Squared Away (Out of Uniform 5)

“Liar.” Dylan laughed. “But what’s cute—seriously—is that he seems to have one back. He couldn’t seem to quit staring at you. Looked bummed that I’d cut into his time with you.”

“He just wanted to get to work.” Isaiah looked away. With any other guy, he’d be telling Dylan everything, but this was too new, too precious to share.

“Is Wizard gay or bi? I’ve never seen him with a date. Always assumed he was straight.”

“You’d have to ask him.” Isaiah leveled a glare at his friend. He was not telling Dylan that Mark was ace. That was Mark’s business, Mark’s journey, and Isaiah wasn’t about to out him.

But something must have showed on his face though, because Dylan groaned. “Oh, Ike, tell me you’re not trying to flip him. You know that never works.”

“I’m not trying to flip anyone.” And yeah, Isaiah had had his share of crushes on straight guys before. Pointless things. But this wasn’t like that. Mark felt something back. He was sure of it.

Dylan wasn’t deterred though, continuing to barrel on. “I’ve had deeply closeted boyfriends before—it never works out. Ever. Even if he seems to be digging on you, you should steer clear. I don’t want you getting hurt.”

Too late.

“I’m fine.” He left Dylan on the porch with the baby and went to kick the ball for the kids. Isaiah was far too deep into this thing now. But Dylan did bring up the thing Isaiah kept trying not to fixate on, which was whether Mark would ever want to be publicly in a relationship with another man. Isaiah wanted that in the worst way—wanted to be able to tell Dylan about all the romantic things he did, wanted to hold hands at the park, maybe get crazy and go out to dinner without the kids. He wanted long-term, but as always, he had no clear indication that the other guy felt remotely the same way. And that sucked.

“Hello?” Lydia came up to the back gate, baby on her hip, older kid next to her in a Wonder Woman T-shirt.

“We’re back here.” Isaiah went to unlock the gate for her.

“Oh my word, your front landscaping is spectacular. I’m in love with your raised beds.” Lydia set the baby next to Liam on the blanket they’d set down for him.

“Thanks. Been putting in some long hours on it.” The yard still wasn’t what Isaiah would like, but the raised beds were something he was particularly proud of. They’d have lettuce and herbs for salads soon.

“You do your own yard work?” Lydia’s eyes went wide. “That’s wonderful.” She said it the way rich people always commented on things they hired out. “Do you do it professionally?”

“He does,” Dylan answered for him. “Just got his urban farming or whatever certificate.”

“You could teach us how to have a garden at the new house! I want something like what you’ve got in the front—very functional but gorgeous. Balanced. And eco-friendly.”

“I’d have to bring Liam, but I suppose I could come take a look while the girls are in school tomorrow.”

“Bring him. He and the baby can play with me while you work. And bring a current rate sheet.”

Crap. Isaiah was going to need one of those. And maybe business cards. But he’d been stewing about what to do for money, how to combine his various degrees and certificates into something that both made him happy and got him some cash. And few things made him as happy as being outdoors, working with plants. Maybe this could be the professional break he’d been looking for, a way to get some money in while he made plans for the future. And it would be a distraction from everything going on with Mark, which was what he really needed. He needed to plan for the future, one that might not include Mark, much as he hoped otherwise.

* * *

“You will give 110 percent in everything you do. You will strive for perfection in everything you do. And you will do it right the first time.” Mark glared down the new recruits in front of him. He was trying to channel all the instructors he’d had in his own training. On day one of having the SEAL class at BUD/S, it was up to him and the other instructors to hand their asses to them. During last week’s prep, the Officers in Charge of training had briefed them all about their role during training. “Part parent, part cop,” Lieutenant Ramsey had called it.

“Now, later this week, we’ll take the boats out for the first time.” He indicated the stack of rubber inflatable boats on the beach in front of them. “But right now, we’re going to run. And you will follow directions. And your team will NOT drop that boat or be last down the beach or I will become very unhappy. Keep up.”