3. Peter
Peter
April 6th…
“Can you see yourself eventually taking on a full-time role at a specific location?” I glare at my dad. That was not subtle at all. Within minutes of meeting Bellamy, I could tell he’d already claimed her as part of our family. The formalities of making it official were just that to him.
“Yes,” she says, and my eyes dart to her. Though I don’t miss the pointed stare he gives me. Nor the smugness at having learned what he wanted to know. What we both wanted to.
“My son thinks highly of you.” Bellamy smiles, clearly pleased with that news, and grabs my hand. “He’s always been a good judge of character.”
Bellamy has been watching me, allowing her to see my reaction to that. “That’s adorable. You’re blushing.” She runs her finger along the tip of one ear. “Even here.”
Dad laughs, then there’s a flash. “Did you just take a picture?”
“Yep. I have to show this to the guys.” The guys being my teammates.
“Ooh,” Bellamy beams, on board with this idea. “I haven’t met them yet.”
I immediately raise my hands in defense. “It’s planned. It was difficult to find a time when everyone was available.”
Seeing an opening, Dad asks her, “What’s your number? I’ll send it to you and you can show the others.”
“That’ll earn me points?”
“Maybe some cash, too,” Dad jokes, though he might not be wrong.
We give each other shit over everything and nothing. Humor is often a mechanism amongst certain careers to defuse the tension. The fear. The routine.
Being as close as we are, it’s also part of who we are.
I can’t wait for them to meet Bellamy. Three of them are married, so their wives will be able to offer advice and comfort to Bellamy when I’m deployed. Which is a huge bonus. Bellamy will fit right in with Skye, Hazel, and Khary.
Marcus and Skye Wayne have been married the longest. Followed by our designated leader, Carter Jacobs, and his wife, Hazel. Last year, Tyler Dawson joined their ranks with Khary. Frederick Iverson, Teddy Brown – yes, that’s his real name, and myself are the only single members left. Though, I don’t consider myself to be one of them now.
I know where Bellamy and I are headed. We just have a few steps in between our current position and our future. And while they’re important to our journey, I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t mind being able to jump ahead a little.
**Bellamy**
“Your dad is awesome.”
Peter hangs his head and I fear I’ve messed up somehow. “I know he heard that and his ego is growing.”
“We left ten minutes ago,” I remind him.
“I know.” I stare at him in confusion.
“Does he have bionic ears or something?”
“Always felt like it growing up.” I laugh, loving this peek of him as a kid.
“Was Petey a problem child?” He glances at me when we come to a stop sign, and I can’t help cracking up. “And now you’re Pouting Petey.”
“Does that make you Boohoo Bellamy?”
It goes downhill from there.
Perturbed Petey.
Bratty Bellamy.
Peevish Petey.
Bristly Bellamy.
We have way more fun than the conversation deserves. Yet, as silly as it seems, it’s also an intelligent one as it’s testing our vocabulary and wit.
At some point, the adjectives become complimentary.
Patriotic Peter.
Benevolent Bellamy.
Priceless Peter.
Beautiful Bellamy.
Seeing an ice cream stand, Peter asks if I want any and I quickly say yes.
We’re standing in line, holding hands and stealing kisses, when the customer a few ahead of us turns to leave and notices me.
“Ms. Bellamy,” Lisa Green greets me, her gaze taking in my proximity to Peter.
“Hello, Mrs. Green,” I reply, then introduce her to Peter. This isn’t exactly a big city, but it’s not small either.
Being the gentleman he is, he’s polite as we chat, yet his eyes seem to clock the number of times hers drop to our clasped hands.
It’s a lot in a span of five minutes.
Honestly, it makes me uneasy.
When Mrs. Green excuses herself, I rely on my manners and state that I’ll see her soon. Being who she is, it’s fairly common that I see her while I’m at work. In fact, she has a say in who gets hired there since her family’s generational wealth funded the hospital that currently employs me and was there for my initial interview before they’d approve me to take on their contract.
“That was uncomfortable,” he whispers in my ear as he draws me closer. Whether it’s because he notices I feel the same way or simply doesn’t like the distance between us, as minimal as it had been, I’m not sure. Only that I’m thankful for the support his arm around my waist provides, the heat his body is sharing with me at the chill that seems to have taken over.
“You two have never met?”
“No. I grew up a three states away. My parents moved here after I got transferred, hating that hundreds of miles separated us. When mom passed,” he stops, emotions getting to him, “dad didn’t want to be far from the only family he had left, so he stayed. The guys look to him as a father figure.”
“And he loves it.”
“He does. He loves to feel useful.”
“Don’t we all?”
We’re at the window as I finish my question and we give our orders, having decided on our flavors during the time we were waiting. After one taste, I know I’ll be returning.
Frequently.
“Good, isn’t it?”
“Delicious.”
“This city has a lot of perks. I could make a list for you.” He wiggles his brows.
“Would the first item be you?”
“The second and third as well.”
“Make it one through five.”
“Done and I’ll use a permanent marker to write them.”
“I like your style.”