Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

went out with some of the other guys. I froze up when one of them invited Kowalski, but relaxed when he said he had other plans. He hadn't said any more to me, but I'd caught him looking at me a couple of times since our last encounter and I worried about what vile thoughts were running around in that stupid brain of his.
    Saturday night, I decided, exactly what I needed was to get laid. My own hand had been busy enough lately; it deserved a night off.
    I had done some searching and found a great gay bar. It was a little out of the way and not as big as some others, but still had a big enough crowd to get lost in. Or at least that was what I had thought.
    I hadn't been there very long when I noticed a couple across the bar. It took me a couple of seconds to realize where I recognized the one kid from. I had seen him around the base; I think he was stationed in the barracks next to ours. He glanced at me nervously a couple of times and I finally just gave him a little nod and a smile. I could see the relief in his face as he nodded and smiled back. The secret handshake of a gay soldier.
    I kept an eye on him for a while after that, just to make sure he wasn't getting into any trouble, but it soon became clear he and that other boy were an actual couple— always holding hands or having an arm around each other or a hand on a thigh. I even caught them kissing a couple of times and the look on both of their faces afterward clearly showed how in love they were. It kind of floored me actually. As a Marine, I had never really considered a real relationship was possible for us. There were just too many things fighting against it— the constant moving, the deployments and time away from home. And of course, hiding in the closet and the danger of being discovered being the biggest and the worst. But these two had obviously found a way to make it work.
    Realizing my fellow Marine was well taken care of, I turned my attention back to tonight's intended purpose, Operation Get Fucked Silly. I was not a big dancer at these types of clubs but I did enjoy the view. So, I had a couple more drinks and was casing the floor, tracking a couple of possibilities, when I saw him. I very nearly dropped my entire beer on the floor. At first, I thought maybe it was just someone who looked like him, but I soon realized it really was him. Chase was standing across the room— with another guy's arm casually draped around his waist. My whole stomach flipped and I felt the sour alcohol rise in my throat.
    I had never in a million years considered that Chase's plans this weekend involved another guy . And they certainly seemed very chummy, so this was clearly not some random guy he had just picked up. Shit, were they seeing each other? Chase had never mentioned he was with someone, although frankly neither one of us talked about that part of our lives. Which is why I assumed he was single. Jesus, and to think I had almost kissed him the other night. Talk about embarrassing crisis averted.
    I couldn't drag my eyes away from them. The other guy was the same height as Chase, skinnier and with short black hair that was styled perfectly into place. He had on a dark purple— yes, purple— long-sleeved button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbow and black dress slacks. Chase had a similar shirt on in a dark blue shade, and dark-rinse jeans. And fuck, he looked hot.
    And then to just make the night even better, just at the split second I was reaching into my pocket to pay for my drinks so I could get the hell out of there, he spotted me. He was looking right at me; I knew he had to see me. Shit . I gave him a weak smile and a tip of my beer bottle. He smiled back and then whispered something to his date before he disentangled himself and headed straight over to me. I watched the guy he was with give Chase a nasty look as he walked away toward me, and I grinned a little snidely. He clearly didn't like Chase ditching him to go talk to another guy.
    "Adam, wow, what a surprise."
    "I'll say, dude." I nodded in the direction of the leech, who was watching us like a hawk with a very sour look on his face. "How come you never mentioned you were seeing someone?"
    Chase looked a little uncomfortable. "Uh, well, ah... I wouldn't say we're seeing each other exactly. I mean, we've had a few dates. We're still feeling each other out. We met online."
    "No shit. For real?" I smirked, but decided not to rib him about online dating.
    Chase rolled his eyes,