64. Army-Navy Game
SIXTY-FOUR
Army-Navy Game
STEVE but, as an Army veteran himself, Mike had to draw the line somewhere.
The rivalry between the Army Black Knights and the Navy Midshipmen was on full display with all the Army fans trading friendly barbs with the Navy fans. Tristan stretched out his arms as if already victorious then happily shook the hands and high-fived everyone who stuck out a hand to welcome him home. Sure, it was mid-December, and he’d already been back a few weeks, but Tiffany just got back into town. Today was game day, making it the perfect day for the official party.
The bar was already filling up for today’s afternoon kickoff. Steve had placed a bet with Derek and Tank to take on their dish duty for the month. He would owe more since he would have to cover for both of them, but he had complete confidence that Navy would beat Army.
Steve ordered the first round from the bar. When he passed them out to everyone at the table, he asked, “When did you both enlist?”
“After 9/11,” Tank answered.
“2001, huh?” Steve repeated.
“Uh, yeah,” Derek said, to his obvious confirmation.
“So…” Steve rubbed his scruffy jaw, then made it a point to look both of them in the eye, “Army hasn’t beaten Navy since you enlisted.”
“The jarhead’s right,” Tristan said as he made his way to the table. “What’s our winning streak now? Thirteen? Fourteen?”
Tank narrowed his eyes and lifted his chin. “You both are going down today.” He and Derek clinked their beers together in agreement.
“And here I thought we were all on the same team,” Steve said dryly, though he couldn’t keep his lips from curling up into a snarky grin.
“Not on the football field, we’re not.” Derek took a pull from his bottle of beer as Steve laughed. “What’s so funny?”
“Just thinking about you Army grunts.”
Tank and Derek perked up just as Mike approached the table.
Mike jumped into the conversation. “What about us Army grunts?”
“Army,” Steve brought his bottle to his lips with a smile. “Aren’t. Really. Marines. Yet.”
The Army vets at the table each responded with three cold and very unimpressed stares.
Tristan laughed, but kept it cool. “Don’t let him get to you, boys.”
Their dubious looks shifted to Tristan’s cocky grin.
“Ask him what Marine stands for.”
Now it was Steve’s turn to turn a friendly glare toward Tristan, who didn’t hesitate to explain to anyone willing to listen. “My. Ass. Rides. in Navy. Equipment.”
The Army guys all busted out laughing while Steve spread his arms wide in disbelief. “Really?” He pointed back and forth between Tristan and himself. “I thought we were rooting for the same team here.”
“I’m rooting for my team.” Tristan assured him.
“Your team, huh?” Steve let out an exasperated sigh as he waved his hand between Tristan and himself. “Thought it was our team.”
“Come on,” Tristan said, keeping his laugh friendly. “You’re dating our sister. Didn’t think I’d take it easy on you today, did you?”
Steve laughed with a tilt of his beer in Tristan’s direction. “Fair enough.”
After a while, Derek stood up to grab the next round as raucous cheers erupted. Steve turned to see a woman strutting into the bar. He blinked his eyes in a double-take as she looked like a slightly older version of Tara but with shorter hair. Taller than the average height for a woman, she had dark red hair just long enough to tuck behind her ears and sported a pair of form-fitting blue jeans and a light gray Navy sweatshirt.
Already standing, Mike was the first to walk up and greet her. “Welcome home, Tiffany. It’s great to see you.”
With a bright smile, she shook his hand enthusiastically. “Thanks! Just got into town.” She glanced over at Tristan. “How obnoxious has my little brother been today?”
“No more than usual. He’s got a jarhead to pick on.”
“Oh yeah? Damn. Could have brought some crayons for him.”
Mike guffawed. “I might have some behind the bar.”
Tiffany tossed her head back and laughed. “I may need them before the day is over!”
“TIFFANY!” Tristan stood up and greeted his older sister with a big bear hug, squeezing her tight and picking her up off the floor. “Wasn’t sure you were going to make it in time!”
“I wouldn’t miss our big day.”
With his arm around her shoulders, Tristan introduced her to the table. “Everybody. Tiffany is finally here. Navy all the way, baby.”
Derek had just come back from the bar and smiled. “Tiff!” He set the next round of drinks on the table.
“Hey, Doc!” Tiffany gave him a big hug that lasted a few seconds longer than an average greeting.
“How long’s it been?” Tristan prompted his sister.
“A long while. We were all at Bagram together a couple of times.”
“Best nurses in the military,” Tank added.
Tank rounded the table to hug her.
“Good to see you, Tank. It’s been a few years. You’re looking much better than the last time I saw you.” Tiffany added, referring to when he’d been seriously injured and medivacked out of theater to Walter Reed. “How are you doing? How’s your family?” She surveyed the table. “And where are they?”
“I’m good. A lot better, thanks. And the family is fantastic. Araceli’s got a shift at the clinic today so my parents are spoiling the kids.” He laughed. “I have four of them now. Can you believe it?”
“Only four, huh?”
“Just added another son last spring.”
She beamed a genuine smile. “I’m happy for you.”
She turned back to Derek and lowered her voice, dropping her hands on Derek’s arms. Steve only caught part of their conversation without making it obvious he was listening.
“I heard about Parker,” she said. “We were so busy that I didn’t have a chance to find you before you left. I’m so sorry. I know you two were close.”
Derek nodded and muttered. “Thanks. Our CO had me on a plane home pretty fast. I wasn’t in a good place.”
“I know. And I get it. I do. Word is you’re still not. I know you’ve got my number, so call me anytime if you need to talk. I mean it.”
Steve didn’t catch the rest of their conversation but picked up on some apparent familiarity between the two as Derek kept nodding while she spoke to him.
Tristan tapped her on the arm to draw her attention. “Have you seen Tara yet?”
“She’s still at the shop. I knew she couldn’t be here for kick-off since Mom and Dad are using her for slave labor.”
“You noticed, huh?”
She nodded in response.
Tristan motioned toward Steve. “Tiff, this is Steve.”
Steve’s head popped up at the sound of his name.
“This guy served in the Marines. Now, he’s a firefighter with the rest of the grunts over there. His brother, Nick, is working at the shop now.”
“Nice to meet you, Steve.”
“You, too.” He shook her hand.
“Jarhead, huh?” She shared a conspiratorial glance with her brother.
“Damn right.” Steve shot her a confident grin.
“It’s worse,” Tristan confided while never taking his eyes off Steve. “He’s the one dating Tara.”
Tiffany’s brows shot up to her hairline. “ This is the Steve she’s dating? I’m gonna have to talk to her about dating a Marine,” she tsked, but smiled to let Steve know she was joking.
Tristan lifted his chin in Steve’s direction. “Tiff’s in the Nurse Corps. She’s a lieutenant like me.”
Tiffany pulled her bottle away and wiped her lips with the back of her hand. “Not anymore.”
Tristan’s face snapped around. “What?”
“Yeah. Got promoted, which means…” She poked him in the chest. “I officially outrank you.”
A loud laugh escaped Steve’s lips when Tristan’s expression dropped.
“You’re an O4?”
“Yep,” Tiffany nodded enthusiastically. “So that’s Lt. Commander to you.”
Tristan finally smiled and gave her another hug. “That’s great. Congratulations, Tiff.” He pulled back and gave her a stern look. “Just don’t order me around, alright?”
She scoffed. “As if my rank would ever prevent me from doing that.” She punched her brother in the arm. “But it’s a lot more fun knowing I do.”
Mike delivered a beer to Tiffany. “Thanks, Mike.”
Mike patted her on the back. “You bet.”
Derek checked his watch. “Kickoff’s in a few minutes, Cook. Get ready to get your asses kicked.”
Steve’s eyes were on the big screen. “I don’t think so, Mitchell.”
Tiffany took another quick pull from her bottle. “You guys haven’t won since you were both still pissing yourselves in front of some poor, unsuspecting drill sergeant. You really think that’s going to change this year?”
Tank leaned forward. “Care for a friendly wager?”
“Oh. Tank’s getting in on the action now.” She shared a conspiratorial smirk with Tristan and Steve before focusing on Tank. “Sure. If we win, you three Army boys….” She paused long enough to point to Derek, Tank, and Mike, “…pay our tabs for the night.”
Tank offered a slow nod. “And when we win?”
Steve leaned forward. “Not gonna happen. You’re gonna end up buying my dinner and doing dishes for me at the station.”
Tiffany clinked her bottle against Steve’s. “At least Tara’s Marine’s got his head screwed on straight.”
With the national anthem sung, they settled in their seats for the big game.
The first quarter ended with the Army up 10-7. Then, with each team scoring another touchdown in the second quarter, the score was 17-14, Army over Navy, at the half. The trash talk between the Army and Navy fans never once slowed down.
Taking a break at the half, Tank and Steve headed to the back of the bar for a nature break.
“Think you guys can come back in the second half?” Tank asked Steve.
“Don’t you worry. We came to play all four quarters. Not just the first two.”
After relieving themselves, Steve turned to see Tank dump a bunch of hand sanitizer on his hands and rub them together. Steve turned on the water to wash his hands and shook his head. “You know, the Marines taught us to wash our hands after taking a piss.”
“You know, the Army taught us not to piss on our hands.”
Tank walked out as Steve breathed out a laugh. “Fucking Rangers.”
When Steve walked back to the table, Tara’s face lit up. Tristan and Tiffany shared an exaggerated eye roll.
Steve leaned in for a soft kiss while wrapping his arms around her waist. “Hey, Sugar.”
Tara smiled as she looped her arms around his neck. “Hey.”
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.” Tara went up on her toes for another kiss.
“Oh my god, Tris.” Tiffany made exaggerated gagging sounds. “You were right.”
“I told you,” he said with a disgusted expression. “I think I need another drink.”
Tara turned her head enough to flash her siblings a dry look. “What?”
“Ugh. I think we all need another drink.” Tiffany motioned for the server to come over for a refill.
She turned back up to Steve, who reached over to help her with her seat.
“He helps her with her seat, too?”
“Jarhead’s got it bad.”
Tara flashed her brother and sister another playfully annoyed look and leaned into Steve. “Have they been like this all day?”
Closing his eyes, he nodded. “All day long.”
“Look.” Tristan gestured across the table to Derek and Tank, who were also sporting wary expressions. “Even the grunts agree with us. Seriously, Tara. You are looking pretty smitten over there.”
Tara’s shoulders shook with laughter, but Tristan couldn’t resist warning Steve. “Listen up, devil dog, you mess up with my sister, and there’ll be hell to pay.”
Steve wrapped an arm around Tara’s shoulders and looked Tristan in the eye. “I don’t plan to mess up.”
“Make sure you don’t.”
Tiffany smacked her brother on the back of his head.
“Ow!”
“Easy, Lieutenant.” Tiffany scolded her brother. “Leave the poor guy alone. Tara’s got it bad.” She waved her arm in Tara’s direction. “Let her be all cutesy and shit. Just look at her. She looks happy.”
Tristan dramatically groaned in response and gave his oldest sister a friendly glare. “Not wasting any time pulling rank, are you?”
“Nope.”
Tara and Steve laughed, but Tiffany eyed Steve and turned serious. “Tris is right, though. Mess up with my baby sister; there will be hell to pay. Get it?”
“Got it.”
“Good.”
Navy kicked the ball to start the second half, drawing her attention. “Now shut up. Second half is starting.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Steve chuckled as he reached an arm around the back of Tara’s shoulders and pulled her close.
Tara
The Midshipmen scored another touchdown in the third quarter, putting them ahead 21-17. During a commercial break, Tiffany leaned over to Tara. “So, how’s the shop doing?”
Tara looked at her older sister and just exhaled, wearing her exhaustion on her face.
“That bad, huh?”
“Honestly? No. Not really,” Tara conceded. “It’s doing much better.”
“What do you mean?”
Tara explained all the difficulties the shop was going through.
“What do you normally do when you run across shops like this, Tara?” Tristan asked, referring to her job in Chicago helping mom-and-pop shops.
Tara smiled proudly, then placed her fingers on her chest to modestly boast, “Pull out one of the many shop miracles I perform on a daily basis.”
Tiffany and Tristan both rolled their eyes and then joined Tara’s laughter.
“They seem understandably overwhelmed with the accident, I suppose. Dad was really hurt. Seeing him in the hospital hooked up to all those machines was scary.” Tara blinked back tears at the memory.
Tiffany placed her hand on her sister’s arm. “I’m sorry you had to be here alone.”
Tara shook her head. “I wasn’t alone. Mom was a rock for Dad - and for me, too, I suppose. What the two of them have is amazing.” She reached out to her brother. “It’s like what you and Emily have.”
Tara leaned into Steve, wondering if they could have anything like what her parents had together. As if reading her mind, he pulled her close.
Tiffany smiled. “But you’re going back to Chicago after Christmas?” she asked.
Steve’s hand hesitated for a moment at Tiffany’s words before his thumb continued rubbing the back of her neck.
Tara nodded.
“What about the shop?”
“I don’t know.” Tara exchanged a look with Tristan.
“Maybe now’s a good time for you to take it over. Tiff and I can’t while we’re active duty. Theo’s still in school, so that leaves you, sis. Now’s your big opportunity.”
“I’d love to. I applied for a business loan after I came back and was turned down. Too much to borrow versus not enough capital or some such thing. At least I have a business plan.”
Tristan gave Tara a proud smile. “Of course you do.”
Loud cheers pulled their eyes back to the large-screen TV, where the Army had just made a good tackle.
They tabled the discussion for the rest of the evening so they could watch the rest of the game. Neither team scored in the fourth quarter, resulting in some disappointed Army fans and some thoroughly obnoxious Sailors and Marines.
Tristan stood up and grinned. He spread his arms wide. “Let the Midshipmen dynasty continue.”
Across the table, the three Army veterans dropped their heads in their hands and shook them.
“No dishes for a month!” Steve announced, shaking hands with both Derek and Tank. “Thank you. Thank you. Actually,” he paused with an obnoxiously big grin, “make that two months since you each get to cover me for a month.”
The two men groaned in response. Tank spoke up first. “No using every dish when you cook… Cook.”
Even Derek gave Tank a strange sideways glance after that comment.
“You mean, don’t cook like you?” Steve laughed, knowing that Tank regularly made a colossal mess of the kitchen whenever he made a meal. He laughed and pulled Tara into a quick, celebratory kiss.
“Uh… yeah. Exactly,” Tank confirmed, fighting back a smile.
Aside from no dishes for the next two months, the Navy’s 21-17 victory allowed Tristan, Tiffany, and Steve the rest of the evening to enjoy their free dinners and drinks, and a whole lot of bragging rights.