Chapter Five - Rick
Six months later
Rick was about to hit his head against his desk.
Why he’d decided to do his concentration in Management instead of just going for the general business degree, he wasn’t sure.
Oh, wait a minute, it was all Drew’s fault.
Rick had been lucky enough to meet Drew in the ROTC program during his freshman year and now considered him his best friend.
Of course, times like this? Yeah, he wanted to kill his best friend.
He’d been all set—general business would let him cruise through the four years; do his time in the Army; then get some cushy mid-level position doing as little as possible during the week so he could climb or boat or something on the weekends.
Then he’d listened to Drew talk about his dad, uncles, and brother, and all they’d done or were doing in the Army—in his brother’s case—and suddenly ROTC wasn’t just a way for him to pay for college.
Now he was looking at the Army as his career, serving until retirement.
He’d still be young enough when he got out to have a second career.
Drew had convinced him of two things—one, that Rick had more brains than he believed he had; and two, no matter what branch Rick ended up in, a management concentration would give him more skills in dealing with all the bureaucracy and personnel issues.
So here he sat, banging his head against Organizational Change instead of texting—maybe sexting—his boyfriend.
Okay, was Coop really his boyfriend? They hadn’t seen each other since that one memorable night, but they’d been blowing up Rick’s data plan.
Coop was off trying to make a name for himself on the Arenacross circuit and having fun, Rick had no doubt.
He just didn’t know if Coop had been seeing others.
They really hadn’t talked about being exclusive…
seriously, how could they? They were still learning about each other.
Maybe he’d use Coop as an incentive. If he finished this assignment, he’d call Coop instead of shooting off a text. Pulling his textbook closer, he focused on reading the chapter so that he could devise a plan of action for the HR department to follow.
“Hey, doofus!” Drew called from the other room.
“Not now, Drew, need to finish this fucking chapter,” Rick yelled back. Something hit his back, and he turned to Drew, standing in his doorway, holding an envelope. “What the fuck?”
“Now that I have your attention, Master Sergeant Coffey handed out the information for the military ball today while you were counseling Tyler. You’re on the decorations committee,” Drew said gleefully.
“Are you fucking shitting me? What the fuck do I know about decorations?” Rick dropped his head back and stared at the ceiling.
Drew started laughing, causing Rick to sit up and glare at him.
“Really fucking funny, dickhead. Now what am I responsible for?” There were only eight seniors in the program this year, so he was sure that he wasn’t getting out of something.
“You’ve got to pick out the favors and arrange for the DJ.” Drew handed him the envelope. “Here’s your invitation.”
It was addressed to Cadet Richard Stanton and guest. Who the hell was he going to invite?
No way in hell was he inviting any of his family.
Maybe he could offer his guest spot to Drew for another family member.
As he considered how to give the slot to Drew without looking like a loser, his phone pinged with a text. It was from Coop and he smiled.
“Who’s got you all happy? You were just ready to bite my head off for interrupting you,” Drew said as he threw himself across Rick’s bed.
He turned toward the bed. Drew hadn’t changed out of his uniform and he’d kicked his feet up on the bedspread—boots on, still dirty.
“Seriously? Boots off the bed,” Rick commanded, and there must have been something in his tone that had Drew popping upright and moving his feet.
Drew growled and shook himself before sitting up. Rick tried to hold in his laughter; honestly, he did, but he lost that battle before it even began. “Jackass.” Drew leaned over to swipe at Rick’s head, missing when he pushed his chair back.
“Who are you asking?” Rick didn’t think Drew was seeing anyone, but he could be wrong.
“Eh, probably see if Julia wants to come.” Ahh, the opening that he needed.
“Why don’t you ask your parents? I’ll give you my guest slot.” Look at him being all nice and everything. Rick tried not to choke on his own thoughts. If Drew thought Rick was trying to hide something, he’d never get away with it.
Drew looked at him with narrowed eyes before shaking his head. “Nice try. My parents have been to so many balls in the close to thirty years they’ve been married, my mom would hit me if I asked. What are you trying to avoid? Maybe you could use my guest spot and ask your parents.”
Somehow, in all the years that they’d been friends, Rick had avoided this conversation. “I think they’re busy.” Maybe he could duck the discussion again.
“You haven’t even asked,” Drew pointed out. They sat there in silence for a minute before Drew asked quietly, “You don’t want your parents here, do you?”
Rick looked out his window, avoiding Drew’s eyes. And nodded. “It’s just…it’s not…” He wasn’t sure how to explain this to Drew. “They just wouldn’t fit in.”
Neither of them said anything. Rick’s phone went off again. A quick glance told him it was another text from Coop.
“Maybe you should ask the person on the end of that text. They seem to make you happy.” Drew stood and walked toward the hallway. “Since it’s my turn to cook, how about Uncle Siah’s Spaghetti Bolognese?”
Rick looked at his phone, then at Drew’s retreating back. “Not sure if he’d feel comfortable either but maybe…”