Once Upon an Arizona Sunset

Chapter 12

******** Peyton ******** 

When I woke up in the morning Chuck was still home. Usually he was up and gone long before I was. He smiled at me when I came into the kitchen. 

“Hey baby you ok?” He asked me. I smiled at him. 

“Yea, I’m fine. Why?” I asked him. 

“Just checking on you. You almost killed a man tonight.” He said. I nodded. 

“I wanted to.” I said honestly. 

“He ruined my youth. He haunted my dreams for years and just when I was getting happy. He ruined it for me again.” I said. He nodded. 

“I’m glad you didn’t kill him.” He said. 

“What’s it like?” I asked him. He was quiet for a minute. 

“The first time?” He asked. I nodded. He thought a bit before answering. 

“Well the first life I took…. It was so fast. It just happened. I felt removed from my body. I couldn’t stop process what had happened. I had to keep moving. We were under fire. I had men to protect. I did question myself. Why did I kill this man? Did he really deserve it? Was he really going to hurt us?” He stopped to draw a breath. 

“Of course, he really was going to hurt us. I only had one option. In that situation it’s kill or be killed. What no one ever says is how when you kill someone you also kill a little piece of yourself. You’re never the same after that. For a soldier it just becomes a part of the grind. Which when you think about it, is awful. They aren’t people to us, their targets. I don’t know what it would feel like to only kill one person.” He said. I was quiet, that was a lot to think about. I just didn’t want to go to prison. That was what my problem was at the time, I wouldn’t make it in jail. I didn’t think about the mental repercussions I would feel. 

“I never thought about that.” I answered. He smiled. 

“Of course not, because at that point you’d just be mad.” He answered. 

“I hope he never comes back or I will have to kill him.” I said. He grabbed my hand and shook his head. 

“No baby, if he comes back I will kill him.” He said, and when he said it I looked into his eyes knowing that he meant it. 

“I hope he doesn’t die out in the desert.” I said. He laughed, 

“No baby, He’ll make it. He could see the lights of Phoenix. He’s probably back to whatever hole he crawled out of by now.” He said. I nodded. 

“I gotta go to work if you’ll be ok?” He asked. I nodded. 

“Yup, I’ll be fine.” I answered him. He smiled, kissing me on the cheek before heading out the front door. I waited until I heard his jeep leave. Then I picked up my phone and dialed a familiar number. 

“Hello.” I heard her say. 

“Layla?” I asked

“Yup, who am I talking too?” She asked. 

“It’s Peyton.” I said. She was quiet. 

“I just wanted to make sure Pierce was there?” I asked her. 

“Yea, He called me from a payphone this morning. I picked him up at a*****e out of town.” She said. I sighed a breath of relief. I didn’t want to have to go and find him out in the damn desert. 

“Ok. Thanks.” I said, I was about to hang up. 

“Peyton?” She asked. 

“Yea?” I answered. 

“Are you doing good?” She asked. I smiled. Layla had always been the one to worry about me. 

“I’m so happy Layla. I’m doing really good. As long as he stays gone.” I answered. 

“I’m glad to hear it Pey Pey. I’ll do my best to keep him away from you.” She said. 

“Thanks.” I said. 

“Pey Pey?” She asked again. 

“Hmmm?” I answered. 

“Thanks for not killing him.” She said. I smiled and hung up. For some reason she loved that sick man. Didn’t matter how bad he was to her. She loved him. I kind of missed her. She had always helped me. She helped me get out of that life. I smiled. He was gone. I let Loki in and went upstairs to change into my running gear. I put him onto his harness. He’d have to learn to run with me. I stepped out onto the pavement. I set my pace, my shoes padding down onto the black top below me. Loki followed my pace, his tongue hanging from his mouth. I wondered how long he would be able to go before he got tired. I hadn’t ran in awhile. As I pushed myself my muscles started to scream. I loved it though. The rhythm of my heart mimicking the rhythm of my feet. The music of my ipod in my ears. For me the six mile mark was always the killer. I either quit then, or I pushed through it and everything got easier. When the six came, every muscle in my body was in pain. My lungs aching, my ears pounding. Loki is still keeping up with me. Happily plodding along. He was a good running partner. Ten miles came quickly. I turned and headed home. Walking the last little bit to cool off. When I got back to the house I had a quick shower, put Loki into his crate and walked up to Olivia’s. I knocked once and then went in. She was waiting in the kitchen. 

“Ready?” I asked. She nodded, grabbing her bag. 

“Sure am. Let’s go beautiful.” She said. I followed her out to the garage. 

“Did you go running with Loki this morning?” She asked. I nodded. 

“Yea, ten miles. I haven't run in years. I’m gunna feel that.” I said. 

“Damn, I don’t think I can run a mile.” She said. I smiled. 

“We could start going together. I’d be willing to do some smaller runs, I can already feel my muscles seizing.” I said. She smiled. 

“Well ten miles is a damn long time.” She said, putting her car in reverse and backing out the drive. 

“I told Norra I would pick her up. Also I met another friend on my first day and I’m going to pick her up too ok?” She asked. I nodded. 

“Sounds good to me.” I said. She was smiling too brightly. 

“What are you so happy about?” I asked her. She smiled. 

“We booked the wedding.” She said ecstatically. I smiled. 

“Thank god!” I said happily. She smiled. 

“There’s something for you in the glovebox.” She said. I opened it to see two treasure chests. 

“Your box has the blue ribbon.” She said. I pulled it out and opened it. Inside was a tiny bottle of malibu. A small bottle of Parrot Bay. A pair of flip flops. A bottle of sunscreen and a rolled up note. I opened the note. 

As I prepare for the day that I am to be a bride, it would mean the world to have you sipping by my side. 

Will you be my maid of honour?

I looked up. 

“Oh my god yes!” I squealed. She smiled. 

“Thank god.” She said smiling. I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. 

“One catch.” She said smiling. 

“K?” I asked. 

“It’s in Jamaica.” She said.

“Whoo hoo!” I exclaimed. 

“Oh my god destination wedding!” I said happily. She smiled. We were pulling into Norra’s driveway. 

“K, keep it down until she gets hers ok?” She asked me. I gave her the scouts honour. 

“Hey!” Norra said, sliding into the backseat. I handed her the other chest. She opened it up. 

“Oh my god!!!!!” She squealed as we pulled out onto the freeway. 

“Right!” I said. She bounced up and down. 

“I’m so excited.” She said happily. 

“It’s a destination wedding.” I said, happily revealing the secret. 

“Oooooo! Where? Where? Where?” She said happily. 

“Jamaica!” Olivia answered. 

“Yes! Damn! Yes!” She said happily. 

“Wait, where are we going?” She asked as we exited. 

“I met a girl at school and I’m picking her up.” Olivia answered. 

“Oh ok.” She said. 

“I’m so happy for you Olivia!” She said one more time. Olivia smiled as she pulled into the driveway. A girl slid into the back beside Norra. 

“Girls this Holly, this is Peyton and Norra.” She said, introducing us. The ride the rest of the way wasn’t as excited but still good. We learned that Holly was pre-med and that they had met at orientation. When we parked we each headed to our own buildings. I was happy to get into the groove of things. I swung past the gym so I could look at Chuck on my way. The floor to ceiling windows of the gym making it easy to ogle all the marines. When I walked by there he was, spotting for a woman. A beautiful woman. Dammit Peyton, don’t be jealous. He’s doing his job, she must be a vet. He’s not hitting on her. I told myself. But then she placed the weights on the rack, stood up and ran her hand down his muscled arm. You have got to be f*****g kidding me. I said to myself. But I decided to go in and say hi against my better judgement. He saw me as I walked in and to my distinct pleasure, he walked away from her immediately. When he got close I wrapped my arm around him and kissed him. 

“What was that for?” He asked when I broke free. 

“I missed you.” I said, kissing him again. He smiled. 

“I’m horny.” I whispered, I wanted his mind on me. He chuckled again. 

“Well come find me at lunch.” He said, smiling. I pecked him once more and headed off to class. Come at lunch he would.