Forever (Always & Forever 2)

“I’m not sure I believe you.”

“I give you my word. I’ve already been thinking about it. I’ll make an appointment to get my labs done.” He slid his hands over the width of Landon’s shoulders then down his arms. He couldn’t stop touching his love. “You can track my progress. When Lee arrives, I’ll feel more comfortable leaving the restaurant. Maybe, we can work out together. Speaking of that, we’ll have different schedules. I’ll work nights and you’ll work days.”

“We’ll figure it out. We always do.”

“We do.” And they would. Robert bent for a kiss; he couldn’t help it. They had officially said their goodbyes on the tarmac. He hadn’t intended to follow Landon inside the plane. He hadn’t wanted to hear all the complaints Landon had about this particular expense. Robert just couldn’t help it. He didn’t want Landon to go, and an aggravated Landon was better than no Landon.

His lips touched Landon’s again, and Landon opened for him. Strong fingers gripped Robert’s beltloops, tugging him closer. He loved the aggression in his husband’s attention. He slipped his tongue forward, meeting Landon’s halfway, melting into the kiss. His body heated quickly with the way Landon took his mouth, dominating the kiss. He could kiss Landon forever.

“Sirs, it’s time,” a female said behind him. She came closer, reaching for Landon’s duffel bag to secure inside the luggage compartment to the side of them. Landon leaned his head back but didn’t release his hold.

“I love you.”

“I love you.”

“You should go,” Landon rasped against his ear then wrapped Robert in his arms in direct contrast to his instruction. “Go, because I miss you already, and I’m gonna cry.”

Robert’s eyes filled, making everything blurry as he tightened his hold. He squeezed his eyelids closed, trying to hold back the full-on cry threatening to spill over. He hugged Landon tight then released him. He had no choice but to look away. It hurt too badly to look at his life’s desire standing there as he was forced to step away. He pivoted around, the pain in his heart too much to bear. He only looked back as he started to duck through the exit.

“I love you. You be safe,” he mouthed.

One of Landon’s tears slipped free, rolling down his cheek. More than anything, he wanted to wipe his husband’s pain away. Instead, he did the grown-up thing and blew Landon a kiss then took the steps down to the tarmac.

Robert stood in the distance, watching the plane take off. He stayed until Landon was long gone. He was frantic inside, the ache holding his heart hostage. So many things could happen. He tried to push away the anxiety that kept his feet planted to the concrete. How did so many military families do this very thing every single day?

Brushing a tear from his cheek, Robert turned to leave, reaching for his sunglasses. As he pulled them from his collar, a small, white feather floated from their fold. He stooped to gather it in his hand, needing the sense of reassurance it instantly brought. The feathers were fewer and farther between lately, but this one spoke directly to his heart. He and Landon would get through this. They were strong and committed. The calm strength surrounding him grew into something tangible. Everything was going to be okay.

Chapter 40

October 2018

“Babe, where’d you go?” Robert called from the downstairs dining room. He looked around the first floor of their DC townhome, twisting around in his seat to see the kitchen then the living room. Landon had gone missing. He’d just been right there with Robert as he began to explain all the historical and romantic adventures he’d found for their long-awaited trip to Italy.

“Babe?” Robert called out a little louder.

“I’m in the bathroom.” Landon opened the downstairs bathroom door no more than a slit. “Keep talking. I can hear you.”

Robert looked down at all the printouts he’d brought with him on this trip home. Paper littered the entire top of the dining room table, except for the far corner where Landon’s laptop sat. His husband had commandeered the space as his desk and sat there every night, on video with Robert and the restaurant, while working on the restaurant’s accounting.

Landon’s area looked super-efficient, only the laptop and a pen and pad of paper left out. Robert’s trip plans took up the entirety of the rest of the tabletop. Maybe he’d overdone in his detailed planning of their retirement trip, but he quickly brushed the uncertainty off. Landon retired from the Air Force in seven and a half months and Robert had dreamed of the day they could travel the world together. Apparently, when dreams come true, they required lots of printed sheets of paper showing everything he wanted to do while they were away.

“I want you to see as I explain,” he finally said.