by K. Sterling
“Sounds like paradise.” Ross shut his eyes and grinned as his body became weightless.
“Yeah. Get some rest and call me when you have a layover.” Parker said and Ross nodded faintly.
“I will.” Ross promised.
“Ok. I’ll talk to you later.” Parker said and Ross wished he could fall asleep listening to Parker’s voice.
“I’ll call you soon.” Ross mumbled.
“Bye.”
Ross ended the call and set the alarm on his phone before he curled his body around it as if it was Parker. If he was lucky, he could get a solid seven hours of sleep before he had to leave for the airport. He knew it was his last opportunity to sleep before he got back to Virginia.
Chapter 19
This was the last time he let Ross pick an activity, Parker promised himself as he stepped over a large branch. He frowned at Ross’ back as he practically floated over the trail, occasionally hopping onto a large rock before happily skipping up the trail like an oversized mountain goat. A really hot, half naked mountain goat. Parker shook his head at the clumsy simile.
“I can’t believe you’ve never been out here!” Ross said as he scaled a large pile of rocks and scanned ahead. “Shenandoah’s one of my favorite places to hike.” He’d already mentioned that fact about half a dozen times but Parker just nodded.
“Yeah, it’s crazy. Who would have guessed?” Parker mumbled. “Everything about me screams ‘Loves hiking at Shenandoah’.” He said under his breath and Ross shook his head and laughed as he jumped down and rushed ahead.
“Come on, you have to admit, the view is stunning.” Ross insisted as he waved ahead. Parker grinned as he stared at Ross’ rock-hard ass and thick, well muscled thighs and calves.
“I am enjoying the view.” He said as his eyes swept up Ross’ glistening back. He’d pulled his shirt off and it hung from the pocket of his shorts. The sight of the long, lean muscles of his back and sculpted abs and pecs were a powerful motivator to keep Parker following. Ross turned and raised a brow skeptically.
“I meant the forest.” Ross said and Parker shrugged.
“I didn’t need to come all the way out here to appreciate natural wonders.” He said and Ross shook his head again and rested his hands on his hips.
“It’s not that bad.” Ross declared and Parker gave him an impatient look.
“If your alternatives are getting poked by sharp sticks all day or clowns doing balloon animals, it’s ‘not that bad’.” Parker agreed. “It’s…ugh, bugs.” He waved a large flying insect away as he ducked his head. Ross laughed.
“Bugs are great.” Ross announced as he stepped closer and Parker frowned at him. “I would have starved to death once if it weren’t for bugs.” He said as he pulled Parker close. Parker leaned away and his face twisted in horror.
“Oh, whaaat? Why didn’t you tell me that before I kissed you?” He groaned as Ross’ head tilted forward and his lips brushed against Parker’s.
“Would you prefer that I died?” He asked softly before his tongue traced Parker’s lips. Parker shuddered.
“I would have.” He grumbled before he let Ross’ tongue slide past his lips.
Their tongues dueled playfully before a buzzing by Parker’s left ear had him swaying to the right and cursing. It wasn't that he was afraid of bugs. Parker didn’t mind them in general. It was anything that flew and attacked. He’d endured overly aggressive flies in Africa and giant mosquitos in South America. The mosquitos had almost ended his career in Anthropology. Parker’s body overreacted to anything that bit or stung. Once, half of his arm swelled to the size of his thigh after a mosquito bite. Which was why Parker had taken a heavy dose of antihistamines before they left that morning. Which left Parker a bit less agile and alert so he had to take the trail a little slower and he felt groggier and crankier than usual.
“I don’t get why you picked hiking.” Parker pushed Ross to get him moving again. The sooner they got to wherever he was leading them, the sooner they could leave. “Don’t you do a lot of that when you’re gone? I’d think that all of that was pretty outdoorsy.” He scrunched his nose as he dodged an alarmingly large pile of animal droppings. Ross chuckled as he ducked beneath a low hanging branch.
“It’s extremely outdoorsy but I’m usually in deserts or places with very little trees or grass. Everything’s always in shades of brown and tan. It’s nice to spend a day someplace like this, soaking up all of the green and the trees.” Ross explained and Parker felt a stab of guilt for being so difficult.
“Ok. Well, you soak up the deciduous forest and I’m going to soak up your perfect ass and thighs.” Parker suggested and Ross rolled his eyes as he grabbed Parker’s hand.
“Look.” He ordered as he waved ahead of them. Parker’s eyes widened and for a moment he was speechless. “Dark Hollow Falls.” Ross announced and Parker couldn’t help but be impressed. He nodded as he slid his arm around Ross’ waist.
“It’s beautiful.” Parker said as he rested his head on Ross’ shoulder. Ross’ hand curved around Parker’s cheek.
“I knew you’d love it. We’ll get closer and find someplace to rest before we head back. It’ll be cooler by the water.” Ross grabbed Parker’s hand and tugged. Parker sighed in relief. At least it was half way over.
Chapter 20
“Hey, Ross.” Mark called just as Ross was reaching for the door. Ross did his best not to look impatient as he turned. Mark had just completed the last briefing of the week and the rest of the team had popped smoke.
“What’s up?” Ross asked as he leaned against the door.
“You know, we’re having a team cookout tomorrow. Michelle’s been harping about how you never come and I promised her I’d make you show up this time.” Mark gave Ross one of his looks. It was charming and hopeful but Ross knew that he wasn’t really giving him an option. Ross looked down at his feet and rubbed the back of his neck as he tried to find a polite way to decline.
“Look… I’m seeing someone and I promised that I’d get to Charlottesville before too late, tonight.” Ross explained and Mark’s lips pulled tight.
“I know. We’d like it if you could bring him.” Mark said carefully and everything within Ross locked, his chest became tight and his eyes were wide.
“I didn’t know that you knew. I never really mentioned it…” Ross swallowed past the lump in his throat and Mark shook his head quickly.
“No, you never mentioned it but we all know and it’s cool.” Mark insisted and Ross just stared back. Mostly in shock, partly unsure how to continue. Mark shrugged. “We don’t really talk about it but you know how the wives and girlfriends are. They’re all waiting for you to bring someone and want you to come to more things.” He crossed the room and grabbed Ross’ shoulder and shook it reassuringly and Ross nodded.
“Yeah but it’s only been a few months and I don’t know if we’re ready for that.” He said and Mark’s eyes narrowed as he watched Ross.
“This is you. I know you better than that. If it’s been a few months, it’s serious. He’s important to you.” Mark stated and Ross couldn’t help but nod again. “If he’s important to you, you need to bring him. We don’t do the cookouts and parties with the spouses for us, Ross. We do it for them. We do it so they have a support system if something happens. No one else is going to understand what it’s like being with us.” Mark explained and Ross shrugged.
“Parker’s got Bryan up there. And Ian.” He mumbled. Mark had replaced Bryan as team leader and they’d come up together. Mark smiled and nodded.
“That’s great.” Mark admitted. “But we can’t give them too much support, can we?” He asked and Ross bit his lip as he considered.
He’d never discussed his sexuality with the team. They always made jokes, called each other things like “fag” or “pussy”, but that’s just what they did. Ross played along and lobbed slurs back when it broke the tension and kept them close. But he wouldn’t have come
out to the team. Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell was officially over but that didn’t mean that everyone would accept it and it couldn’t hurt Ross’ career. The team was more like a family but Ross didn’t assume that everything was unconditional. So, he planned to keep that part of his personal life separate.
“I’ll talk to Parker. I don’t want to make any promises though. I don’t know how he’ll feel about it.” Ross offered and Mark smiled.
“Do your best.” He winked and Ross frowned. This was the last conversation he ever thought he’d have with his team leader.
“The whole thing kind of freaks him out. He doesn’t like that he can’t know everything and I don’t know if he wants to hear about how hard it is to put up with us.” Ross said as he began to put together how he was going to bring it up with Parker. Mark waved it off.
“It’s good for them to have others to vent to. And he might need them one day.” Mark patted Ross on the back as he pulled the door open. “My place around 1700.” He gave Ross a pointed look and pushed him through the door. Ross sighed and his shoulders sagged.
“So… If you don’t have any plans and if it’s not too much trouble, could you come down?” Ross grimaced as he stared out the windshield.
“I didn’t have anything specific planned. I guess I can drive down. Why? What’s up?” Parker asked. He sounded fine with the idea and Ross relaxed a little as he heard Parker moving, probably gathering whatever he’d need for the weekend.
“There’s this thing tomorrow, with the team. I should go. I haven’t in a long time and I guess some people have been complaining.” He explained.
“You should go, then.” Parker said and Ross bit his lip. “I’ll come down for the weekend and you can go to your thing. I know your team is important, I don’t want to get in the way.” He was still pretty nonchalant and Ross took a deep breath.
“It’s more for the spouses than for the team.” Ross said carefully.
“Ok.” Parker responded. And waited. Ross squeezed his eyes shut.
“My team leader wants me to bring you.” Ross said quickly. Several moments passed.
“Ummm…does he know that your girlfriend isn’t actually a girl?” He asked and Ross pinched the bridge of his nose. All of this felt so awkward. Ross hated awkward.
“Yeah.” He sighed heavily. “I guess they all know and the other spouses want to meet you.” Ross felt a sense of impending dread. He’d rather kick down a door and face a dozen armed insurgents than show up at Mark’s place with his new boyfriend. Parker hummed thoughtfully.
“Is this something you’re comfortable with?” He asked gently and Ross shook his head.
“I don’t know. Maybe, if I had a little more time to think about it but it was something between a strongly worded request and an order. And it’s kind of a good idea.” Ross admitted.
“Do you think so?” Parker sounded genuinely curious.
“Yeah. It’s important for our spouses to have all the support they can. They’re good at listening to each other and sharing information.” Everything became still on the other end.
“And you think it’s appropriate for me to be there?” Parker’s tone was neutral and Ross wasn’t sure how to answer that. “Am I your spouse?” He asked and Ross shut his eyes and let his head fall back against the headrest and he groaned as he wished he was jumping out of a C-130.
“I don’t know. Maybe. Sort of? You could be, one day…” He decided to throw everything up and hope that something was the right answer. This was a much bigger discussion than he was wanting to have at the moment. Ross was just trying to survive the conversation.
“Ok. I’ll go to this thing.” Parker announced and Ross exhaled loudly as the tension drained from his body.
“Great. Thank you so much.” Ross whispered then cleared his throat. “It shouldn’t be that bad. Just a cookout. We’ll eat some grilled food and drink a few beers. It should be pretty relaxed.” He frowned as he stared across the parking lot.
“Sounds fun.” Parker replied. “I’m just about ready to go. I’ll call you when I’m on the road.” He said and Ross heard a bag being zipped.
“Ok, bye.” Ross mumbled as his frown grew.
“Bye.”
Ross hung up and scrubbed a hand over his face as his shoulders and neck tightened again. Getting Parker to agree to go was just the first hurdle. They actually had to go to the cookout. The team was going to meet Parker. Parker was going to meet the team.
Chapter 21
“Can we talk about why you’re so tense?” Parker asked as Ross reversed out of the parking spot in front of the grocery store. Ross’ lips pulled tight as he looked at Parker. He’d been quiet and withdrawn since Parker arrived the night before. Parker gave him a pointed look, he wasn’t going to accept that everything was fine. Ross sighed as he put the car in Drive.
“I never felt like I fit in until I enlisted. The longer I was in, the more I started to feel like I knew who I was and the more I understood the type of people I work with. When I was a kid, I never had a place. Even in foster homes, I was just there, because they let me be there and in the back of my mind, I was always waiting to have to leave. You’re a bit of a nomad when you’re in the military but you know that’s part of the deal and you know when you’re moving, for the most part. And everyone’s the same, to a certain degree.” He glanced at Parker to see if he understood and Parker nodded. It was a little sad but very revealing. Ross’ eyes darted about as he watched the traffic around them. “I’ve been with the team for about five years now. Bryan brought me in and they’ve been sort of like my family. Mark replaced Bryan as team leader three years ago and two other guys left and were replaced; but for the most part, our group has been pretty solid. They’re all great guys but I didn’t know how they’d take it if they knew I was gay. We operate in conditions that are sometimes really close and intense. I was afraid that some of them would get paranoid about me looking at them sexually. That would be a big problem for guys like us. We’re used to violence, adrenaline and pressure. Thinking the guy next to you is soft and picturing you naked could be a distraction. We have to be able to trust each other and I would never do anything to compromise that. I planned to keep my personal life separate from them, I didn’t want to risk losing their respect.” Ross cringed as he looked at Parker. “Not because I’m ashamed but because it’s still the military and I have to trust these people with my life. I have to accept them no matter what their opinion of me would be and it just seemed more practical to avoid any potential conflict.” He explained and Parker nodded again.
“I get it, Ross. Activism is great but sometimes, we have to be practical. If you’re doing something really important, then making a statement, on that scale isn’t going to be worth it. But it sounds like your team cares for you as much as you care for them.” Parker watched as Ross rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.
“I’m not really worried about the team, as a whole, now. There’s just a few people that I think might have an issue.” His body became visibly stiffer as they turned into a neighborhood of large, newer colonial style homes. There were all the trappings of typical suburbia as Parker scanned the front lawns and vehicles. There were picket fences, minivans, porch swings and rocking chairs, sprinklers, brightly filled flower beds… As an anthropologist, Parker saw the symbols and patterns. As a man sitting next to a man that might be his future, Parker wondered if they might find themselves living in a neighborhood like this. Would he even want that? Parker put the thought aside as Ross parked the car on the street in front of a house at the end of a cul-de-sac. The driveway and street were already full of cars. Ross took a deep breath before he turned to Parker. “Look. I’ll introduce you to Mark and Michelle. Stay with one of us until you get a good feeling for more of the group. If you have a problem with anyone, let me know.” Ross’ eyes searched Parker’s face and Parker smiled as he took Ross’ hand.
“I’ll be fine. I know how to handle straight people a
nd make them love me.” Parker teased and Ross squeezed his hand.
“I don’t care about that. If I was worried that you weren’t appropriate… That didn’t even cross my mind.” He insisted as he turned the car off. “I don’t want anyone to make you uncomfortable. You might want to keep your distance from Jones. I’m worried about him the most.” Ross’ eyes flicked to the house and a look of resignation, mixed with determination flashed. “He’s not a bad guy but he’s just…” He bit his lip and shook his head. “You’ll see.” Ross opened the door and got out. Parker stepped out and shut the door and went to the back to grab the bags. They brought chips, dips, cookies, a fruit salad and two cases of beer. Ross insisted they were bringing too much but Parker had never been to a cookout and he wanted to make good impression.
“Wow! You’re hot!” Michelle exclaimed as she took the bags from Parker. He slid a nervous glance at Ross and he shrugged as he set the beer on the counter.
“Go easy on him.” Ross whispered loudly as he kissed her on the cheek. She elbowed him and he grunted.
“You’ve got a lot of nerve, giving me orders.” She hissed as she stretched on her tiptoes and hugged him. “You don’t show your face for months and when you finally do show up, you bring Mr-Goddamned-Perfect.” Michelle pushed him toward the back doors. “Go out and get a beer, I’ve got business with Parker.” She gave Parker an exaggerated wink and he decided she was good people. Ross clapped a hand on Parker’s shoulder.
“If you get scared, I’ll be out back.” He smiled and saluted as he went out the doors. Michelle hooked her arm in Parker’s and led him toward a closed-in patio.
“Now, we have a tradition when there’s a new girl. Clearly, you’re not a girl but you still have to be initiated.” She saw Parker’s eyes flare and he looked over his shoulder and out the french doors at the men gathered in groups around the grill and a ping pong table.