Chapter Thirteen
Chantel sat curled up by the fire pit, the crackling flames casting shadows that danced across the patio. The warmth of the fire wrapped around her as she tightened the blanket over her legs, sipping from her mug. The day with Zach’s family had been full of laughter, teasing, and love. Being around them had been a bittersweet reminder of her own family.
Her parents had always made the holidays magical. Whether it was the smell of her dad’s cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning or her mom’s slightly off-key caroling, the memories were rich and warm. It had just been the three of them, but it had been enough.
Then cancer stole them both. Her dad first, just after her first year of college, and her mom two years later. Losing them had been like losing her anchor. Since then, she’d been adrift, making her way on her own.
She stared into the fire, her thoughts a whirlwind. The holiday weekend with Zach and his family had been a joyful distraction, but soon, real life would call her back. She needed to figure out her next steps. Where was she going to go? What would she do for a job? Would she ever return to Boston?
Her thoughts drifted to Zach and his easy smile. Three times now, they’d come so close to kissing. She felt a tug in her chest when she thought about him, but would starting something with him even make sense? They’d both be going their separate ways after this weekend.
“Penny for your thoughts?” The deep voice said, breaking the silence around her.
Startled, Chantel looked up to see Zach standing there, his hands shoved into his jacket pockets, his expression soft.
“Oh, hey,” she said, straightening up. “I didn’t hear you.”
“Mind if I join you?” he asked, nodding toward the empty seat beside her.
“Not at all,” she said, motioning toward it.
As Zach settled next to her, he studied her face. “You okay? You looked far away.”
Chantel hesitated but then nodded. “Just thinking about my parents,” she admitted, her voice quieter.
Zach tilted his head slightly. “You’ve never really mentioned them before.”
She smiled sadly, the firelight catching the glint of moisture in her eyes. “They were everything to me. It was just the three of us, and we made the holidays special. But they passed away while I was in college.” She paused, swallowing hard. “Both from cancer. Two years apart.”
Zach’s expression softened, and he leaned closer, his elbow resting on his knee as he looked at her. “Chantel, I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay,” she said, though her voice wavered. “It’s been years now, but being here with your family and seeing how close you all are made me miss them more.”
◆◆◆
Zach listened intentively as Chantel told him about her mom and dad. His throat tightened, hearing her talk about how much she missed them. She had always seemed so independent, so self-reliant, and now he understood why.
“And then there’s the rest of it, with the whole ex-fiance situation. Then figuring out what comes next for me,” she continued with a half-laugh.
Zach’s brows furrowed. “You know, my mom and dad wouldn’t mind if you stayed here a little longer. That is if you wanted to. They’d love having you around.”
She gave him a small, grateful smile. “That’s sweet of you, but I’d feel like I would be imposing.”
“Trust me, you wouldn’t be.”
Chantel shifted the conversation. “What about you? You don’t talk much about you or your job.”
Zach smirked. “That’s because most of it I can’t talk about.”
“Why is that?” she asked, looking at him seriously.
“Have you ever heard of Marine Raiders?” he asked.
She scrunched her eyebrows together as if she was thinking. She looked at him. “I’ve heard the name before, but I can’t say that I’m familiar with it. Though I’m guessing it is part of the Marines,” she said with a slight laugh.
Zach chuckled. “You are right. The Raiders are a part of the Marines. They report under the United States Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, otherwise known as MARSOC,” he explained to her.
She looked at him. “Special Operations she repeated. Are they like Navy SEALs?” she asked.
He grinned. “Something like that.”
Her eyes then widened. “Are you saying that you are a Raider?”
He nodded. “I am.”
“Oh, wow!” she said, looking impressed. “It must be dangerous.”
He smiled again. “It can be pretty demanding at times.”
“Can I ask you something else?” she asked.
He glanced over at her, a small smile tugging at his lips. “Sure.”
“Your family. Are your brothers in the military, too?”
Zach chuckled softly, rubbing the back of his neck. “Yeah, they are. The military isn’t just a job in my family. It is practically a legacy. My dad was a Marine. He was a hardass, but in the best way. Taught us what it means to serve something bigger than ourselves.”
Chantel leaned forward, her elbows resting on her knees. “That’s amazing. So, Justin, Ethan, and Bear are Marines too?”
“Justin and Ethan are both Marine Raiders, like me. We’ve been in some of the same units over the years, which is rare but pretty cool. They’re both solid operators. They are dedicated and dependable. Everything you’d expect from Raiders.”
She tilted her head, her interest piqued. “And Bear?”
Zach smirked. “Nope, Bear decided to blaze his own trail. He’s a Navy SEAL. He’s one of the best SEALs out there. He is hard as nails, but he’s got a soft spot when it comes to his wife and kids. Joker is a SEAL, too. He and Bear serve on the same team.”
Chantel sat back, clearly impressed. “Wow. That’s incredible.”
Zach chuckled. “But it’s not just us guys. My sister is no slouch either.”
Chantel’s eyebrows shot up. “Clover? Is she in the military, too?”
“She was,” Zach said, his voice filled with pride. “Clover’s was a Marine as well. She wasn’t just any Marine, though. She was a helicopter pilot for the president’s Situational Combat Squadron.”
“Seriously?” Chantel said, her mouth slightly agape.
“Seriously,” Zach said with a grin. “She’s a badass. But now she’s traded all that for flying helicopters for a private security company in Virginia Beach. Keeps her close to Joker.”
Chantel shook her head in amazement. “Your whole family is like a real-life action movie. You’re all so accomplished and so brave.”
Zach shrugged, feeling a warmth spread through his chest at her genuine admiration. “It’s just what we do. It’s not easy, and we’ve all sacrificed a lot, but it’s worth it. Serving is part of who we are. My dad always said, ‘If you’re given much, you give back more.’ I guess that stuck with all of us.”
Chantel’s gaze softened. “I don’t think people realize how much you and your family sacrifice. Not just in terms of time and danger, but your lives, your connections, and the things you have to miss out on.”
Her words struck a chord. Zach looked at her, seeing the sincerity in her eyes, and nodded. “Yeah, it’s not easy. But when you believe in what you’re doing, you find a way to handle it. Even if it means leaning on each other when things get tough.”
Chantel smiled softly. “Well, I have so much respect for you all. And gratitude. It takes a special kind of person to do what you do.”
Zach felt his chest tighten at her words. She wasn’t just being polite. Zach could tell that she meant every word. “Thanks, Chantel,” he said quietly. “That means a lot.”
For a moment, they sat in silence, the sounds of crickets and the distant hum of the house behind them filling the air. Zach watched her out of the corner of his eye, the admiration she’d just expressed swirling in his mind. Something about her presence made him feel more grounded, more seen.
“Can I ask you a personal question?” She asked, looking up at him with her green eyes that sparkled.
“Sure.”
“Why don’t you have a girlfriend or a significant other?”
He chuckled. “I had a girlfriend right out of high school, but she broke up with me when the whole military thing became too much. After that, I guess I decided not to risk it again.”
Chantel nodded thoughtfully. “I get it. I’m sure military life isn’t easy for either person in the relationship, especially in your position.”
For a moment, he hesitated, then asked, “Would it be hard for you? Dating someone in the military, I mean?”
She blinked, surprised by the question. “Honestly? It’d depend. If both people truly love, respect, and care for each other, I think they would find a way to make it work. But it would take an effort from both sides.”
Zach stared at her, impressed. There was a quiet conviction in her voice that tugged at something deep inside him.
They fell into a comfortable silence, the crackling fire filling the space between them.
To his surprise, Chantel shifted closer and leaned her head on his shoulder. Without thinking, Zach wrapped an arm around her, his fingers brushing over the blanket she had pulled around herself.
She was asleep before he could say anything.
Zach smiled to himself, leaning his cheek against the top of her head. “Sweet dreams, Chantel,” he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.
At that moment, he realized just how much he didn’t want her to leave.