The Marine I Know

Chapter 18

"Hi Parker, I'm sorry to cut this short but can you meet us at the marine base in 30 minutes?" My heart falls into my stomach, sadness washing over me.

"Yes, sir, I can." He thanks me and hangs up the phone while I look at it like it's a foreign object.

'I'm being deployed tonight.'

I put the phone back in my pocket and head out to the living room. One look from Quentin and he automatically knows. Belle turns around and judging by the look on her face, she also knows.

"Can we go with you? Just to the base?" She asks, and I nod, reaching down to grab my bag and take her hand in mine. Helen came into the room and came over to hug me.

"Be safe, Parker. I have grown quite fond of you." She whispers in my ear.

"Thank you, ma'am," I reply, and we turn to walk outside towards the cars. Belle and I get into my truck while everyone else gets into Beckett's truck. I grab her hand and hold it in my hand while country music is playing through the speakers.

'Time rolls by the clock don't stop I wish I had a few more drops Of the good stuff, the good times'

I hear her start crying and I pull over on the side of the road, lifting the center console for her to slide over, and I put my arm around her shoulder. We pull back on the highway towards the base.

"I remember that pact I made with Lilly, saying I won't marry a military man. I fell in love with you because you were that quirky kid who wore glasses, but you seemed like the nicest guy in the world. The more I got to know you, the more I started caring about you." We make it to the gate, and the guard lets us through, and we park, Beckett, pulling up next to us. I hop out of the car, Belle doing the same, and I grab my bag out of the truck bed. I walk to the front, and Belle is waiting for me, hands in the pockets of her fuzzy jacket.

"I remember that day when I saw into your hazel eyes, and then you tell me what happened to your dad. Yes, I was a bit of a jerk, but damnit when you got kidnapped, I was so scared I lost you." I wrap her up in my arms, laying my head on top of hers, enjoying the embrace.

"Hey, Parker!" I look up and see Mark, my commanding officer gesturing towards the plane. I move out of her embrace and look down at her.

"I have to go," I whisper and lean down and kiss her on the lips. I quickly give hugs to Lilly, Clare and Autumn and bro hugs to the guys.

"Watch over her for me please?" I ask the guys, and they nod, each slapping me on the back.

"Of course. Just be safe out there." Beckett agrees, and then I turn back to Belle.

"Can I walk with you just until I'm not able to?" She begs, and I smile, grabbing her hand in mine as we walk as far as we can. We're about 150 feet away from the plane, and I turn to face her, holding her face in my hands.

"I will call as much as I possibly can," I say and kiss her again. I feel her tears against my fingers. All I want is to turn away from this, not to see her hurt.

"Promise? I don't want to lose you."

"You won't baby girl." She smiles, runs her hands up and down my arms, then my shoulders, and my chest, almost like she was documenting everything about me.

"I love you, Parker." She wraps me up in a hug, and I kiss her again on the lips.

"I love you too, princess." I pull away and look into her eyes. "I have to go." I slide my hand down her arm, and I bring her hand up to kiss the back of her hand. "Till we meet again, my little bell of the ball." I let her hand go and start walking away from her, every step killing me in how much I feel like I'm hurting her, deserting in her time of need. I turn around to see her one last time, and she blows a kiss, and I smile, catching it in my hand before placing it on my lips. I see our friends standing behind her a bit to give her enough space. I wave to everyone, and they respond. I turn back around and head off towards the plane, which by this point has already started up, and I walk on, watching Belle as she rubs her hands up and down her sleeves, what she does when she's feeling anxiety. The ramp starts going up until I'm not able to see them anymore and I find my seat and strap myself in, my bag tucked on my legs to not lose it.

"Hey man, you'll be okay," Rick says from next to me. "I've done this for two tours, and I know how hard it is to leave a loved one."

"Thanks. It's just one of Belle's family members died in the line of duty, and she's scared that she's gonna lose me."

"Hey, we can't control what happens out there, but we can control what we do if you get my drift." I smile and nod at him in agreement. The plane takes off down the runway, and I feel it lift off into the sky, and I won't see her or anyone for six months.