Flight to Paradise (Flight Trilogy, Book 1) (16 page)

What
a
jerk
!

“Who do you think you are? You
lied
to me!” She didn’t know whether to be ashamed, embarrassed, or furious.

“Not exactly. I never lied to you.”

“Then what do you call it?”

He raised his hand. “Calm down. Let me explain. I know you and Ryan dated for a couple of years while you were in high school. I know you guys had a
thing
for each other. That’s it! I promise.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I had no idea you would be at the wedding. Ryan never mentioned you were coming.”

“That’s because he didn’t know. The only reason I was there was because of his mother; she is a very dear friend.”

“Whatever. I just assumed the thing between you and him was over
long
ago—”

“There is
nothing
between us!”

“Please…Keri, it’s okay. You don’t have to hide it from
me
. I saw you before the wedding, craning your neck like a giraffe, following Ryan all over the place. I watched you the entire service. You did everything but stop the wedding. I’ve never seen someone so nervous and fidgety at a wedding before, except maybe the bride or groom. I knew you needed someone to talk to; someone who knew Ryan; someone you could trust. Who better than his roommate? I knew I was probably the only person on the face of the earth that could help you. Trust me, I didn’t want to get involved, but I felt like I owed it to Ryan.”

She knew everything Rex said was true. But so what if it were? Was it a crime to have feelings for someone? It’s not like she was going to stalk him. The fact that Rex—someone she hardly knew—had pulled the curtain back on her most private thoughts was embarrassing. “Why didn’t you mention it earlier? Why now?

“Listen, I’m sorry. I should have told you. I know it must be hard seeing the man you once loved marry someone else, but people do change, and sometimes, for our own good, we have to let them go. You need to get on with your life.”

“But earlier, you said their marriage was doomed. What’s that all about?”

“I might have overdramatized it a bit. Emily is a little ditsy, but she’s not all bad. And like I said, Ryan will never leave her. So, the best thing you can do is wish them good luck and move on.”

Silence filled the car. Rex was right about Ryan not leaving her, or at least the Ryan she once knew, but she just couldn’t understand how Ryan could have fallen for someone like her in the first place. Sure, he could have changed,
some
, but Emily was definitely not his type.

How
much
can
a
person
change
?

Rex offered, “Listen, if you need somebody to talk with, or just to listen, I’m always available.”

“I just—”

He cut her short. “I’ve got an idea. Why don’t you and I get together again and compare notes. You can tell me what you remember about Ryan, and I will tell you how he has changed. You’ll probably see he’s not even the same guy you once knew. How about next weekend? I know a great restaurant down in San Diego.”

After pausing a moment, the thought of closure sold her. Rex obviously knew Ryan better than anyone. “Okay, sounds great.”

Rex walked her to the door. “Listen,” she said, “I’m sorry about getting upset with you. I know you were only trying to help me, and I didn’t even know it. You are so sweet to even care.”

“Don’t even think about it. I should have told you. I just felt a little sorry for you the way things turned out.”

“Listen, I have to fly Monday, but I’ll be back Wednesday night. Give me a call Thursday. I’ll need directions to your place in Del Mar.”

“No way. I’m not going to make you drive to my place, I’ll pick you up.”

“Rex, that’s a long way for you to drive. I can’t ask you to do that.”

“I wouldn’t think of doing it any other way. I’ll call you.”

“Okay, if you insist.”

They both turned at the sound of a muffled bark coming from inside her condo. “That must be Bill,” Rex said.

She looked back to Rex. “How did you know I had a dog named, Bill?”

“Oh…ah…Ryan told me. He said you named him after the Naval Academy’s mascot. I thought that was a nice touch.”

I
knew
it
!
Ryan
did
get
my
letter
.

A wave of depression rolled over her heart. “Another one of my weak moments, I guess.”

“Don’t you worry. Everything is going to be fine. After next weekend, you’ll feel like a new woman.”

“That would be great. Listen, thank you again for everything. And I’m sorry for jumping all over you. I just didn’t know.”

“No problem. All I want to do is help. I know how tough these things can be. I’ve had my share of heartbreaks…but that’s a story for another day.”

“Don’t tell me you’ve been dumped, too?”

“I told you we had a lot in common.” They laughed. “Her name was Kate. I’ll have to tell you about it someday. I’d better be going.”

“Thanks, Rex.”

“No problem. I’ll call you.”

From inside her condo, she heard the throaty growl of the Porsche vaporize into the night. She felt a little embarrassed for the way she had acted but found it hard to accept Ryan had changed
that
much. She hoped, one day, she would be able to repay Rex for all he was doing to help her.

Bill jumped up, demanding a rub. “Hey little fellow. I missed you.”

If
Rex
knew
about
Bill
,
he
probably
read
the
letter
I
wrote
Ryan
.
He
and
Ryan
probably
talked
about
it
.
That’s
what
friends
do
.
I
wonder
what
Ryan
said
?
Rex
must
know
everything
.
I’m
finally
going
to
get
to
the
bottom
of
this
.

CHAPTER 26

Rex maneuvered his Porsche down Interstate 5, weaving through traffic like an Olympic downhill skier on a gold-medal slalom run. With his right arm stretched out behind Keri and left elbow propped up on the door, he negotiated his way through traffic using only a two-finger grip on the wheel.

Keri clutched the door handle, her feet pressing hard against the floor, hoping her corpse-like stiffness and eyes as wide as headlights would send a signal to Rex to slow down. Meanwhile, she prayed.

“Am I driving too fast for you?” he asked in a relaxed voice.

“A little.” She leaned over and gasped slightly, with widening eyes, seeing the needle on the speedometer well above one hundred miles per hour.

“If it bothers you, I’ll slow’er down a little,” he called out over the roar of the engine.

“That would be nice.”

As their speed synchronized with the flow of traffic, she relaxed her grip on the door handle and eased off the pressure of her foot pushing against the floor.

“I hope you won’t think I’m being too forward, but I thought we would go back to my place in Del Mar. That way, we won’t have to spend so much time in the car.”

After the thrilling drive down the freeway, the thought of not being a crash dummy the rest of the evening sounded like a good idea.

“I didn’t know you were a cook and a race car driver.” She turned and gave him a sly grin.

He chuckled. “Yeah. I like to think I am—a cook, that is. But I’ll let you be the judge.” He grinned.

“Your place sounds like a good idea,” she said.

“Great!”

She realized that “my place” was also Ryan’s place. Although he was gone, the thought of being there brought their worlds closer together. “When are Ryan and Emily due back from their honeymoon?”

“Not until tomorrow. We’ll have the whole place to ourselves.” An awkward silence followed until he added, “Don’t worry. I’m harmless.”

“I’m not. Worried, that is…not harmless. I mean, I
am
harmless, but I’m also not worried. Wow! Listen to me.”

Rex burst out laughing. “I think I get it.”

The life Rex enjoyed was not typical of most young Navy officers. Off duty, he presented an image typical of a high-rolling young real estate broker, lawyer, or maybe even an up-and-coming plastic surgeon seeing how many lipos and implants he could squeeze in before tee time.

His condo was located in the hottest section of Del Mar along the beach north of Fifteenth Street; an area considered a fantasyland of architectural dream houses flying colorful flags fronting a wide sandy beach.

Del Mar is a Southern California beach town offering a rural yet sophisticated feel. The famous Del Mar racetrack, “where the turf meets the surf”, is home to thoroughbred racing in a laid-back and fun-loving style. Bordering the Pacific Ocean, with its dramatic coastline views, is the world famous Torrey Pines Golf Course; truly a golfer’s paradise.

Rex opened the door to his condo and extended his hand for Keri to go in.

“I love your place,” she said.

“Thanks.” He tossed his keys on the small table by the front door. “It’s not where I want to spend the rest of my life, but it works for now…good location.”

He walked over and opened the blinds, revealing a stunning view of the ocean and a beautiful sunset in the making. He slid back the glass door to the balcony.

Keri stepped out and took a deep breath. She could hear the sound of the surf breaking on the shore. “It’s beautiful!” The captivating view of the sky beginning its daily transformation of colors from bright blue to eventual darkness with wonderful reds and oranges was breathtaking.

“Yeah. There’s nothing like a California sunset.”

She stood between Rex and the panoramic view, her arms resting on the railing of the balcony. “You are so lucky to have a view like this.”

“I sure am…especially now that you are in it,” he said. She turned and smiled, as to thank him for the compliment, and then returned to the view. “I’m going to take care of a few last minute details in the kitchen.”

“Do you need any help?”

“No. You stay out here. These sunsets are beautiful but they don’t last long. Enjoy it.”

Staring out at the ocean, her thoughts moved beyond the horizon and the two-thousand miles of ocean separating her from Ryan. Regret ambushed her, reminding her of her many mistakes and missed opportunities. It started with her mother. She should have never listened to her.

It’s
all
wrong
.
I
should
be
the
one
in
Hawaii
—
not
Emily
.

Her second mistake was not going after him once she moved to California, or sooner. Why hadn’t she at least
tried
to stop him from making the most horrible mistake of his life?

Now
he’s
over
there
—
with
her
—
and
I’m
here
,
alone
.

The beauty of the sunset and the warm feeling of just knowing he was out there made her grasp for the impossible. She closed her eyes and recalled the details of his face from the night she’d talked with him at the wedding. His hair, his eyes, his smile, his lips; everything about him was so beautiful; so perfect.

God
,
why
did
you
let
this
happen
?

“You getting hungry?” Rex called from the kitchen.

“Starving.”

The faint light against the sky faded into black as the sun made its final plunge below the horizon—just as her fantasy was melting into her memory, saved for another day.

She headed back inside. Smelling the food made her aware of her hunger. She took a seat in one of the bar chairs overlooking the kitchen. “I’m impressed,” she said.

While out on the balcony, Rex had been busy on the grill. He placed a plate on the counter with two grilled halibut steaks. “I remember how much you said you liked the halibut at
The
Cannery
last weekend, so I decided to see if I could top their chef. Oh, by the way, it’s one of Ryan’s favorites. I got the recipe from him.”

“Ryan cooks?”

“I don’t think he could start a restaurant, but he has a few favorites.”

Keri picked up an index card lying on the counter. She recognized Ryan’s handwriting. “So, is this the recipe?”

“Yep. Simple enough, even for me.”

She read aloud, “Marinate for four hours using soy sauce, ginger, brown sugar, garlic and mustard. Sounds easy enough. Can’t wait to taste it.”

Rex pulled a large bowl of mixed green salad from the refrigerator along with a small bowl of grated cheese. A pot of rice simmered on the stove.

“Let me help you.” Keri walked around the bar into the kitchen. Two plates had already been pulled from the cabinet and placed on the counter.

He pointed to the drawer at the end of the counter. “If you’ll grab us some silverware, glasses, and a couple of napkins, I’ll put it on the plates.”

He lifted the lid off the steaming rice and laid it aside. Holding one plate, he picked up the large spoon, scooped a couple of spoonfuls of rice from the pot, and spread them on the plates. He then placed the steaks on top of the beds of rice.

Keri filled two bowls with salad and set the table. “Looks like we’re ready,” she said.

He walked over to the table with the two plates, steam rising from the rice. After putting the plates down they both took a seat.

Rex looked across the table at Keri as he placed his napkin in his lap. “Dig in.”

She picked up her fork and started to break off a piece of the filet. “It looks wonderful. I’m really impressed.” After taking a minute to enjoy her first bite, she said, “It’s delicious. Give my regards to the chef.”

“Thank you, I will.”

“Is Emily a good cook?” She wondered if the woman Ryan married knew her way around the kitchen.

“Are you kidding? She has trouble reading the directions on a TV dinner. But who knows, after a few months, with a little supervision, of course, I’ll bet she’ll be able to pour a mean can of soup.”