Chapter 12
___________________
Alex
MY UNCLE AND I SAT at the bar waiting for our table, and I found myself glancing in Rose’s direction for the third time since we sat down while she and her aunt ate dinner.
“See something you like over there?” My uncle raised an eyebrow and smiled as he downed his scotch.
“Not particularly. Maybe it’s you I should be asking that same question. What’s the connection with you and her aunt?”
“We just go back a long way. Old friends.” He lifted his glass to the bartender, signaling another.
I cleared my throat and studied him. “Are friends all the two of you were?”
“It makes no difference now. That was a long time ago.”
He definitely had some kind of thing going with her aunt in the past, and that would explain why he had such a soft spot for Rose.
“You know, you should ease up on Rose a bit. Despite what you think, she’s a very intelligent girl.”
I downed my gin and tonic, just as the bartender set another in front of me.
“If the two of you could learn to put your minds together, there’s no telling how successful the magazine would be. You’re both young and have such different viewpoints on life that would resonate with a diverse group of readers,” he hammered on.
“The only viewpoint she has on life is how to land a rich guy so she can maintain the lifestyle she’s been accustomed to. She’s just like—”
My uncle held his hand up to stop me just before the dreaded name crossed my lips. “No, Alex, that’s where you’re wrong. Yes, Rose has lived a privileged life. How could she not? Her father is one of the biggest real estate developers on the West Coast. That’s the only life she knows. But I’ve been watching her interact with the other staff, Lucy and Marisa in particular, and I know she has a good heart. She’s willing to try new things, even ones she thinks are beneath her…she just doesn’t realize it yet. That’s why I want you to take her to that homeless shelter to let her see there’s a whole other world out there. You can’t fault her for being sheltered her entire life and only knowing one way of living. Not everyone can be like you.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I snapped.
“You had the world at your feet. You were accepted into Princeton and MIT and you—”
“Yeah, I know, I blew it by joining the military.”
“No, that’s not what I was going to say. Not at all. You did something you were passionate about when you had every other opportunity in the world given to you. Not many people would do something that honorable.”
“Yeah, and look where that got me.”
“Yes, look where it did get you. You should be very proud of yourself and your accomplishments.”
“Well, I’m not. I didn’t finish what I set out to do…I failed.”
“You were a MARSOC Marine. That’s hardly a failure.”
I bowed my head and stared down at the bar. I hated hearing the word were when it pertained to my time in the military when it should have been are. “You know, they say once a Marine always a Marine. No matter how old you are or how long you’ve been out of the Corp.” I shook my head. “It’s only been two years for me, and I don’t feel worthy enough to call myself a Marine anymore. I feel like I failed everyone and most of all myself.”
“Alex, you got hurt doing a mission…a very dangerous one at that, and by some miracle you’re still alive to talk about it. How could you think you let anyone down?” He raised his voice. “You could have lived off your father’s good fortune like he wanted you to, but you didn’t, and I have nothing but respect for you for that.”
I chugged down my drink and stared into space, wishing I could hear those same words come from my father’s mouth, but he was never able to say them to me. “Yeah, well, maybe my dad was right. Maybe if I had gone to school like he wanted, I would’ve never met her, I wouldn’t have gotten injured, and I wouldn’t be going through all the bullshit I’m going through right now.”
“You’ll get through this, Alex, and soon, she’ll be a distant memory. She was your mistake to be made. We all have at least one of them in life. It’s just setting you up for something and someone better.”
“Fuck that, I’m so done with women once this is over.” I found my eyes drifting back over into Rose’s direction as she threw her head back and laughed. She turned her head my way, her smile still somewhat prevalent when our eyes connected, causing me to abruptly look away.
“Never say never, Alex. The right one may be a lot closer than you think.” Uncle Henry grinned and patted me on the shoulder.