bachelorette party, but after everything with Brooke, I thought she deserved a break. So, I’m declaring tonight my bachelor party.”

We all toast to that and then carry on with the evening.

After eating way too much junk food and playing games late into the night, we all return to our homes.

I climb into bed with no sign of Sadie, but maybe that’s a good thing because I’m not sure how to break the news to her that Jovi wants to join the Marines.

****

Sadie

It had been another long and tedious day at work, but luckily, I did hear back from Seth.

I was heading over to his place after work.

Lyndsay appeared at my side as I’m walking down the hallway to administer the meds to my patients.

“Hey, so I was going to see if you wanted to catch a movie this weekend? It’s been such a long time since we saw each other outside of work. ”

“It has been a while and a movie sounds great,” I reply. “Do you have a babysitter, or do you want me to see if Axell or Jovi are free?” Lyndsay was a single mom of two, but she made it seem so easy.

“Oh no, I have a babysitter. I actually started seeing someone.”

I stop and spin around to stare at her. Lyndsay has never been one to keep things from me, especially when it comes to her love life. “What are you talking about? Is it new?”

She shrugs. “Kind of but not really.”

“Then why am I just now hearing about this?” I demand.

Lyndsay laughs. “Because I didn’t want to jinx it. Don’t worry you’ll approve.”

“You sure about that? Nine times out of ten I don’t. You have the worst taste in men. I swear you have a douchebag magnet in your body.”

She holds her hands up in surrender. “Okay, I get it and I’m not saying you’re wrong, but I know you’ll approve of this one, trust me.”

I give her a questioning look “That’s easier said than done when it comes to your love life, but I’ll try.”

The rest of the day had been chaotic. I have never been so glad to see my shift end.

I say goodbye to Lyndsay then head for Seth’s house to catch up with him before Kynlee’s bachelorette party.

I pull into the parking lot of his beach side apartment.

Before I can knock the door swings open and Seth gathers me in his arms. “Nice to see you too,” I tell him.

He puts me down and ushers me inside. “How have you been? I’m sorry I haven’t been around; work and surfing have been crazy.”

“What’s so crazy about it?” I ask him, while taking the bottle of water he extends toward me.

“Well, you know how I go surfing just about every morning after I get off from work?” he asks, and I nod in response. “Well, there was a talent guy there the other morning watching us all surf. He asked me if I’d be interested in trying to go pro.” Seth’s face is beaming in pride.

“Wow, that’s great but don’t most people try to become pro before they’re thirty?” I ask, then realize I sound unsupportive. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean that to come out the way it did.”

Seth waves it off in his normal Seth fashion. Never taking anything to the heart. “I know what you mean and to answer your question, yes, but this could be a real shot.”

I smile at him because I couldn’t be happier for him but that does put a damper on what I had to ask of him. “Well, I’m happy for you.”

“Thanks, so on the phone you said you had something you wanted to discuss.”

I had told him that, but I knew it would be a long shot even before the surfing opportunity, now there’s no way he’ll say yes. “It doesn’t matter now.”

“Like hell it doesn’t. Tell me,” he demands.

I sigh heavily. “Mom called me and told me she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure a while back. Now, they’ve only given her a few weeks to a couple of months to live.

Given everything that is in South Carolina, I was going to ask you if you would go down and kind of take care of things but now… ”

Seth’s demeanor completely changes when it has to do with our mom. I get it but it’s not easy to see. “Sadie, even if I didn’t have the surfing I wouldn’t go, and you know it.”

“But Seth, she’s your mom,” I try to reason with him.

He shakes his head. “No, she’s your mom.

She left me and never looked back. She hasn’t tried to contact me since she took you and hauled ass when you were four.

Dad and I were left to fend for ourselves, while Dad did everything he could to find you and her.

It wasn’t until she wanted to ship you off to dad that she appeared out of thin air.

The only reason she surfaced was because she wanted something.

So, I’m sorry Sadie, I know that she’s your mom and you love her.

I’m sorry she’s sick and I’m sorry that your history is about to catch up to you, but I can’t and won’t go. ”

I figured this would be his answer, but I had to try. I’m terrified of losing the life I have now because of a lie I let go on too long. “I understand. I just didn’t know what else to do.”

Seth gives me a sad smile. “Yes, you do. You tell Axell, face the consequences, go back to South Carolina and do what needs to be done and hopefully while you’re gone that will be enough time for Axell to forgive you.”

“What if he doesn’t forgive me?”

Seth reaches across the kitchen island and pats my hand. “He will. It might take a bit, but he will. Axell loves you too much.” That’s the thing; Axell loves the part of the girl he knows but he doesn’t know all of me. What if the rest of me is too messed up to love?

“I’m going to run to the restroom,” I tell Seth as I head down the hallway.

As I enter the bathroom, I can’t help smell the lavender smell lingering in the tiny room.

That’s not Seth’s normal scent, he must have had some “friend” as he likes to refer to them over.

It isn’t until I’m washing my hands that I see the black travel makeup bag that looks all too familiar.

The silver etched eyelashes standing out against the black.

I reach for it and open it up to find what I already suspected.

All of Lyndsay’s go-to makeup items. It all starts to make sense.

Why Lyndsay didn’t tell me she was seeing someone, but insisting that I’d approve, why Seth’s bathroom smells like lavender and he’s been harder to reach than normal?

The bag was something I bought for her a couple of birthdays’ ago.

I grab the bag and make my way to the kitchen.

I toss the makeup bag on the kitchen island, startling Seth, but I see the shock on his face as he looks down at the bag. “What the hell?”

“It’s not what you think,” he says while standing up.

Seth is my brother and I love him. I’d do anything for him but he’s a horrible boyfriend.

He hasn’t even been in a relationship since high school.

He knows how much Lyndsay means to me, he knows she’s like a sister to me.

Why would he do this to her? Hell, she knows what Seth’s like so why is she putting herself in this position?

Lyndsay needs someone dependable and good. Not my fly by the night brother.

“I think it’s exactly what I think. The only thing I don’t understand is why her, Seth?

Out of all the girls, why do you have to screw with my best friend?

She deserves better than this!” I tell him, as I grab my purse and make a beeline for the door.

I sit in my car for a moment trying to gather my emotions, but the stress hits me all at once.

Everything in my life is blowing up and I can’t stop it. All I can do is sit back and watch.

****

As I’m getting ready for Kynlee’s bachelorette party Axell gets home from work.

He has a great way of distracting me from all the crap going on and it brightens my mood.

Now, I’m sitting in the limo with some of my favorite girls, but I can’t help but let my mind wander back to everything else going on.

Seth and Lyndsay, going back to South Carolina after all this time, how to tell Axell; I feel like the hits just keep coming.

“You okay?” Hollis leans over and whispers in my ear.

Hollis and I always have had a good friendship.

I always rooted for her and Bowie to beat the odds.

Hollis is just one of those people that deserved more than what life had given her.

I was so happy when she finally got it. Hollis knows me better than the rest of the girls in the limo, so of course she would pick up on my mood.

I see the concern in her gray eyes. “Yeah, just got a lot on my mind.”

“Well, when we get to the show, we can talk if you want,” she offers, and I give her a smile. Maybe, I should talk to her. Maybe not about everything, but at least Seth and Lyndsay.

Ace set this whole night up, so it comes as no shock that we are on our way to a burlesque show in downtown L.A.

Kynlee loves all things burlesque. Ace threw her a burlesque themed birthday party a couple of years ago.

I’m not sure where we’ll go from there, but neither does she.

The only people that know are Ace and the driver of the limo.

It’s really pretty romantic and sweet when you think about it.

Once we arrive at the burlesque club, we are ushered to a VIP area.

It’s upstairs in a balcony that overlooks the entire floor.

The red deep purple satin couches look so inviting.

Red velvet throw pillows are scattered across the couches as well.

A black shag like carpet with flecks of gold line the floors.

Drapes hang around in various places being held back with gold ribbon.

Gold chandeliers are the only light in the place with the exception of the spotlight on the station. It’s very vintage and pretty.

Hollis and I take our seats and she leans over toward me. “Okay, so what’s going on?” I sigh, and tell her about Seth and Lyndsay and why it worries me.

“I get where you’re coming from. I would have felt the same way if I was in your situation, but at the same time, they are both consenting adults.”

“I know, but I don’t want him to hurt her,” I reply.

She nods her head. “I get where you’re coming from but maybe she will be the one to change him.”

I shake my head. “I don’t think anything or anyone will change Seth.”

“I’m sure a lot of people have made the same comment about our husbands,” she says with a smile. Hollis has a point. Maybe, I’m being too quick to judge the situation. “What else is on your mind?”

I sigh. “My mom was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and just recently found out she only has a couple of months to live at best.”

Hollis squeezes my hand. “I’m sorry to hear about that. Has your relationship with her gotten better?”

“Not a lot but we are slightly better than before. Dale, my stepdad, passed away a few years ago, so someone needs to go out to South Carolina and take care of everything. Seth won’t go which I understand, so it’s up to me, but I haven’t been back there since I graduated college. I’m not a fan of going back there.”

Hollis nods. “I’m sorry that's a tough one. I’m sure that Axell will go with you if you asked him.”

The chandeliers begin to dim as the music becomes louder, ending the conversation between Hollis and me. She’s right, Axell would go with me, but I can’t ask him that, at least not until I come clean with him about everything.

By the time we make it home, it’s the early morning hours.

Jovi and Axell are both sound asleep. I shower quickly before slipping into bed next to Axell.

My body is exhausted, but my mind won’t shut up.

I end up tossing and turning until Axell rolls over and wraps an arm around my waist, pulling my back into his chest. He presses a kiss to my shoulder and hums in appreciation. “You’re home.”

“Yeah, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“It’s okay. What’s bothering you baby?” Axell asks.

Sometimes, I hate that he can read me so well. “How do you do that?”

“Do what?”

“Know that something is wrong with me when you aren’t even looking at me?”

I feel him smile against the back of my head. “Because I know you Sadie. I’ve had a lot of time to get to know you. I know you don’t sleep well when something is on your mind.”

I sigh. “It’s my mom,” I whisper into the darkened room. Axell moves slightly then pushes me onto my back so he can read my reaction.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“Remember when I told you she was diagnosed with congestive heart failure?” Axell nods, waiting for me to say more. “Well, she told me a few weeks ago that she only has a few months to live, at best.”

Axell leans forward and presses a kiss to my forehead. “Baby, I’m sorry.”

“Someone has to go back and take care of everything. I went and talked to Seth today and he won’t go.”

“You can’t blame him considering that she left him and never returned or tried to get in touch with him,” Axell says.

I nod. “I knew it was a long shot to ask him, but I figured it was worth a try.”

“Listen if you need to go then let’s get you out there. I’ll hold down the place until you return. If you want me to come with you, I can do that too. My brothers can take care of the businesses and Jovi.”

His offer warms my heart while breaking it at the same time.

Now Sadie! Tell him now! Instead, I’m choosing to be a coward.

“No, you stay here for now. If I need you to come once I get there, I’ll let you know.

I’m going to try and wait to leave until after the wedding.

” I stretch up and kiss his lips. “Thank you.”

“Always, I love you,” Axell replies, before rolling onto his back and pulling me next to him. As he drifts off to sleep, I lie awake and worry about the future of my marriage.