Gooseberry Island Read Online Free

David.”
    “Oh hi, I was just thinking about you.”
    “You were?” He could feel his face start to burn.
    “Uh-huh,” she muttered. “I was hoping you’d call tonight.”
    He smiled. “Listen, I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?”
    “Let me guess, you’re married and now you’re feeling guilty for accepting my dinner invitation so…”
    “No, no. Not at all. The good news is that my friends are throwing me a party, and I’d really love it if you’d come as my guest.”
    “And the bad news?” she asked.
    “It’s a going-away party.”
    “You’re moving away?”
    “For a while, yeah. But I’ll be back.”
    “Where are you…”
    “Come to the party and I’ll explain everything to you.” He took a deep breath. “What do you say?”
    “When is it?” she asked, reluctantly.
    “Tomorrow night. It’s at six-oh-two State Road, and the party starts at six.”
    There was silence.
    “Well?” he asked, hopefully.
    She chuckled. “I’m way too curious to say no.”
    “Great,” he said, relieved. “So I’ll see you there?”
    “You’ll see me there.”
*
¤ ¤ ¤ ¤
*
    Lindsey showed up an hour late to the party. The address wasn’t hard to find. It was only a few streets over from the beach, music blaring from its yard. As Lindsey drove past the house, there were cars parked everywhere—on both sides of the street, half on lawns—everywhere. She had to park near the beach and walk back toward the house. From the moment she got out of the car, the music screamed to her.
People halfway across the island can probably hear it
, she thought and laughed.
I wonder what this big bash is all about.
    As she reached the front yard, she spotted a large banner reading “
Come Home Safe, David”
strung from the corner of the house to a tall oak tree.
Come home safe?
she wondered and realized that David must be a military man.
Oh boy
, she thought.
    After maneuvering through dozens of strangers holding red Solo cups, she finally spotted David. When he turned and saw her, his eyes immediately lit up, making her skip her next few breaths.
    He hurried over. “Hey, I was hoping you’d make it!”
    “Told you I would,” she said, smiling. She pointed toward the massive banner. “Come home safe?”
    He nodded. “I’m an Army Ranger and I’ve been deployed to Afghanistan for the next twelve months.” What started off as a proud and excited announcement ended as more of an apology.
    “Oh,” she said. “I see.”
    “Can I get you a drink?” he asked, handing her a plastic cup.
    “Why not,” she said.
    While they shared their first beer, David introduced his friend, Coley, his brother, Craig, and a dozen other names Lindsey would never remember. And through it all, he never took his eyes off of her.
    He leaned in toward her neck and inhaled. “You smell really good,” he said.
    “Okay…”
    “Take a walk with me to the beach,” he blurted, putting down his plastic cup.
    Lindsey looked back toward the beach. There was just enough light to paint the sky a rich, deep purple. “What about all your guests?” she asked. “You’re just going to leave them?”
    David grinned. “The keg’s full. Trust me, they’re not going anywhere for a while.”
    “Are you sure?” she asked, considerately.
    He nodded. “They’ll be here when we get back.”
*
¤ ¤ ¤ ¤
*
    As they walked toward the sound of hissing surf, he asked, “So how are you?”
    She grinned. “Life’s better than good,” she said and looked at him.
I should have guessed
, she thought. “An Army Ranger, huh?”
    He nodded. “I’m stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia, Fourth Ranger Battalion.”
    “Well, that explains the haircut,” she teased.
    “We’re being deployed to Afghanistan for a twelve-month rotation. It’s my first combat tour.”
    Afghanistan
, she repeated in her head and cringed. “And you’re shipping out…”
    “Tomorrow,” he said. “I took all my leave, so I’ve been home for