On Point (Out of Uniform 3)

Inside the house, he had to dodge a pack of kids, the spouses of several deployed friends, and a group of guys gathered around the dining table watching baseball on a propped-up tablet and talking about their fantasy league teams. Finally, he found Maddox where he’d left him on the sofa, leg supported with a pillow, but he now sported a tiara and pink feather boa, no doubt as a result of Apollo’s twin girls.

Pike was sitting on the floor next to the couch, and Ben was about to announce his presence when Pike spoke. “So seriously that’s your plan?”

Ben slowed up, staying behind the wall and out of their line of sight. Maddox hadn’t mentioned any plans to him.

“Well, not just the cooking classes.” Maddox laughed. “I’m resolving to do all sorts of stuff I’ve been procrastinating on.”

“Like what?” Pike asked. Yeah, like what? Ben wanted to know too.

“Well...” Maddox took a long drink of his soda. Someone else had gotten to him first. And wasn’t that a metaphor for Ben’s whole damn life. “Figure I can get more active with the music at church. And youknowmaybedate.”

“Pardon?” Clearly, Pike had as much trouble hearing that last bit as Ben had.

“I might date.” Maddox’s stubbly neck was flushed red. “You know, test the waters.”

“Date?” Pike sounded as skeptical as Ben felt. He really should announce his presence, but he couldn’t bring his feet to move, too invested in hearing what Maddox’s answer would be.

Maddox’s heavy sigh made Ben’s healing ribs ache. “I can’t live my whole life holding out hope...never mind.”

What did Maddox mean about holding out hope? Surely he didn’t want...

“Hey is that an extra soda?” Zack came up behind Ben, clapping him on the back of the neck like he hadn’t just found Ben eavesdropping.

“Yeah.” Ben handed him the can.

“That you, babe?” Pike craned his neck, boyfriend radar apparently on high alert. Funny how all these couples seemed drawn to each other like freaking homing beacons.

“Yup.” Zack flopped down next to Pike. He wasn’t much for the kind of sappy PDA that Dylan was always dripping all over Apollo, but he still tossed a casual arm around Pike. Ben tried to remember if he’d been like that with Trey, but that felt like a lifetime ago, like someone else had fallen madly in lust, gone to Hawaii on a rare leave and come back hitched. Not him. Not this bitter person who had a hard time being happy for his friends.

Rather than join the happy trio, Ben skulked away to see if the food was ready. Maybe he could make Maddox a plate and feel less guilty about listening in. But when he went back outside, Apollo’s mother was already on that task, using a tray that looked more suited for a brunch in bed and loading it down with some of all the many dishes on the picnic table.

“Still grumpy, I see.” Dylan handed him a plate. “You going to eat inside or out here with us?”

Neither was not a socially acceptable answer, so Ben took the plate and sighed. “I’ll go see what the ballgame score is.”

He didn’t really know the guys talking baseball, and soccer was his sport, but eating his food with them was still preferable to friends grilling him or having to watch Maddox talk about dating. God.

The game dragged on, and Ben wasn’t really following the banter around him. His plate was empty, but he was still reluctant to join the rest of the party.

“Hey, I think Maddox is looking tired.” Zack, bless him, wandered in when the game was in the seventh inning and the guys to Ben’s left were discussing possible closers. “You want me to run him home—”

“I’ve got it.” Ben had never been so happy to get out of Apollo’s place, but after Zack helped Maddox get settled in the passenger seat of Ben’s Charger, he realized he had no fucking idea what to say to his friend. Who wanted to date. People not named Ben. And of course he had to act like he hadn’t heard a damn word—

“I can hear you glowering from over here.” Maddox’s head was tipped back against the leather seat, eyes closed. “I know you overheard me talking to Pike.”

“I didn’t—”

“You so did. You lurk loudly. Your surveillance skills are for shit when you’re not on a mission.” Maddox laughed.

“I didn’t mean to listen in.” Why Ben felt honor bound to defend himself, he wasn’t sure.

“Yeah, you did.” Maddox’s voice held no real ire. “Go on now, tell me how stupid I am for using my leave to take cooking classes and make personal ads.”

“The cooking classes aren’t a terrible idea. Good to have a hobby.” God, when had Ben become such a negative person that Maddox assumed Ben would razz him over that?