Forever (Always & Forever 2)

“Yeah, I’ll walk you out.”

Landon grabbed his new helmet and trailed out with his eyes fixed on the black and chrome beauty just feet away. He nodded at the sales rep who pushed the door open for him.

“You familiar with the bike?”

“Yeah. I got it. Thanks,” he said, not slowing his stride. He couldn’t wait to get out on the road. Seconds before he stepped up to the bike, he stopped short, digging his phone out of his pocket. With one hand, he snapped a picture of the motorcycle then repositioned the phone, putting himself and the helmet in the shot with the bike in the background. His grin was as big as he’d ever seen, but that wasn’t unusual these days.

Landon straddled the bike, put the helmet on the fuel tank and took a second to send Robert the picture of his new beauty. Before he was able to shove the phone away, it vibrated. The excitement over his new bike came second to the possibility that Robert had messaged him back so quickly. He palmed the phone again seeing a picture of Robert pointing to his head. Another picture came through with a thumbs up.

Landon chuckled, prepared to tease Robert when he caught a shadow approaching out of his peripheral vision. He didn’t look over right away and quickly typed a reassuring message to Robert, promising to wear his helmet.

“Landon Russo?” He looked over to see a man in standard construction work clothing—dusty T-shirt and jeans, equally dusty work boots. The guy was about his age and kind of looked familiar…

“Yeah?” He took a closer look. Since he’d first arrived at Andrews, he’d kept his head down and worked like a dog, trying to build the respect of his squadron and his Master Sergeant. He hadn’t really met a lot of other people.

“Don’t remember me? I’m Mark Peters.” He shoved his hand forward and Landon automatically clasped it in greeting, still unable to place the guy. “We went to high school together.”

“Yeah?” His eyes had to have bugged out of his head. Landon had grown up with Lance, meaning they had gone from kindergarten all the way through graduation together. Mark had always been on the shorter side and skinny as a rail. Not anymore. Although he wasn’t super tall, he was built like a Mack truck. “What the hell happened to you?”

The easygoing smile transformed the guy’s face into exactly the young man he had known most of his life. “Late puberty. I heard you were in the military.”

“Yeah. Air Force, stationed at Andrews. What’re you doing here?”

“I’m a contractor, me and Branson. ’Member him? We were always hanging out together back then.” He waited for Landon to nod. Landon obliged, but didn’t remember anyone with the first or last name Branson. “We were hired as part of the renovation team for the pentagon. Been around here about three years now. It’s a good gig.” Mark tucked his hands in his front pockets as he nodded at the bike. “Brand new?”

“Just this second. Speaking of which, I’m gonna be late. Give me your number and we can catch up,” Landon said, exiting out of Robert’s message and going to the contact portion of his cell phone. He typed quickly, adding Lance’s name then extended the phone for Mark to add his number.

“Me and my lady have a place in Clinton. Branson lives next door. It’s small, but good enough. You should come have some supper with us sometime,” Mark said as he typed.

“I’m on second shift, but yeah, that could work.” The obstacles immediately presented themselves. His gaze slid down Lance’s work attire and stopped at his boots, and he instantly disliked himself for doing so. He wasn’t the kind of guy to judge anyone, for any reason, but it didn’t change the facts. Mark was as blue collar as they came.

Oddly, Landon’s usual shields no longer dropped into place, keeping him at a distance, making him wonder if Branson or anyone from his past knew he was gay. Instead he thought about how Robert might fit into the mix. He took the phone and tucked it away. “I’ll text you.”

“I’ll tell Branson you said hello.” Mark stepped back a couple of steps, that same easygoing smile stayed in place. “Seriously, let me know when you can have dinner. We need to catch up.”

Landon nodded and put his helmet on. He couldn’t see that happening anywhere in the near future. He spent all his free time with Robert, and the refined, cultured man probably hadn’t ever sat on a lawn chair at a backyard barbeque. With a push of a button, Landon started the engine, letting it rumble, loving the vibration surging between his thighs. He couldn’t wait to get his handsome doctor on his new bike. Landon revved the engine for good measure, then he lifted a hand to Mark before starting out of the parking lot.