Sailor Proof (Shore Leave 1)

“I know you would.” Derrick patted my hand at a red light. “And I appreciate that, more than you can know. But can we talk after this thing? Please?”

“Okay.” Like I could deny him anything, especially with his current wet-kitten expression. It was still summer, but he looked cold and miserable and in need of a hug. To that end, I waited until we’d parked outside Oliver’s ranch-style rental close to his base in Tacoma before I rubbed Derrick’s neck.

“That feels good.” He stretched into the contact.

“Bet I can make you feel even better later,” I bragged, putting more oomph into my efforts. “I’ll search massage how-to articles on the way back to my place.”

“You do that.” His smile was still at half-power, but there wasn’t a ton I could do here in Oliver’s driveway, especially if Derrick wasn’t ready to talk.

“I’ll get the presents,” I offered as we exited the car. “But first I’m going to hug you because you need that.”

“Yeah, I do.” He sagged against me more than usual when we embraced. I hugged him as tight as I dared for as long as he let me. He breathed in and out, tension ebbing with each exhale only to return on another sigh. Whatever was wrong was more than a simple bad day, and my own back stiffened. I hoped I could solve this or at least make it better for him.

“Uncle Arthur. Uncle Derrick.” Taylor raced out of the house followed by assorted siblings, dogs, and friends.

“Hey, kiddo.” Pulling away from me, Derrick pasted on a smile and greeted the kids. After grabbing the presents, we made our way through the happy chaos into the house. We were greeted with a flurry of hugs as soon as we got in the door. Stacey whisked the presents off to a towering gift table and pressed sodas into our hands in short order.

I didn’t have as much time to worry about Derrick with the party in full swing. There were several wet and silly games to keep the kids occupied. Not surprisingly, Derrick proved to be a menace at water balloons, and the kids utterly loved his participation, dodging and squealing and making him laugh.

“You certainly earned your cake,” I teased, handing him a towel.

“That was fun.” This time his smile was almost normal. Maybe whatever was bugging him wasn’t so bad. Or at least was something we could deal with, emphasis on we.

“Cake!” my mom called from the deck, assembling the troops. We dutifully dried off and made our way inside to sing “Happy Birthday” to Taylor. Everyone got big slices of chocolate cake.

“Look! Chocolate sprinkles. Your favorite.” Derrick’s expression was so tender that it made my chest hurt as he scraped some of his icing and sprinkles onto my plate.

“Thanks.” Him remembering meant even more to me than the sharing. I wanted to get back to the cabin, to who we’d been there, easy and free and falling—

Oh hell no. I might be able to admit this was more than sex, but I wasn’t ready to go there.

“Presents!” Stacey gathered everyone around the table where Taylor opened many video games and assorted merch from those same games.

Finally, he arrived at our gift. “From both of you?”

“Yeah.” My skin heated. It was a very established-couple thing to do, more so even than showing up together.

“It was a team effort,” Derrick explained. “I had the idea, but Arthur hunted it down and made it happen.”

“Nice wrapping job.” Mom winked at me.

“Oh my gosh!” Taylor crowed as he tore the package open. “It’s Derrick’s car! But Legos! Vince and Seth are going to be so jealous.”

He hopped around the room with the box, big grin on his face. It had taken some major searching, but I’d found a model version of Derrick’s car that Taylor could build.

“That’s until you’re old enough for driving lessons.” Derrick ruffled his hair. My heart squeezed hard. So much want bubbled up in me that I couldn’t even name it all. All I could do was grab Derrick’s hand under the table, hope he knew what he meant to me.

Eventually the party died down, kids carted away by tired parents, and Mom and Stacey boxing up the leftovers.

“You want a beer?” Oliver asked. “You’re both welcome to crash here if you don’t want to deal with traffic.”

“Nah.” Derrick darted his gaze to me. “We have...”

“Plans,” I supplied. Derrick wasn’t getting out of talking to me that easily, and bunking down on Oliver’s family room floor was hardly conducive to the sort of evening we both needed.

“I see.” Oliver chuckled. “Suppose I should go all big brother and—”

“Please don’t.” I laughed, but also I really didn’t want a lecture for either of us.

“Okay. Okay. Be safe. And don’t be strangers. The kids love you.”

I supposed that was his stamp of approval, so I nodded before we all exchanged backslapping hugs.