to the beach, Memorial Day weekend.”
“He still pulling that trick? We gotta get him some new material.” Don laughed. “Or not. It’s still working—I’m very glad to see. He didn’t tell me much about you, though.”
“Didn’t tell me much about you, either.” Patrick whispered. “If he had, I would’ve cut my leave short and made it out here a hell of a lot sooner.” Goose bumps formed on Don’s arm and neck. He whiffed Patrick’s aftershave, an off-the-shelf drugstore brand that was earthy and masculine. “Please forgive me if I’m being a little—aggressive—but something about you brings that out in me. I want to see you again, like, tomorrow.”
Don gulped, “Okay.” Part of him wanted to say, I want to see you again in less than an hour, under my sheets with all your clothes off. Instead, he said, “Tomorrow’s great.”
Eddie said, “Pardon us for interrupting—”
“Fuck that—I’m Karl, this is Robbi and our token squid here is Eddie. Patrick, I presume?”
“Meet the family,” said Don. “Guys, this is Patrick.”
“Chris’s friend from Pensacola?” Eddie asked. “His friends are our friends.”
“Welcome to San Diego, Patrick,” Robbi said as she shook Patrick’s hand. “I’m Robbi.”
“‘Robbie?’” Patrick asked.
“‘It’s spelled R-O-B-B-I,” said Karl. “But you can call her Roberta.”
“Call me Roberta one more time, Karl, and I’ll fucking slice your nuts off with a dull razor.”
“Ouch!” said Patrick. “Sweet to sassy in under two seconds! I like you!”
Just as quickly as she’d turned on Karl, Robbi regained her earlier cuteness. “I wish I could’ve charged admission to that little show you put on. You’re the hottest ticket at WC’s!”
It was Patrick’s turn to blush. “Um—great to meet all of you—”
“It’s a little overwhelming, I know,” said Eddie in a reassuring voice. “New city, new—”
“You a top? Or a bottom?” Karl asked. “’cause if you’re hookin’ up with Don, then—”
“Karl!” Robbi punched Karl hard. “Oh my God! You are absolutely impossible!”
“Do I need to tell you to ignore him?” Don asked Patrick. Staring at Karl, Don’s eyes gave a clear order. Not this time! Karl’s submissive expression told him he got the message. Don usually tolerated Karl’s bluntness but he wouldn’t allow anything to screw up his chances with Patrick. As he watched and listened to Patrick converse with his friends, he fell even deeper for the guy. Looking back over his life, there were many twists and turns Don hadn’t seen at the time. This was different. He knew that right now, in the moment, he’d never be the same again. And he was glad.
7
“You’re strong,” the Sailor said. “I like that in a man.”
Jay wrapped his arms around the man’s waist and gave him a firm squeeze. “You twenty-one?” He hoped his playfulness seemed sincere. “They gonna arrest me for buying you drinks?”
“Well, thank you!” The Sailor slurred his words. “You’re so sweet! I’m almost twenty-two!” Turning his glass upside down, he swallowed the last of his vodka. “Whoops! All gone.”
Jay ran his hand through the Sailor’s hair. “What’s your name, handsome?”
“I told you already. It’s Jerry.”
“Just ‘Jerry’? No last name?”
“My my, you ain’t supposed to ask that until the second date,” Jerry whispered in Jay’s ear. “Tell you a secret. It’s Giles. With a G.” Jay grabbed him as he stumbled. “Wanna know another secret? My last name ain’t all I’ll give up on the first date.”
“Something tells me it’s no secret you’re easy, ‘Jerry Giles.’ Your name is easy, too. Easy to remember.” He pointed to the anchor and USN on Jerry’s chest. “Like your tattoo.”
“That old thing?” the drunken Sailor asked. “You can lick it if you want.”
“I’ll wait.” Jay winked, asking, “Your friends in the Navy?”
“Why? You interested in them?” Jerry pouted. “I thought you liked me.”
“I do. But I like to hang out with you military guys. You’re so sexy.”
“We are? Aw, you say the sweetest things.” Jerry looked across the pool table and pointed. “He is. He used to be. That hottie’s a SEAL. That one pretends to be whatever will get him laid. And this one’s a Marine.” Jay congratulated himself on his correct assumptions. “A lot of the military guys are stuck up. They hang out on the roof.”
“The roof?” Jay asked. “They let people on the roof?”
“Oh yeah!” said Jerry. “It’s nice up there. Want me to take you?”
Before Jay could say “yes,” one of Jerry’s friends interrupted. “No you don’t, Jerry. Time to go. You been falling down for an hour. We’re taking you home and putting you to bed.” Jerry mumbled his dissatisfaction.
“See ya next week!” Jerry waved as his friend helped him leave. “I want my second date.”
“Will I see you tomorrow?” Patrick prayed the answer was “yes.”
“Tomorrow? Um, sure,” Don said. “What’re your plans?” Patrick rattled off a list of moving-related activities. “I’ll give you my number. Call and tell me what time to come over. I’ll pick up dinner and sneak into the Bachelor Officers’ Quarters.”
“Sounds like an outstanding plan,” Patrick said. The two men smiled at each other for a few seconds before Patrick asked, “Do—you—want to give me your number?”
“Oh, shit. Yeah.” Don searched his pockets and looked frantically at the bar for paper.
Karl smirked and handed his friend a book of matches. “These come in handy.”
“You’d be the one to know,” Eddie said.
“Thanks,” Don said as Patrick handed him a pen from his jacket. “This looks nice.”
“What kind of pen is that?” Eddie asked. “A Mont Blanc?”
“Yep. Too high class for me,” said Patrick. “Graduation gift from my fiancée’s dad.” Don’s expression told Patrick he should’ve broken the news of his former engagement more gently.
“Robbi’s my fiancée,” Karl said. “We’re dropping her off at her girlfriend’s lesbian bar later. You and your fiancée swing that way?” Robbi rolled her eyes. “What? What’d I say now?”
“I assume your fiancée situation is—real?” asked Don.
“No. I meant to say ex-fiancée. Karen is—was—I just broke our engagement.”
“Ah.” Don gave the matchbook to Patrick. “Can you read my writing? More important—do you know where Vista is? It’s just a few miles inland from Oceanside.”
“A map came with my rental car.”
“Oh shit!” Karl exclaimed. “A lieutenant with a map? Alert the search team now.”
“Is he always like this?” Patrick asked. “Or is this my initiation?”
“Always!” Don, Eddie and Robbi said in unison.
Patrick repeated the number aloud. He fumbled