Love is Always Write Anthology Volume 6

stuck out there training to be real Marines?"
    That motherfucker. I was fighting everything in me not to go over and bust his ass. Every Marine has their own contribution to make and we're all taught that every job is important to the whole. Yeah sometimes we might razz each other a little but never ever in such a degenerative tone as he was using. I didn't want to get into anything stupid, especially with an ignorant asshole like him, so I gritted my teeth and tried to count to ten before responding.
    "Well, that radio equipment is what's going to help save your ass when you're on patrol and get trapped by enemy fire so I think you better just watch your mouth, Marine."
    "Fucking pansy-ass."
    I had turned back to grab my bag but still heard him mutter under his breath. I was tired of hearing his shit. It was exactly a ten second walk to the door and then I would be out of here and gone from his filth. I was going to just pretend I didn't hear him, but of course that motherfucker couldn't let it go.
    I started for the door and he started after me, yelling for everyone in the room to hear. "Where are you off to this time Shepherd? What's her name this week? Amy? Or Heather? Or Lindsey? Or are you off to see your pansy-ass boyfriend?" He stopped to laugh and I froze, my blood going ice cold. "Helping to fix his house up, my ass."
    "Kowalski!" Corporal Jennings' voice boomed out across the room. He was the most senior officer on hand at the moment so he would be considered in charge even though we were all off duty. But Kowalski ignored him. "Come on, Shepherd. Got nothing to say huh? Must be true then."
    I was shaking and trying not to show it. I didn't know what the hell to say to that. No matter what I said, he wasn't going to believe me. But I knew I couldn't just stand there and take it either.
    "You motherfucking piece of shit. Not that it's any of your god damned business, but no it's not true."
    He smirked at me, looking so damn smug. "Oh yeah? Then prove it."
    "Kowalski! Step off NOW!" Corporal Jennings called out again. And this time everyone went silent. It was the perfect opportunity for me to just turn and leave. But the problem was, as much as I didn't want to dignify stupid ass Kowalski with any kind of response, there were six other guys in the room. Guys who— although we were "buddies," and Marine brothers— would forever have questions in their mind about me, thanks to Kowalski. They wouldn't be so bold as he was to say anything to my face, but I knew now they'd always wonder in the back of their mind. How the hell was I going to prove it? My hands shook as I grabbed my phone, the only thing I could think of. I found a picture and held it out for him to see.
    "He's engaged to my cousin, asshole. I'm helping him fix up their house as my wedding present to them." The picture on my phone was a picture from Bobby's wedding— a random pic from a dozen or so Kate had sent me— of Chase standing next to my female cousin, Emily. It was a plausible enough picture. "Again, not that it's any of your fucking business!"
    And then, finally, I turned and walked out.
    ****
    Somehow, I made it all the way to San Diego, although I was in no shape to be driving. I was still shaking, from anger, from fear, and my gut was twisted into knots.
    Chase opened his front door as soon as he saw me pull up, smiling big as he waited on me.
    "Hey, baby, I've been—" He didn't even get to finish, I shoved him aside, dropped my bag and headed straight for the bathroom, making it just barely in time. My stomach heaved and I retched violently, purging everything that was or had ever been in my system.
    When it finally stopped I just sat there with my forehead leaning against the toilet seat. Chase was suddenly right there next to me, with a cold wash rag. "Come on, baby, lift your head up," his voice was so soothing; I felt it wash through my bones. I wanted to just curl up next to him and stay there forever.
    Instead, I shoved his hand with the rag away. I sat upright against the wall, and closed my eyes. I felt two tears roll down my cheeks and I was too exhausted to even wipe them away.
    "Adam, what's wrong? Are you okay?"
    So we sat there, on the floor of the bathroom and I told him everything, from the beginning— how Kowalski had been bothering me for a while now, what happened to him today and what happened after he came back to the barracks.
    Chase settled next to me and wrapped his arms around me, and for the moment I