“Don’t be. You helped me prove my point. It’s learned behavior, and I learned, and so will you. That is the least of my worries.”
“You’re worried?”
“I am.”
She sits up. “What are you worried about?”
I shrug. “So many things… graduating, getting to everything on time, you saying yes, getting back to the base without something bad befalling me, Mom and Dad—”
“Wait, did you just say what I think you said?”
“What, what did I say?”
“Jacob Allen Starr, did you just propose?”
I shake my head. This is not the way I want to propose to the love of my life. “Nope, I did not. Believe me, JJ, you won’t have to ask if I am proposing. You will know.”
“Well, that is one less thing you need to worry about.”
“What?”
“The answer is and will be yes.”
I decide proposing on this first visit might not be a good idea. The fact she told me her answer will be yes is all I need. I think I was rushing into a proposal ’cause I wanted her off the market. I did not want some douchebag coming in and stealing her away, but now I am convinced more than ever that Jayden McKenzie is mine and always will be. I have nothing to worry about.
***
The remainder of the holiday weekend was amazing. It was great spending time with Jayden, my parents, and her dad. It was harder to go back to the academy this time, but I did and immersed myself into the hardest four years of my life. After the first Thanksgiving visit home, I was only able to go home for Christmas and spring break in the ensuing years. Thanksgiving holiday was spent studying for end-of-term finals before Christmas break.
The velocity at which they throw information at us is overwhelming. It’s like they hand us a fire hose and force us to drink from it. Some cadets really struggle with it, but luckily for me, I have a good memory. I’ve always been a smart, fast-learning student. Most cadets must completely change their study habits and learn to not be afraid to ask for help.
It’s my last spring break before graduation, and I plan to propose to Jayden. I’ve bought the ring, and I know what I want to say, but hell, I’m a nervous wreck. Jayden and I decided we needed a break and are spending spring break at Daytona Beach. She’s finally starting to leave her dad more, and I like that. Usually though, she always makes plans for my parents to “hang out” with him so he’s not alone.
We’ve coordinated our flights so that we arrive in Daytona around the same time. I believe I get in around noon, and she is about fifteen minutes behind me. I can’t wait to see her. The flight from Colorado to Daytona is a long one, with a stop in Atlanta. I swear every flight stops in Atlanta or Dallas. I hate both airports. Luckily for me, my flight landed at the same terminal I was to depart from. I didn’t have to run from terminal to terminal trying to catch my connection. I would think the airlines would plan those better.
My flight finally touches down in Daytona, and my excitement to see Jayden increases. We’ve never traveled together before, and I can’t put into words how much fun we’re gonna have. I haven’t decided exactly when I am going to propose. Maybe when I first see her, at the airport. I shake my head. No, that’s lame. At Disney World? Yeah, everyone else and their brothers propose at Disney World. I don’t know. I want it to be special and unique.
I head for baggage claim. I don’t have any bags there, as I carried mine on the plane, but Jayden said to meet her there, so I am sure she has a huge bag. I chuckle. Sometimes that girl is high maintenance, but I love her. I wouldn’t change one thing.
I’ve waited a good thirty minutes at baggage claim when I hear a loud squeal.
“Jake!”
I look up, and there she is, my beautiful girl. I rush to her and she falls into my arms. The smell of her hair is intoxicating, and I want to hold her forever.
“It’s so good to see you!” she says.
“Oh, baby, and you. There is no better feeling than having you in my arms.” I pull away and say, “Come on, let’s get your bag and get to the hotel.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” she says happily.
We wait forever for her bags. When they finally come down the belt, I grab them and we walk to the rental car counter. We wait again for an agent to become available, and when they finally do, our car is rented and we head to Pirate’s Cove. The hotel is right on the beach, and I booked an oceanfront room. It’s going to be perfect.
We pull up to the hotel, and Jayden is so excited, she is acting like a little kid. “Can we go to the beach? When are we going to Disney World? What about Epcot?”
“Whoa, girl, slow down. We will do all those things, I promise.”
“I know, but I am so excited. Mom and Dad took me to Disney when I was little, but I really don’t remember it.”
