Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

weekend, Kowalski, a fling. Hardly ready to announce the marriage yet."
    Thankfully we got interrupted and I took the opportunity to head to the showers.
    I couldn't get the conversation with Kowalski out of my mind; it nagged me all evening. And not just his comments, but my answer as well. I knew I had no other choice but it bugged me that I'd had to let him believe I was with a girl all weekend. I was still lying on my bunk stewing over all this when I got a text from Chase.
    Hey baby, just wanted to check in & see how your day was.
    I could literally feel my body relax just reading his words.
    It was rough, but better now w/ your text. I was dying to just hit the button and call him and hear his voice, but I didn't exactly have privacy and it was too late to leave the barracks and go outside.
    Rough? Everything okay?
    I smiled as I typed back. I was dead on my feet all day, I had a lot of physical exercise this weekend and not enough sleep.
    Dang. Sorry I wore you out, I thought you Marines were made of stronger stuff. Guess I have to take it easy on you next weekend. ;)
    Marines are always ready and up for the challenge. No special treatment needed civilian.
    OK, just remember you asked for it. : ) I'd better let you get your beauty rest. Miss you A. This bed feels pretty damn empty.
    Fuck, he just had to say that. What I wouldn't give to be in that bed right now.
    Miss you too C. Counting down the days.
    ****
    The next three weeks were incredible. I was busy learning some new radio communication technology so the workweeks flew by, and the weekends with Chase were just amazing. He was my best friend and now he was my lover and I couldn't believe how good it was between us. In addition to how easy it was to just be with him— like it always had been— now I could touch him and kiss him and fall asleep in his arms. In fact I couldn't stop touching him, and man, the fireworks I felt in my body every time he touched me was just unbelievable. Even just the graze of his hand while reaching for the coffee pot, sent me up in flames. I was thinking this relationship thing was a piece of cake, I should have known the bubble had to burst eventually.
    One Friday night we were hanging out on the couch watching the baseball game, both of us stretched out in the same direction, me lying between his legs with my back against his chest.
    "Hey babe, what do you want to do tomorrow night?"
    I was in the process of reaching for some more popcorn from the bowl on the coffee table and didn't really think too much of his question. "Uh, I dunno, whatever. Didn't you say you just got that movie from Netflix you'd been wanting to see?"
    He laughed. "Well yeah, but you know, we can watch that anytime. Adam, do you realize we haven't been out of this house since we started seeing each other?"
    Actually I hadn't even thought about that. I was just so excited to see him when I walked in the door every Friday, that was all I focused on. "Hmm... well, we have been incredibly busy... painting." Which was true, we had started working on renovating the inside of his house— in between other "activities."
    Chase snorted. "Yes, the painting is all we've been doing. I just thought we could go out, get a nice dinner somewhere, maybe go to a movie. In a theater , not on my TV.
    "Okay, sure, whatever you want babe."
    When I gave him that simple reply, I wasn't really thinking about what it meant. To go out as a "date" with a guy. With my guy. My guy who I was used to grabbing his hand or rubbing his back or kissing him whenever I wanted, without giving it much thought.
    Saturday night, the minute we stepped outside the house I felt uncomfortable. At first I couldn't put my finger on why I felt so jittery. But as soon as we got to the restaurant, I realized what was wrong. We got out of the car and I started to reach out for Chase's hand and I froze. I realized how many people were around and I couldn't. There couldn't be any indication that Chase and I were a couple in case someone saw us, someone from the base or someone who knew someone who knew someone who could report me. Yeah, I know, San Diego's a big city so the chances of running into anyone from the base were pretty slim. But San Diego was also the place where everyone headed to for the weekend, since it was the largest city nearest to the base. Camp Pendleton housed so many Marines it was a small city unto itself. There were a fuck-ton of soldiers and personnel on base I'd never even met.