General Misconduct
Page 20
I silenced him with another kiss. “My parents dated for five years before they got married, and they divorced five years after that. Dad and Hitomi got married six weeks after they met, and they’re coming on ten years.” I shrugged. “Anything’s possible.”
“Yeah, anything’s possible.”
“Who knows?” I said. “Maybe we get to be the lucky ones who get it right.”
Aiden smiled. “Maybe. I hope so.”
“Me too.”
He lifted my chin with two fingers. “The only thing I know is that I love you.”
“I love you too.” I let him draw me in for a light kiss. “And I’m not leaving.”
Aiden met my eyes. “Neither am I.”
And, my God, I hoped he meant it.
Because I did.
Epilogue
Aiden
About two years later
Trust Eric and Shane to get married during the damned monsoon.
The grass was damp, and the humidity was way up, but at least it hadn’t actually rained today. The last week had been off and on torrential downpours, and everyone in the office had been taking bets about whether the guys would have to move their wedding to some place indoors.
I didn’t know what they’d sacrificed to which deity, but the weather cooperated today. The precipitation, anyway. The heat was present and accounted for. Fortunately, I’d long ago adapted to the heat of the island, and at least my dress uniform was relatively thin. Considering I had to walk to the top of Katsuren Castle in it, I was grateful.
As Connor and I started the walk up the hill from the parking lot, I saw a few of the guys from my command, including Captain Warren. I was worried someone might get on my case for wearing inappropriate shoes with my uniform, but as I looked around, I realized everyone else was doing the same thing—dress shoes in hand, sneakers or boots for the climb. Apparently we’d all had the same idea.
Shoes aside, I wasn’t worried about anyone from work seeing us. The very few people here from the command already knew about our relationship, and all understood the need for discretion. Captain Warren had even shifted things around a little so I wasn’t working directly with Bradshaw anymore. Basically, I gave the paperwork to Warren, and he passed them on to Bradshaw. The less we interacted directly, the less it could be called a conflict of interest.
There weren’t a lot of tourists out today, and what few there were definitely noticed the number of uniformed American military personnel heading up to the castle and making their way to the top level. A few took pictures of us—trust Eric and Shane to stop and pose for them too.
We continued upward.
The uppermost level of Katsuren Castle was crowded with military and civilians alike. There couldn’t have been more than twenty-five people, but the small stone enclosure wouldn’t have held much more than that.
As we waited for the ceremony to start, Connor slipped his hand around my elbow. “I think I’ve figured out how the Navy came up with their uniforms.”
“How’s that?”
Squinting, he glanced at me. “The white and gold blind the enemy.”
I laughed and slid my arm around his waist. “Yeah. That’s it.” I gestured toward the two grooms as they stepped into the enclosure. “And it looks pretty damned good on both of them.”
Shane had been an officer all along, but Eric had been enlisted up until fairly recently. He’d gone through the limited duty officer program, though, and gotten his commission, which was why he was wearing whites a lot like Shane’s. And why the two of them could finally go public with their relationship.
Which was why we were here, of course.
“Hey, you made it!” Eric grinned as they came toward us.
“Of course we did.” I saluted both of them sharply, and they returned it.
Then I shook hands with each in turn. As Shane extended his hand, he said, “Glad you could make it, Lieutenant.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” I shook his hand. “Congratulations.”
He slid his other arm around Eric’s waist. “Thanks.”
They continued mingling with their guests, and we did as well. While Connor was talking to someone, I bowed out and wandered over to the wall to look out at the island below.
Someone appeared beside me. I thought it was Connor, but when I turned, it was Shane.
“Oh hey,” I said.
“Hey.” He touched my shoulder. “Listen, I…” He glanced at Connor, then back at me. “Seeing you guys here, I gotta say, Aiden, I’m sorry for suggesting that you and he go your separate ways. Obviously, I was wrong.”
“You’ve apologized a hundred times.” I laughed. “It’s okay.”
He frowned. “I know, but I still feel like shit for it. Could’ve really fucked up something good for you, you know?”
I shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. To be honest, I think we both needed to face down the fact that I was gambling with my career on a relationship that might not work. We needed to consider that, and we hadn’t until you mentioned it. And we came out of it knowing damn well we were willing to take the gamble.”
Shane held my gaze for a moment, then finally nodded. “Well, I’m glad I turned out to be wrong. You two make a great pair.”
“Thanks.” I gestured at the rest of the guests who were making their way toward the seats. “And speaking of great pairs, aren’t you supposed to be getting married?”
“Yeah…” Shane tugged at his starched collar, “…guess I am.”
“You’re not nervous, are you?”
He laughed. “This is the third time I’ve done this. You’d better believe I’m nervous.”
“Third time’s the charm, right?”
“Damn right.”
I followed him over to where everyone was gathering. Eric turned, and the way his eyes lit up, even after he’d seen Shane just a moment ago, I had no doubt the third time was the charm. Didn’t even matter that this was the third time. They were perfect together.
I didn’t know why they’d chosen this place in particular, but something about it must’ve meant something to them. Even if it didn’t, the view alone made it worth the hike up here.
There were no chairs up here, so the small group of guests stood facing Eric, Shane and the chaplain. As the chaplain opened his Bible, Eric and Shane joined hands.
The chaplain read the ceremony and took them through their vows, and I couldn’t help getting choked up. Neither could anyone else, including the two grooms, who were obviously doing their best to keep it together.
Finally, the chaplain closed his Bible and smiled. “You may kiss your groom.”
Shane and Eric drew each other in, but paused for a second to exchange grins. Then they kissed tenderly as everyone applauded.
While the photographer had Eric and Shane pose with their families—including both of their ex-wives who’d flown in with their kids for the wedding—Connor and I strolled down to the enclosure below this one. We wandered to one of the lowest levels and stopped beside the chest-high wall, gazing at the scenery below.
“That was a really nice ceremony,” I said.
“Yeah,” Connor said. “Kind of hard to believe they both would’ve been kicked out for this a few years ago. Now they’ve got the base chaplain doing their wedding.”
I nodded, running my thumb alongside his hand. “Times are changing.”
He looked at me and smiled. “Guess they are.”
As we held each other’s gazes, his smile faded a bit. So did mine. We shifted our eyes out to the farms and ocean below us. If I had to guess, I’d have bet he was thinking the same thing I was: times were changing, but time was also going by. Quickly. In the military, that meant upheaval and relocation.
There’d been some rumors that I was going to be transferred to another base that was in dire need of an ATO, but both General Bradshaw and Captain Warren had made some phone calls, and at least for the next couple of years, I would remain on Okinawa.
But the
re were some strings even Bradshaw couldn’t pull. In three months, Connor graduated. Once he was no longer a student, he was also no longer a dependent, which meant he’d get booted off the island. Civilian contractor jobs weren’t looking terribly promising, and without an income, getting a Japanese visa wasn’t happening either.
Connor looked out at the water and sighed. “I’m really going to miss this place.”
I chewed the inside of my cheek. “Won’t be the same without you.”
His shoulders sank, and he winced.
Heart pounding, I said, “I want you to stay.”
He laughed bitterly. “I want to stay, but regulations are what they are. I have to go.”
“I don’t think you understand.” I took his hand and squeezed it gently. “I want you to stay. With me.”
Connor turned to me, brow furrowed. “I can’t. There’s no way I can unless we’re—” His eyes widened. “Wait…”
I smiled.
His lips parted. “Are you serious?”
Smile broadening, I nodded. “Absolutely.” I gestured at the upper level where the rest of the wedding guests still milled around. “Just say the word, and we’ll talk to the chaplain.”
“The chaplain…” He stared at me incredulously. “You’re serious? You…really want to get married?”
Heart racing even faster, I whispered, “Do you?”
Connor swallowed hard. “Not if it’s just so I can—”
“It’s not just because you’re graduating.” I let my fingertips drift down his cheek. “I want to. The fact that you’re leaving might mean doing it sooner, but I still want to. I’ve…I’ve wanted to for a while. I love you, Connor. Even if we were both staying on this island forever, I…” I paused, clearing my throat. “I kind of freaked out in the beginning, but I guess somewhere along the way, I just knew.” I ran my fingers through his hair. “I knew I wanted to be with you and nobody else. And that hasn’t changed.”
He held my gaze, and my heart beat even harder as the silence went on and his expression betrayed nothing.
Cupping his face, I added, “If you don’t want—”
Connor laughed and shook his head. “I never said that.” He pulled me closer. “You just blew my mind a bit, that’s all.”
Relief pushed a laugh out of me too, and I wrapped my arms around him. “So is that a yes, no, or maybe?”
His smile said it all, even before he whispered, “It’s a yes.” He sniffed, and the smile got even bigger. “It’s definitely a yes.”
I held him tight and struggled to keep my emotions in check.
“I love you,” he whispered.
Sniffing sharply, I closed my eyes and held him tighter. “I love you too.”
Some voices and movement turned both our heads, and we looked just in time to see the wedding party and the rest of the guests coming down the stairs. We both quickly composed ourselves and, hand in hand, went to join everyone else.
“Hey, hey,” I said, grinning as the two grooms came down the steps, also hand in hand. “Congrats again.”
“Thanks.” Eric beamed at Shane. “I don’t think he knows what he’s gotten himself into, but…”
“Oh please.” Shane laughed. “After all this time, I think I know.”
“He thinks.” Eric gestured at Connor and me. “Well, you two are next. No pressure or anything.”
Shane rolled his eyes. “Eric.”
“Actually…” I looked at Connor, and we both smiled. I put my arm around his waist and turned to Eric and Shane again. “He’s right. We’re next.”
They both blinked.
“Really?” Eric asked.
“Yep.” Connor put his hand on top of mine on his hip. “Guess you guys are a bad influence.”
Shane laughed. “When the hell did this happen?”
“About”—I nodded toward the wall where we’d been standing—“two minutes ago.”
“Wow.” Eric smirked. “He’s right. We are a bad influence.”
“I’ll take the blame.” Shane winked. “Congrats, guys.”
“Thanks.” I kissed Connor’s cheek. “We’ll see you guys at the reception?”
“You’d better be there,” Eric said. “We’re—damn it, the photographer wants us again.”
“Go,” I said. “We’ll see you guys there.”
They left to pose for more photos, and Connor and I slowly made our way out of the castle and down the hill to my car. Near the bottom, Connor stopped.
“So you really do mean it,” he said. “You want to make this…permanent.”
“Absolutely.” I cradled his face and kissed his forehead. “No doubt in my mind I want to do this.”
Connor put his arms around my waist. “Where do you think we should do it?” He wrinkled his nose. “Please don’t say the base chapel. I hate that place.”
I laughed. “No, I was kind of thinking we’d keep it to one of those places where all good things seem to happen.”
“Yeah? Where’s that?”
“The beach, of course.”
About the Author
L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut…
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Email: gallagherwitt@gmail.com
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