Squared Away (Out of Uniform 5)

Also weird? Getting dressed in Isaiah’s room. He’d thought ahead, brought up some clean laundry last night. And that had seemed...momentous somehow. An acknowledgment that he’d been sleeping in Isaiah’s room most of the week and didn’t plan to stop. Some nights they did the orgasm-sharing thing, other times trading massages and some nights they just talked and lay close until they fell asleep. And all those things were nice, different ways of reconnecting after his grueling schedule.

“Come on. Time to feed the hungry barbarians.” Isaiah gave him a quick peck on his way out of the room. He seemed to really enjoy Mark sleeping in his room, and if he wanted something more, more sex say, he wasn’t pushing for it. Mark still worried though, sure this...whatever they had going wouldn’t be enough for Isaiah long-term.

But now wasn’t the moment for a deep state-of-us talk, as he could hear the kids chattering to Isaiah about the egg hunt and what they should wear and how much candy they’d be allowed to eat.

They had driven since the community center was just far enough to be a tough walk with the kids, but parking for the egg hunt was as nuts as he’d expected. Felt like half the island had turned out. Luckily the weather was perfect, not a cloud in sight.

“I’ll wear him.” Mark surprised himself by volunteering as Isaiah got the pack out of the back of the SUV. “We don’t want you reinjuring your back.”

“Oh I don’t know. I kind of like how that turned out last time.” Isaiah winked at him before helping him get Liam settled on his back.

“Geez, kid, did you gain five pounds this week?” Mark teased. “What’s Uncle Ikey been feeding you?”

“I think he’s going to walk early,” Isaiah reported. “Neither of the girls were early walkers, but he seems eager.”

“That’s my big boy.” Mark jiggled Liam’s foot. “Take a video if I’m on duty.”

“Will do.” Isaiah had a funny, tender look on his face, one that made Mark look away fast. What if I can’t be everything you need? His chest felt too full, to the point that he needed to tinker with the chest clip on the pack. Gathering up the girls, who’d insisted on wearing frilly dresses, they headed to the grassy fields surrounding the community center.

The egg hunts were divided up by age levels, and watching Isaiah help Zoe with the toddler hunt made Mark’s chest all warm again. He and the other two kids watched from the sidelines. Another young guy, probably twenty-ish and someone’s big brother or babysitter, came up to Isaiah and Zoe. He had very blond hair and a big, flirty grin. Mark hated him on sight.

He said something that made Isaiah laugh. Man, Isaiah really did have the best smile, so wide and welcoming, and Mark did not want him sharing it with the other guy, the one who was looking at Isaiah like he was the last beer on an August day.

What if this is what Isaiah needs? The doubts from earlier returned double strength. Maybe Isaiah needed someone closer to his age. Fun. Sexy. Out. All the things Mark struggled with. But then Isaiah glanced over at him, turning his smile Mark’s way, and Mark knew he wasn’t giving up Isaiah without a fight. He strode over to him.

“Zoe get lots of eggs?” he asked, staring down the other guy. See? This is my guy. Maybe he couldn’t publicly claim Isaiah yet, but he sure as hell could scare off this interloper, using his full height to loom over him and Isaiah.

“Yup.” Isaiah lifted Zoe up. “You ready to explore more?”

“Yes.” So ready.

“Nice meeting you,” Blondie said to Isaiah. “Maybe I’ll see you around?”

Not if I have any say. Mark glared at him.

“Maybe.” Isaiah shrugged.

Mark seethed over that maybe as they walked around the festival. Did Isaiah want the freedom to pursue guys like Blondie? They’d never really said that what they had going was exclusive. Would he have gotten the guy’s number if Mark hadn’t been there? Fuck. Mark hated not knowing.

And everywhere they walked, people seemed to know Isaiah. The craft area. The line for pictures with the Easter bunny. The games.

“Isaiah! And girls!” On the way to the face painting booth, they were stopped by a family of...good lord, did they really have six little ones? Yup. Six kids. Two parents. Both of whom seemed to know Isaiah.

“This is the Katz family. From the preschool.” Isaiah made the introductions as he had with the last two families that stopped them. “This is...the kids’ Uncle Mark.”

There was a pause there, one reflected in Isaiah’s eyes as he glanced over at Mark. He said he didn’t need something public, but maybe that was starting to chafe a bit. Fuck. Why couldn’t this stuff be easier for him? Let Isaiah introduce him...however. That would be sure to put an end to guys like Blondie hitting on his guy. But the thought made his stomach do drunken cartwheels.