Squared Away (Out of Uniform 5)

“Oh wow. Thank you.” Deanna’s pale eyes filled with tears as she reached for Mark’s hand. She was short, maybe five foot, but carried herself like a master chief. “Derek told me how you saved the leg—and his life. He’s had a long recovery—”

“I’m fine,” Rogers interjected, typical stubborn SEAL. “Another month and I’ll be back out there.”

“We’ll see about that.” She turned a stern eye on her husband, and seeing the usually brash Rogers meekly nod was awesome. “Anyway. Thank you. Derek says you’re the best there is.”

“Not hardly.” Mark snorted. Not after the week he’d had. He was just an ordinary man, not the wizard everyone else seemed to think, just trying to do a job.

“Too modest.” She smiled at him, then bent forward to grin at Liam. “And who is this big boy? Derek never told me you had a baby. And a...boyfriend? Husband?” She stuck a hand out for Isaiah.

“Derek had no idea,” Rogers drawled. Fuck. He was going to get shit later. Meanwhile, Mark’s insides were frozen again, big chunks of ice where his words should be. This is Isaiah. He’s my... He swallowed hard, trying to ready the words.

Next to him, Isaiah let out a mighty sigh before returning Deanna’s handshake. “We’re not a couple. This is Mark’s nephew. I’m the other uncle. Isaiah.”

“Nice to meet you.” Rogers nodded at him before returning his attention to Mark. “You had me going for a moment there. Thought maybe you’d been spending too much time with Tovey and Horvat.”

“He’s one of my best friends,” Mark said in a warning tone.

“And super nice. They sent food to the house when Derek was recovering. The best muffins.” Deanna jostled her husband’s arm. “And Tovey helped Wizard save your sorry hide.” To Mark, she said, “Ignore him.”

But Mark couldn’t. Would the guys on the team treat him differently if he came out as being in a relationship with Isaiah? Would it matter?

“We should probably let you get back to shopping,” Deanna said, obviously trying to move on from the awkward moment. “We’re doing a rock garden. Derek needs more Zen in his life, don’t you think?”

“Totally.” Isaiah gave her a tight smile, not much of his usual charm. Fuck. Mark had messed up. Again.

“If Rogers isn’t up to your heavy lifting, Isaiah’s got his own landscaping business. He might be able to work you in.” Maybe selling Isaiah’s new business would get Mark back on his good side.

“Sure.” Isaiah didn’t sound too enthusiastic, but he dug out a business card. “I’m doing ten percent off the rates for military families.”

“That’s smart.” Man, Mark really was so proud of him, going for his dream like this. He’d figured out what he wanted and gone for it, balls to the wall.

“You guys have fun.” Deanna gave a little wave as she followed Rogers back down the aisle.

“Let’s get the wood I need for the Katz project,” Isaiah said as soon as they were gone. “We don’t have time for more browsing.”

“I’m so—”

“Save it. I just want to get my stuff.” Isaiah marched off at a fast clip, taking Liam with him.

His bad mood kept up the rest of the process of getting the supplies he needed. Lumber for raised beds. Pavers. Bags of soil. The back end of the SUV was stacked to the roof. Mark wondered whether Isaiah would let him help him get a truck, an investment in the new business. But now probably was not the time to bring up that idea.

“I’ll probably be at the job most of the afternoon,” Isaiah said on the drive back to the island. “You sure you’re okay with the kids?”

“Totally. I’m happy to help you for a change.” Mark tried for a conciliatory tone, but Isaiah just snorted.

He resisted Mark’s other attempts at conversation, and then gave all his attention to the girls when they picked them up at preschool. He dropped Mark back at the house with the kids, and then took off, no sneaking kisses or hugs like they usually did when parting. Fuck. Mark missed those simple touches, missed the chance to soothe Isaiah’s wounds with an apology and some kisses. Kisses aren’t going solve this.

Staying gone until after dinner, with a few terse text messages updating Mark on his ETA, Isaiah came in dirty and sweaty and headed right for the shower. He then took over bedtime for Liam while Mark read to the girls. It was a familiar routine, but it felt all off, like all the comfort had been replaced by prickly thorns of Mark’s own making.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” he asked when the kids were asleep. “Or talk? We should talk.”

Isaiah shook his head. “I just want to go to sleep. It was a long day.”

“Do you want a massage to help you relax? Or...” Mark tried to figure out how to offer sex as stress relief for him. Orgasm might push the reset button for Isaiah’s funk, let them talk afterward.