Nuzzling the back of his head in between her sticky thighs, he picked up on her feminine scent. His body instantly responded. It already wanted more.
“Down boy,” Courtney ordered, looking over into his growing lap. “What’s on your big brain, not your little one?” she asked with a huff.
Brett sucked his bottom lip. “We received word today that we are headed to Afghanistan in December, before Christmas.”
Courtney’s smile disappeared. Running her hand through her long, dark locks she reached out and grabbed his shirt to cover her body. “Afghanistan? For how long?” she asked.
“Seven months.” His voice was flat.
“What are we going to do about Cameron? What are we going to do about us? I mean, my goodness.” She moved her legs from around him and scooted off the couch. Standing up in her heels with his shirt wrapped securely around her, she looked down at him and waited for an answer.
Brett remembered the many conversations that he had been forced to have with Amy about the same subject. None of the discussions ever ended well. She would always start out with the same questions and end up telling him that she wasn’t sure if she could wait for him, if she could do one more tour. Maybe he should have listened to her. He didn’t expect tonight’s discussion to be any different. It was only a matter of time before Courtney packed her things.
“I just found out today. I didn’t want to wait to tell you,” he said, looking up at her. Man, she looked beautiful standing in front of him, vulnerable, eager for his every word. He tried to focus, give her his full attention. She deserved at least that. “If you can’t deal with this, I understand, Cort. You didn’t sign up for deployments and…” his words trailed off. Unable to finish his sentence, he looked down at the floor. Hell, she knew what he meant. He didn’t have to explain any further. It was too damned painful anyway.
“That’s not what I meant,” Courtney corrected. She bent down in front of him and put her long manicured hands on his knees. “Look at me.
Please.”
He looked up into her hazel eyes lost for words. She reminded him of summers on his family farm, of wheat and the ocean and everything that was good in the world. The thought of losing her crushed him into pieces.
She continued with a slap on his knee. Her tone was more upbeat. “I meant, what are we going to do about our little family…in case? Look Brett, I’m a military brat. Okay. I know what
going on deployment
means. As much as I hate to say it, you could stand the chance of never coming home.” Her eyes watered. How could she ever lose him? How could she ever manage to stay apart from him? A strain formed in her throat and her lip quivered.
He wiped her tears quickly. “Five tours so far and I’ve been lucky.”
She rolled her eyes. “You’ve been blessed. Lucky is finding a parking space. Blessed is surviving a war over and over again.” She sniffled. “So the question is what are we going to do? Cameron has become both of our responsibility. And I’m not leaving him or you.”
Brett smirked.
“What?” she asked.
His voice was gruff and deep. A dimple exploded in his cheek. “Just something Joe said to me the other day. He said…uh…Marines fall in love in like five seconds and marry in ten minutes. He called us serial husbands.”
Courtney grinned. “Well, Marines have a shorter shelf life than normal people. So, they have to move faster,” she said, touching his face.
“I don’t want to pressure you into anything, but would it be too much for you to think about it? Think about marriage? About marrying me?” He stumbled over his words and cursed under his breath. No one had ever accused him of being eloquent.
“Is that a half-ass proposal, Brett Black?” she asked with a smile.
“Just think about it. Please. I mean, as my spouse I could transfer my GI Bill to you. If I die, you get the house, the life insurance policy, everything I own.”
“And Cameron,” she added.
Brett licked his lips. “Like I said, you get everything.”
“And if you live and you come home in seven months, will I still have you?” she asked with a frown. “Or will your feelings have changed by then?” She couldn’t bare it if they did.
“Once I’ve gotten what I want, will I leave you? Is that your question?”
“Yes,” she said, watching his every facial expression.
“What part of ‘I love you’ don’t you understand? I’m more worried about you and Cameron than I am about dying.” He clenched his jaw. “I’m not sure that my life would mean much without you two anyway.”
“Brett, are you seriously asking me to consider marrying you?”
“I know this comes completely out of left field.” He looked up at her. “I know that you’re supposed to wait a respectable amount of time, ask the father for your hand…and not already be living with the woman.”
Courtney laughed.
“But I’m caught in between a rock and hard place here. I worked so hard to get into Recon. I’ve always seen myself as a lifer, you know, retiring after twenty-five years. Now, I’ve got a kid. I’m facing the possibility of being forced out because…well, you know why.”
“You know, I could watch Cameron while you were away without you
marrying
me,” Courtney said, looking back at him.
“Come on. I’ve seen how hard you’ve been working on your degree. You’ve made my life so much easier since you came here. It’s the least I could do.”
Courtney chuckled. “To marry me?”
“Well, there are other reasons.” He rubbed through her hair.
“Like what?” She smiled.
“Like the fact that I want to come home and see you every night for the rest of my life.”
Courtney bit her lip. He was getting better at this
opening up
thing. “And what makes you think that I want to see you every night for the rest of my life?” she asked playfully.
“The grocery store roses, of course.”
Courtney laughed. “There is something about the crunchy sound of ten-dollar roses that drives me crazy.”
Brett smiled. “Don’t knock the roses now.”
Courtney felt overwhelmed. Curling into his massive embrace, she pushed up in between his legs and put her head back on his chest. For a half-ass question, he got a half-ass answer, even though she knew he meant well. “I’ll think about it,” she said with a smile.
Everyone could hear Joe’s shriek from across the bar. The eight ball sped across the pool table into the pocket farthest from the corner as he stood up. Putting down the pool cue, he looked over at Brett and shook his head. “You have really fucked up now,” he said, grabbing his beer off the corner of the table. “You went and asked the woman to marry you after two and a half months?” He stomped his foot. “I knew it. I knew you were going to do this shit the first time you told me about her.”
“How did you know that I was going to ask her, when I didn’t even know?” Brett asked, laughing.
“Because you had that sick puppy look in your face,” Joe said, taking a sip of his beer. He looked around to make sure no one could hear them.
“I can’t explain it. She’s just…” he shook his head. “She’s amazing. But she did tell me that it was a half ass proposal, so she’d have to think about it.”
“No, really. I’m proud of you man. If you had treated her any different, I would have kicked your ass.”
“Because she’s a sister?” He had heard Joe’s
Black Queen
speech a hundred times. So he knew how sensitive the subject was for him.
“You damned right,” Joe said, without flinching. “Hey, I may be married to Judy, but I came from the womb of Ms. Earnestine Mabry. You hear me?”
“I hear ya,” Brett said, taking his shot.
“So, have you spoken to her father yet?” Joe asked with a grin.
“No.”
“When do you plan to do that?”
“After we come back from CAX,” Brett answered as the ball went speeding into the hole. He stood up and looked over at Joe. “If she says yes. Hell, she could turn me down.”
“Look, you’ll be fine. Man up. Tell Ole Man Lawless that you love his daughter, you’re going to marry her, and she’s going to have a bunch of your little violent ass babies.”
That hit a chord with Brett. Scratching his nose with his thumb, he stopped laughing and lowered his voice. “I first found out the first few days after Cort moved in that Cameron wasn’t mine through his paperwork from the pediatrician. But then she and I took him out in town and had a test and confirmed it. The test came back like fucking 99.999% that my son is not biologically mine. It messed me up big time. I’m still sort of
not right
in the head. ”
Joe stopped smiling. The happiness that he was experiencing before his friend turned to rage. “You know, I was sorry at first that your wife passed, but now…”
“I know,” Brett said, sucking his teeth. “Anyway, no one outside of Cort and I know, but you’re my best friend…so…whatever.” He shrugged his shoulders.
“You’re a good man, Brett. A fucking mensch,” Joe said sincerely. He hit Brett on the shoulder and sighed.
This guy got a raw deal all the way around
, Joe thought to himself.
“Yeah, well you are too, bro.” Brett moved quickly from the subject. He had said enough now. If he never heard another word about it for the rest of his life, he would have heard it way too many times.
***
Diane wiped the tears from her face and hugged her daughter tightly. Courtney had come over after she dropped Cameron off and confessed the entire relationship while she picked out fabric for the new drapes going in her husband’s study. She knew that Courtney seemed happier than she’d ever seen her in her adult life. And now she knew why.
The glow that radiated from her face was like bottled sunshine. And for the first time in a very long time, her daughter seemed to be free.
“I’m so happy for your, baby,” Diane said confidently. “Regardless of what you kids decide, I’m just happy that you’ve found someone who sees how special you are.”
“Thanks, Mom. I am too. I just wanted to keep this between us until I decide what I want to do. I mean, I’m flattered that he asked, flattered that he’s offered to take care of me even, but I still have a lot to decide. I haven’t given him an answer yet.”
“I completely understand. Just promise me that once you decide, you’ll invite him over for dinner. I don’t want him to think that he is not welcome here.”
“Don’t speak to soon. Dad and David haven’t smelled the blood in the water yet,” Courtney said, picking up the fabric. “Oh, this plaid has to go, Mom. It’s dreadful.”
A passing thought stirred concern in Diane. She sat down on the loveseat in the corner and sipped her tea. “You know that I love your father, but he won’t be as happy as I am about things.”
“Because Brett is enlisted.” Courtney shook her head. “Dad is such an elitist.”
“Don’t be naive, Courtney. I didn’t raise you to be
that
blind. It’s not
just
that he’s enlisted. Your father won’t be happy because of the pure hell he was handed in the Marine Corps simply based on the color of his skin. It wasn’t easy, baby. There were so many nights that I just wanted him to quit, just so I didn’t have to see him abused like he was. Needless to say that he never did. It wasn’t in him. But that was the old days. So much has changed since then. Now, men are judged more equally but racism still exists.”
“I know that, and I’m so grateful to him for what he has sacrificed for his country and for us. But still, do Brett and I have to pay for the Marine Corps of Christmas past?” She sat beside her mother. “I love Brett. I do. And at this point in my life, I am not willing to give him or Cameron up for anyone.”
Diane smiled. “I wouldn’t expect you to, sweetheart.”
“I know what is coming down the pipeline, Mom. If I decide to do this, Dad is not going to approve. But I would rather he give him a chance to get to know him before he starts to hate him.”
Diane shook her head. “He won’t approve, but it’s not
his
relationship. It’s yours and you have to do what is best for you. That’s how change happens – one person at a time.”
“Will you please stand beside me on this? I can’t do this without you.”
“Of course, I will. You leave your father and brother to me. You just focus on Brett and Cameron.” She took her daughter’s face in her hands and kissed her forehead. “As long as you promise to let me plan the wedding, if there is going to be one.”
“Is that all you can think about?” Courtney laughed.
“Your marriage.
My wedding
,” Diane said with bright eyes. “Oh, it’s going to be beautiful. I can already see it in my mind.”
***
Although it was miserable to train in the rain, Brett was grateful for the change in the temperature. The heavy clouds had brought cool air with it and finally relieved some of the sweltering summer heat. Half-way through the day, he actually felt energized because of Courtney’s awesome early morning breakfast and their late night lovemaking session the night before.
Pulling his Gortex off, he walked inside the company office and went to the First Sergeant’s desk. “I’m going to Subway. Want something?”
“Five dollar meal deal,” the First Sergeant said, throwing a ten-dollar bill on the desk. “Tell them to hold the pickles this time.”
“Alright. Be back in a few,” Brett said, headed back out of the door.
The rain poured down on his face and washed away the grime that had accumulated on his skin. Jumping into his truck, he grabbed his cell. He couldn’t wait to talk to Courtney.
Tomorrow, he headed to 29 Palms in the hot desert of California to train for six long weeks. Every moment he had to spend away from her felt like a decade. Calling her phone, he waited patiently for her to pick up but was sorely disappointed. It went straight to voicemail. That hardly ever happened.
It was only a short drive to the Subway on base. And he knew that he would need to hurry if he was going to miss the lunch crowd. Jumping out, he ran out of the rain and into the restaurant without looking up. Shaking the rain off his uniform, he slid in line and sent Courtney a text.
Where are you?
She texted back.
Where are you?
Subway
, he texted.
I miss you.
A sweet, familiar voice came from behind him. “I miss you, too.”
He turned quickly and smiled. Looking down at her angelic face, he couldn’t help but move the delicate strands of hair from her face. “What are you doing here?”
She smiled brightly. “I was at the commissary picking up some things and figured I’d stop here for lunch. Care to join me?” She pointed over at her table.
“I’ll be right over,” he said, scanning the room.
He made his order, paid and took his tray of food over to sit in the far corner with Courtney with his back to everyone.
Sipping his water, he looked at her all dressed up in a soft pink lace top and blue jean skirt with matching wedge-hill pink sandals and smelling like his favorite fragrance and felt the sudden urge to go home.
“Did you put that on to make me go UA?” he asked playfully.
“No. I just felt like putting on something nice,” she said, unable to take her eyes off of him. “I can’t believe that you’re actually going to be gone for six weeks.”
“Me either,” he said, suddenly not so hungry. “Hopefully, it will pass by quick.”
“You look so sexy in that uniform.” Her gaze swept over him.
“You like it?” he asked, rubbing his hand over his chest. He leaned toward her and reached his hand under the table to rub her leg. “How about we take a drive over to the beach? It’s on the other side of the base. We could go and curl up in the back of my truck for thirty minutes or so. And I could see what color panties you have under that skirt.”
“I’m not wearing any panties,
Staff Sergeant Black
.” She licked her lips.
He groaned. “Damn, woman.” Sitting back in his seat, he fought an erection. “Six weeks without you is going to literally kill me.”
“Well, I have a surprise for you when you get back.”
“A surprise, huh.” He chuckled.
Now, she was talking.
Courtney suddenly looked up and dropped her smile. The moment was drained by their new audience. Her face stiffened as she sat up. “David, what are you doing here?” Her gaze averted from Brett to the man behind him.
“I was just about to ask you the same thing,” David said, walking up to the table. He looked down at Brett first and then raised his brow. “Staff Sergeant Black,” he acknowledged, pulling up a seat. The sound of the chair’s legs dragging echoed across the small restaurant and a few onlookers turned to the three curious of why a captain would be sitting with a staff sergeant for lunch.
“Sir,” Brett said, sitting back.
“How do you two know each other?” David asked, scanning the room.
“I work for Brett,” Courtney answered first. Her eyes narrowed at her brother, urging him to not make a scene.
“So, you’re the guy.” David turned to Brett. “You didn’t mention that.” The look on his face was menacing.
Brett’s eye twitched. “Was I supposed to mention it?” While he was surely treading on shaky ground, he was no punk. And he wasn’t about to be made to look like one, especially in front of Courtney.
Courtney could see that Brett had no intention of backing down to her brother regardless of his rank. She decided to control the conversation as best she could. Breaking a smile, despite her nervousness, she piped up. “I just left Mom. She’s doing great. So, I figured I’d come over to the base and take care of a few things,
and
I ran into Brett.”
“Really?” David said sarcastically. He kept his eyes on Brett, nearly ignoring her all together. This was a territorial thing for him. “Are you ready to head out tomorrow, Staff Sergeant? Six weeks in the desert training for our soon-to-be deployment is a long time.”
“Ready as I’ll ever be. I know the drill. I’ve been to Afghanistan more than most people have been to their momma’s house. I guess you could say that I’ve paid my dues.”
“I guess we have that in common as well,” David replied.
“Look David, we’re trying to have lunch here before he has to go back to work…” Courtney interrupted.
“Don’t mind me,” David said, turning back to his sister. He was ready to tear her a new one too.
Brett had to bite his tongue and forbid himself from telling the guy to just say whatever was on his mind. They weren’t in high school anymore, but he felt the situation had gone nearly elementary. Pushing back from the table, wiped his mouth with the napkin. “Look, if you need to spend some time, speak with your sister, then I can go.”
“No, Brett. You don’t have to leave,” Courtney said, seeing the frustration in his eyes.
“No, he doesn’t mind,” David said protectively. He shot a dirty look at Brett.
“Oh, I mind, sir. I’m just a
nice kind of guy
,” Brett said sarcastically. At this point, he wanted him to say something…anything. He stood up and contemplated just reaching over the table and knocking David off his chair. However, he had to think of Cameron, Courtney and his career in that order. He cracked a smile and looked over at Courtney, who sat watching their conflict unfold with a worried, torn look on her face. “See you tonight, Cort.” He knew that statement alone would get David’s blood boiling.
Courtney shook her head and snapped out of it. “Okay. I’m going to grab Cameron when I leave here.” She blinked hard.
David grinded his teeth together as Brett walked away. He turned to his sister, careful not to make a scene. “Are you screwing him?” he asked under his breath.
Courtney frowned. “Are you serious?” she asked with the snap of her neck. She narrowed her eyes on him. “You’ve been here ten seconds; now you want to play big brother? Do me a favor and don’t try to be Dad, okay.”
“He’s a fucking grunt, Courtney. You have no idea what you’re getting involved in. A readymade family is not easy.”
“I’m a grown woman. I don’t need your approval to work for him or do anything else with him.” She stood up at the table and realized that she had the entire restaurant as her audience now.
Without another word, she left David at the table alone with their uneaten food. Bursting through the doors, she ran out in the rain and darted in front of Brett’s truck as he prepared to pull off.