Page 24 of Grunt: A Marine Romance

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THE SUNLIGHTFROM the bay bounced off the mirrors in Robyn and Xavier’s ballroom. This room was normally used as their yoga/meditation studio, hence the crimson-colored velvet fabric draped under the ceiling.

“That’s it, Robyn. Four and one, two, three, four and one, two, three.” Robyn’s hips shimmied across the floor. For her first day, Bret was impressed. Robyn worked very hard and had an excellent sense of rhythm, not to mention killer legs. He had taught her rumba walks and cha-cha timing. He wasn’t sure yet what their first dance would be, but he wanted her to have a head start on the Latin dances.

“Thanks, Bret. This is so much fun.” Robyn grabbed her bottle of water and sat on the sofa.

Across the room, Selena trained a struggling Xavier. Unlike Robyn, he was clumsier than Bret had thought he would be. Selena sure had her work cut out if they wanted to final—or even make it past the first week. Bret didn’t wish to see her eliminated, but he had to admit it would be so much easier to focus if she wasn’t around.

Robyn caught Bret’s eyes as he gazed at Selena. “So what’s the deal with you two, anyway? Have you kept in touch over the years?”

Bret had planned a standard answer regarding his relationship with Selena just in case anyone in the media asked. But he wanted to be honest with Robyn. He turned off his mike, motioned for Robyn to do the same, and then sat next to her.

“We danced together for ten years, until we were eighteen. We got engaged and then I joined the Marines. We were supposed to get married after boot camp. But she left me and decided to dance with Dima. We hadn’t seen each other since, until a few days ago.”

“Well, if you two are soul mates, you will find your way back to one another. If not in this lifetime, then in the next.”

Bret swallowed and hoped the camera didn’t catch his look of disgust. There was no next lifetime for him. Though he wasn’t raised with a faith, he’d become very religious when he was in Iraq. There, he attended church every week and even had a tattoo of a cross on his back. Every day during his most recent deployment, he and some of his men prayed Psalm ninety-one. They suffered no casualties. He believed in one life, one God, one Heaven. He only had one chance to do things right.

“We aren’t soul mates. We were both very young. It’s clear now we have nothing in common and very different beliefs.”

Robyn’s beautiful lips curled. “Maybe you are meant to learn something from each other. We don’t always fall in love with someone who is like ourselves. It would be too easy. I’m from a very different background than Xavi. But he completes me, and I’ve experienced such amazing growth from him. Twenty years together and we’ve raised three beautiful children.”

Bret was pleased that their marriage seemed to be the real deal. He had hoped that he wouldn’t be paired with a cheating Hollywood housewife that would look at him like a piece of meat.

“You two are very lucky. I hope to find that someday—once I get out of the Marines. But it won’t be with Selena.”

Robyn put her hand on Bret’s knee, but not in a creepy, seductive way. More motherly. “Bret, you can’t choose your path. You should just be open to your surroundings.” She stood up, walked to the stereo, and turned off the music. Selena and Xavier stopped dancing. Xavier looked as if he might fall to the ground.

“Please, Bret and Selena. Would you both care to join us for lunch?”

The tears that Selena had shed earlier had long since disappeared but she still wouldn’t look at Bret in the eye. “Sure. I’m starving.” She gave Xavier a quick encouraging hug.

Robyn led everyone to the redwood deck, and went inside the French doors to bring out lunch. Bret was also impressed that he hadn’t noticed any maids or cooks at the home. Selena had been right: celebrities in Marin were very humble. At least Xavier and Robyn were.

Robyn brought out a pitcher of iced tea, a plate of sandwiches, and a bowl of pasta salad. Everything looked delicious, though Bret noticed that there was no meat to be found.

He piled his plate. “Thank you, Robyn. You didn’t need to do this.”

“It’s my pleasure. The sandwiches are hummus, avocado, sprouts and tomatoes, and the pasta is organic, gluten free, and vegan. Enjoy.”

The food tasted great and was surprisingly filling.

They ate quickly and engaged in a meaningless conversation about the show. Robyn went to get dessert and Xavier followed her into the house.

Bret and Selena stared out into the three-tier rose garden.

“Sorry about earlier. I didn’t mean to upset you,” Bret offered.

“It’s fine. You made a good point. It’s a hard lifestyle for others to accept. I understand. It would be so much easier to be involved with my partner.”

“What happened with you and Dima?”

Selena pushed the last piece of pasta around on her plate. “Well, we didn’t start dating until a year after you and I broke up. I wasn’t over you, I guess.”

She looked up at Bret, but he didn’t give her any reaction so she continued. “Anyway, we started dating after we won the U.S. National Professional Rising Star Championships. It was really great for a while and we got engaged. But once we were cast on the show, everything changed. We never saw each other since we were spending all our time with our celebrities. And then we started fighting about the tabloid rumors. So we decided to take a break, but we left open the possibility of getting back together one day. That was three years ago.”

“Well, it’s none of my business. But I doubt it was ever an equal relationship. He was our coach, Sel. He started training you when you were eight and he was twenty. It’s just weird.”

Her nose twitched. “Yeah, you’re right. But as you said, who else would want to date me with my lifestyle?”

“Maybe you need to reevaluate your lifestyle and make sure you are living the life you want. You always wanted children. Even when we were kids ourselves, that’s all you’d talk about. You aren’t getting any younger. Just don’t want to see you miss out on something that was so important to you once.”

Selena turned to Bret and placed her hand on his thigh. A warmth shot through Bret’s body. She had a tear in her eye and she didn’t even bother to wipe it away. “I did want children, Bret. With you. I knew Dima wouldn’t make a great father. He gets frustrated with kids. You remember how he was with us. Always yelling at us when we made mistakes. Kicking our feet ‘til they bled. No patience.” She took a deep breath. “I just don’t know what I want anymore. My life has changed so much since back when we were together. But I need this title Bret. I could get kicked off the show tomorrow. My mom sacrificed so much for my dancing lessons. All those competitions and costumes weren’t cheap. I have to pay her back. If I win Blackpool, I’ll be able to judge.”

A few more tears stained her face. Bret wasn’t sure what to do but his instinct to comfort her took over. He pulled her toward his chest and just held her. And he didn’t want to ever let go.