Tonight still good? he texted as soon as it was safe to use his phone after the meeting, walking fast back to the barracks. Gonna be late when I get there. Sorry.
His phone vibrated almost immediately with a reply, and he stopped on the path to read it. Never too late. I’m up writing. We can sleep in together tomorrow for your day off. Spencer had added a funny little snoozing emoticon, and Bacon couldn’t help smiling.
“Dude. You seriously gotta tell me about this person who’s got you married to your phone lately.” Curly, who was back on duty and whom he should have noticed coming up behind him, clapped him on the back.
“It’s nothing.” Bacon tried his best to pack his smiles and secrets away, show only a blank expression.
“Yeah? It’s beer o’clock. You wanna get one together?”
“I’ve kind of got plans...”
“See. I knew that’s what you were going to say. Something’s going on with you.”
“It’s—”
“Nothing. So you’ve said. But I’m not buying.”
Bacon sighed because he’d been afraid of this. Keeping secrets from his best friend sucked. “It’s complicated.”
“Listen. I’m not an idiot. I think I know what’s going on, and I honestly I saw this coming, a mile away.”
“I’m not sure what you suspect.” Bacon’s heart started hammering like roofers trying to beat a rainstorm.
Curly lowered his voice and leaned in. “You’re seeing that reporter. Socially. Like bang—”
“You cannot go sharing that theory with anyone.” Bacon neither confirmed nor denied Curly’s accusation. “I know you have a nose for gossip—”
“Dude. Chill. I’m not gossiping about you. With anyone. I’m just saying that as your friend I’m happy for you.”
“Wait. You’re what?” Bacon had to blink hard.
“Hey, he’s not embedded anymore, right? And his story got killed. It’s not like he’s posing some risk to us anymore. If he was, that would be a different story, but right now, it’s your business if you want to stay friendly with him. I just want you happy.”
“I am.” It was the truth. Other than the whole secrecy thing, he wasn’t sure when he’d been this happy, this content. “But, seriously, I’m keeping this on the down low right now. At least through this next mission. I’m working toward getting him to be more okay with going public.”
“So it’s more than just banging?” Curly’s head tilted.
“Yeah,” Bacon admitted. “I think it is.”
“Well, I think you deserve something real in your life, something like what I have with Rachel, so I mean it when I say I’m happy for you. Other guys may give you a hard time, but I’ve got your back. I know I let you down in the past, and I’m sorry, man. And I’m not going to tell about this.”
“Thanks.” Bacon’s throat was thick. “Appreciate that.”
“You can trust me.” Curly’s eyes were more than a little sad.
“I...” In his hand, his phone vibrated, and he shuffled his feet, eager to see if it was Spencer, eager to get out of this heavy conversation.
Curly laughed, sad eyes replaced by knowing teasing. “Go ahead and check your phone. Since someone won’t get a beer with me, I’m going to get changed and head over to Rachel’s.”
Bacon waved him on, then looked down at the new message.
Just a thought, but why don’t I save you half the drive? Meet in the middle? I can get us a room, then we can hang out and gorge on room service and bad TV tomorrow before you have to head back.
Bacon laughed and typed a fast response. Someone’s eager. I don’t mind the drive, but I like your plan. San Clemente maybe? Text me details.
Left to his own devices, he’d get the cheapest economy motel, but he knew Spencer would have Opinions with a capital O, and he kinda liked that, liked knowing that Spencer would find a nice spot, like how he slipped Bacon good shower products and made his food fancier. It made him feel taken care of, and that made him smile and jog the rest of the way back to the barracks. He probably needed to tell Spencer that Curly knew about them, but right then, all he could think about was how eager he was to see his guy.
* * *
Spencer found the way that Del sprawled in his sleep oddly endearing. He usually ended up in the center of the bed, pinning Spencer to his side in a way that should make him feel trapped, but in reality made him feel wanted. Needed. Necessary. No surprise, he’d awoken before Del, the light from the balcony doors of the hotel making it hard to keep sleeping. The room was done in white and teal, and the sun filtering in made the beach chic seem extra inviting. But he’d been loath to leave the king-size bed, leave the cozy cocoon of blankets and Del’s long limbs. He already knew from previous visits that Del could sleep through just about any noise level, so he’d grabbed his laptop, made sure the sound was off, and returned to the story he’d been working on about teens starting businesses.