by L. A. Witt
“Man,” Lucas whispered, “everyone looks like they’ve already been flying for days.”
“Right?” Nate glanced at the departures screen. “Their flight leaves at ten, so they’ve probably been here since about three.”
Lucas blinked. “In the morning?”
“Yep.”
“Why the—oh, right. You told me about that. But, why do they have to be here so early?”
“If they’re taking Space A, they—”
“Space what?”
“Space available. Means they’re getting on a military plane that’s got a few seats open. And sometimes you’ve got more people than seats, or the plane might be stopping at other terminals and picking up more passengers, so they have to finish roll call like three or four hours ahead.” He shuddered. “It’s fucking brutal, but for free airfare . . .”
“Guess it’s kind of worth it. Or in Daniel’s case, free airfare and getting home early.”
“Exactly.”
They found a couple of seats in the waiting area and settled in, keeping an eye on the arrivals screen in between screwing off on their phones.
All around them, people came and went. One of the flights boarded, clearing out most of the waiting area, and within minutes, another thin crowd of people started filling up the chairs. Beside one family were two pet carriers. One held a Chihuahua half-buried under a pink blanket. In the other, a huge black-and-white long-haired cat made sure everyone in the building knew how pissed off he was at the situation. When the cop went by with his German shepherd, the cat flattened its ears and hissed. The shepherd gave him a puzzled look but didn’t seem bothered.
Eventually the cat simmered down, though he’d occasionally yowl, in case anyone had forgotten how supremely displeased he was. The Chihuahua looked concerned for a while but then burrowed into his blanket and went to sleep.
“They should be grateful,” Lucas said quietly to Nate. “They probably get more leg room than the people.”
“Actually, they’re probably going on a cargo jet. Usually you sit in a jump seat along the side of the aircraft, and once you’re in the air, you can lie on the floor or across the seats if you want to.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. It’s nice, let me tell you.” Nate smiled, gaze still fixed on the cat and dog. “Jon and I had to take one to Yokosuka once, and we both packed sleeping bags. Rolled ’em out and slept the whole way.”
Lucas whistled. “Fuck. I’d get up at three in the morning for that.”
“Right?”
They went back to their phones while people continued to come and go around them. About forty-five minutes after they’d sat down, the Rota flight changed to ARRIVED on the screen.
Lucas pocketed his phone. “Looks like they’re here.”
Sure enough, passengers started trickling in from baggage claim not long after that, and Daniel was among them. He must’ve been about fifteen pounds lighter than the last time Lucas had seen him, not to mention two or three shades darker. His hair was short on top and shaved to the skin at the sides, but that and the green rucksack slung over his shoulders were the only signs he was military at all—he was wearing shorts, a plain black T-shirt, and sneakers.
Lucas waved to get his attention. “Daniel. Over here.”
Daniel nodded in acknowledgment and walked a bit faster. “Thank you so much for doing this,” he said when he was close enough. “I am so ready to get home.”
“Don’t mention it. Oh, and this is Nate. My boyfriend.” The word made Lucas’s heart flutter. He hadn’t ever openly called Nate that. Not in front of him, anyway.
Nate didn’t seem to mind. He smiled as he shook hands with Daniel. “Nice to meet you.”
“You too.”
“How was the flight?” Lucas asked.
Daniel groaned. “You know how it completely sucks to sit in a terminal for like three hours and then get crammed into coach for a few more?”
Lucas nodded.
“Try being in the terminal for twelve hours, starting at ass-thirty in the morning, then getting crammed into coach with twenty percent less legroom for eight more.”
“What?” Nate asked. “On a cargo jet?”
Daniel scowled. “You know, I was really hoping for jump seats like the last time I flew cargo class, but the bastards actually put in real seats.”
“Fuckers,” Nate muttered. “Been there.”
“Yeah?”
Nate nodded. “Been in thirteen years. Trust me—I’ve done my share. Fortunately, I’m usually in my own bird when I go places now, so it’s not as bad.”
“Your own—” Daniel paused. “You’re a pilot.”
“Well, a RIO. But yeah.”
Daniel smiled sleepily. “Nice.”
As they headed out to the car, Lucas said, “Looks like you spent some time in the sun.”
Daniel laughed. “As much as I could whenever we were in port. I almost never saw the damn sun when we were underway.”
“Really?”
“Oh yeah. Some of us”—Daniel shot Nate a look—“don’t get to go up on the flight deck on a regular basis.”
“Hey.” Nate shrugged. “Someone has to stay below decks and row.”
Daniel chuckled and gave him the finger.
Outside, they dropped Daniel’s sea bag in the trunk with their overnight bags, and everyone piled into the car. Since Lucas was the shortest, he sat in the back, giving Daniel the passenger seat so he could stretch his legs. Seemed only fair after the guy had been shoehorned onto an airplane for the last several hours.
Nate drove them off base, and the GPS directed him toward Route 13. Once they were on that and heading back toward Virginia, Daniel twisted around and asked Lucas, “How has Colin been?” His voice was filled with concern. “With me gone?”
“He’s done all right. A hell of a lot better than we all expected.” Lucas didn’t mean it like an insult. Colin was a tough guy. He was hardly brittle or volatile, but he’d been through some dark days in the past. It didn’t hurt to be vigilant while he was separated from his man.
“Good. I’m glad to hear it.” Daniel exhaled. He had to have known Colin was hanging in there—they’d talked regularly, and he had a line of communication with Pete and Matt just in case—but he’d probably been worried anyway. Hell, they’d all been worried.
Lucas smiled. “I think he’s ready for you to be home, though.”
“I’m ready to be home. I miss him, and I miss just not being on the stupid ship.” He and Nate exchanged glances, and Nate nodded with a sympathetic grimace. As Daniel looked out the windshield, he added, “Even though I won’t see Colin until tomorrow, it’s just going to be good to be back on dry land in a country where I know the language.”
“I know that feeling,” Nate said.
And Lucas wasn’t sure, but he thought Nate accelerated.
Almost home, Daniel. Almost home.
Chapter 21
They got into Virginia Beach pretty late that night. Since Nate had a guest room, Daniel stayed there , and then he rode in with them to Pete’s barbecue, where he planned to surprise Colin. Nate wondered if Daniel was second-guessing his plan. Especially knowing they were just minutes away from Skin Deep, and all he had to do was get a lift over to the shop.
Daniel was quiet all the way from Virginia Beach to Pete’s place in Norfolk, but Nate could almost feel the excitement vibrating off him. It was probably impossible for him to hold on to any thoughts that weren’t Colin. Nate knew that feeling well. The last few days and hours of a deployment, he’d always been completely useless—too focused on the man who’d be waiting for him on the pier.
So who’s going to wait for me this time?
He wasn’t sure exactly when he’d deploy again—probably within the next year and a half or so—but it wouldn’t be Caleb on the pier when the ship came home.
Nate stole a glance at Lucas. Maybe?
He faced the road again, his heart fluttering. God only knew h
ow Lucas would cope with a separation like that. If he’d want to stick around. They hadn’t even defined their relationship all that clearly yet, but after the weekend they’d spent in the Outer Banks and the trip to Dover and just being with him for the last three months, it was a safe bet this wasn’t some casual fling for Lucas, either. So, when the time came for the squadron to deploy, Nate would see how things went.
For now it was Daniel’s turn to be reunited with the man he’d probably been thinking about nonstop for the past six months.
As they were pulling into Pete’s neighborhood, Lucas sent him a text to make sure Colin was distracted and wouldn’t see Daniel arriving. Once Pete had confirmed that Colin was duly occupied, the three of them got out of the car.
On the way up the walk, Lucas said, “Okay, Colin’s in the backyard helping Pete with the grill.”
Daniel pushed out a nervous breath. “Good. Good.” He paused. “And thank you, guys, by the way. For everything.”
“Don’t mention it,” Nate said.
Pete’s wife let them in the front door, and they walked through the house toward the back deck, where a dozen or so guests were hanging out with beer cans and paper plates.
As soon as Daniel saw Colin, Nate felt it. That sudden oh God, there you are crackled through the air like lightning.
Nate’s stomach somersaulted. That look on Daniel’s face took his breath away—I know what you’re feeling right now.
The sliding glass door was open. As the three of them stepped out onto the deck, Matt and Daniel exchanged a look. Daniel nodded.
Then Matt turned to Colin. “Hey, did you invite anybody else to this?”
“What?” Colin shook his head. “Of course not. I’d have told Pete if I was bringing someone.”
“I don’t know.” Pete smirked, and gestured past Colin. “I’m pretty sure he’s here with you.”
“What? Who?” Colin turned around, and just like when Daniel had seen him, the moment he laid eyes on Daniel was palpable. His lips parted. For a few seconds, he just stared. Then, barely whispering, he said, “No way.”
Daniel grinned as he came closer. “Hey you. Long time no see.”
Colin took a step, wavering slightly like he didn’t even trust his own legs. “You’re . . . here.”
“Yeah.” Daniel’s grin softened to a smile, and his eyes looked like they were about to well up. “I’m here.”
Colin exhaled. Then he shook himself, crossed the space between them, and threw his arms around Daniel. “Oh my God.”
Daniel hugged him tightly, squeezing his eyes shut and burying his face against Colin’s neck.
“How did you get here?” Colin’s voice was thick with emotion. “I didn’t think the ship was back for another week.”
“I flew out ahead,” Daniel said against Colin’s neck. “I couldn’t wait.”
Colin cupped Daniel’s face in both hands and kissed him, then touched their foreheads together and shakily said, “I’m so glad you’re here.”
Nate struggled not to look away. He desperately needed a beer right then. Or something. Not for the alcohol, but for something that would kill the sudden ache in his throat. That moment—that reunion after too long apart—was one he understood on a bone-deep level, and witnessing it brought a lot of memories back to the surface. Memories that weren’t welcome right now. Or at all. But definitely not now.
Oblivious to Nate losing his mind, Daniel loosened his embrace. “Also, I brought you something.” He reached into the pocket of his jeans, and Nate gulped. He knew even before Daniel’s hand came back into view and the gold band glinted in the sunlight.
Colin’s eyes widened. “Are you . . . are you serious?”
Daniel beamed, and without breaking eye contact, he went to one knee in front of Colin. “I’ve been waiting six months to ask you this.”
“Holy shit,” Colin breathed.
“Will you—” Daniel’s voice cracked. He swore under his breath and cleared his throat. “Colin—”
“You know damn well I will,” Colin said. “Get back up here.”
Daniel stood, and Colin just about bowled him over. Everyone burst out cheering and applauding, and Nate . . .
Nate couldn’t breathe.
Too much was coming back just then. The first post-deployment reunion. The night Caleb had proposed. Getting married. The end. The excruciating, bitter end he’d never seen coming when they’d been giddy over getting engaged, just like Daniel and Colin were right in front of him now.
Lucas touched his arm. “Hey. You all right?”
No. Nate could definitely say he was the furthest from all right he’d been in a while. He managed to swallow despite his suddenly dry mouth. “Yeah. I think I could use a drink, though. I’ll be right back.” He headed back into the house. Thank God Lucas didn’t follow him. Nate felt guilty as hell for that, but damn it, he needed a minute to pull himself together.
Think a minute is really enough?
There was a cooler in the kitchen, and Nate extracted a beer from the ice. Before he’d even opened it, though, a hand on his arm startled him, and he turned to see Jon.
“Hey.” Jon’s brow creased. “You all right? You looked like you were going to pass out.”
“I’m fine.” Nate popped the tab on the beer can. “Just a little, uh . . .” How the hell was he supposed to talk his way out of this?
“Familiar?”
Nate gritted his teeth and avoided his best friend’s eyes.
Jon squeezed his arm gently. “Nate, are—”
“I’m fine, okay?” Nate cringed at the shakiness in his own voice, and he met Jon’s gaze, silently begging him to let it go. The last thing he wanted to do right now was talk about all the feelings ricocheting around inside him, mostly because that meant acknowledging them and putting names on them. “I appreciate the concern. I really do. But . . . I’m dealing with it. I’ll be okay.”
Jon studied him for a long, uncomfortable moment before he nodded. “All right. You know you. But if you need anything . . .”
Nate managed a smile. “I know. Thanks.”
Jon gave his shoulder another squeeze, then went back to join everyone else in the backyard. Watching him go, Nate flinched at a pang of guilt. He’d always been pretty open with Jon. They’d been friends since they’d started flying together. He literally trusted Jon with his life every time their bird left the ground.
But telling him how much it hurt to watch Daniel propose to Colin would just make it hurt that much more, and he didn’t know how much more he could handle right now.
Nate sighed, then took a deep swallow of beer. Well, this was an unexpected turn of events. Except, was it really? Maybe he hadn’t thought Daniel and Colin would be getting engaged right here at the barbecue, but he’d known, at the very least, that they’d have an emotional reunion. It hadn’t occurred to him that he might not be prepared for even that much. Now, he couldn’t believe he’d thought he was prepared.
Then again, he’d thought he was prepared for what he’d find when he’d walked into the bedroom back in January, but he’d been so, so wrong. A gut feeling and a mountain of evidence that his husband was cheating weren’t nearly enough to prepare him for the sight of Caleb—
“Nate?”
He closed his eyes, wincing for the first time ever at the sound of Lucas’s voice. Pulling in a deep breath, he turned around.
“Hey.” Lucas approached cautiously, hands in the pockets of his shorts as his eyebrows pulled together with undeniable concern. Nate braced for yet another “you okay?”, but Lucas quietly asked, “Do you want to get out of here?”
So much.
“No. I don’t want to drag you away from everyone,” Nate said. “I don’t know. I think I need . . . I just . . .”
“You need to be alone?”
Why did that suddenly sound really, really good?
Nate felt like an asshole, but he dropped his gaze and nodded. “Yeah. I think so.”
�
��Okay.” Lucas touched his face, his fingertips warm and gentle. “I can get a ride home. If I need it, there’s always Uber.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ll be fine.” Lucas moved in for a soft, lingering kiss. “Take care of you, okay?”
Nate exhaled. “Okay. If you do wind up taking an Uber, I’ll cover it. I don’t want—”
“We’ll figure all that out later.” Lucas nudged him in the direction of the front door. “Go.”
Nate hesitated. “You don’t . . . want me to leave, do you?”
“Of course not. But if you need some time to yourself . . .” He nodded toward the door. “It’s okay. I promise.” A cautious grin played at his lips. “This isn’t one of those head games where I’ll flip out at you later for taking me at my word. I know that”—he motioned toward the backyard where Daniel had just proposed—“was probably a tough thing to see. So, whatever you need. . . .”
I need you.
And it was true—he wanted nothing more than to take off somewhere with Lucas and do everything they could to blot out the ache in his chest.
Fact was, though, Nate could feel a breaking point coming up fast, and he didn’t want Lucas to see that. He didn’t want anyone to see it, but especially not Lucas.
So he nodded. “I’ll . . . I’ll give you a call later on.”
“Okay.” Lucas kissed him again. “Take care of yourself, all right?”
“I will.” I don’t know how, but I will.
He slipped out the front door and left, hoping Pete and everyone else would understand. Hopefully he wasn’t putting a damper on Daniel and Colin’s day, but he figured he’d be an even bigger damper if he stuck around, so a quick, quiet exit was the best thing for everyone.
He didn’t think for a second that Daniel and Colin would end the way he and Caleb had. Of course, he hadn’t thought his marriage would end that way either, but he believed in Daniel and Colin’s obvious love and devotion and the vows they were going to be making.